Problems from Another Time

Individual problems from throughout mathematics history, as well as articles that include problem sets for students.

In a rectangle, given the diagonal and perimeter, find the sides

Suppose that for every 4 cows a farmer has, he should plow 1 acre of land, and allow 1 acre of pasture for every 3 cows; how many cows could he keep on 140 acres?

Peano on Wronskians: A Translation

How a translation of Peano's counterexample to the 'theorem' that a zero Wronskian implies linear dependence can help your differential equations students

The Rat Race

Now there is a wall 5 feet thick and two rats tunnel from opposite sides.

The Incircle of a Triangle

The incircle O(r) of triangle ABC touches AB at D, BC at E and AC at F. Find r in terms of AD, BE and CF.

Numbers Game #2

Given a number, take 1/3 of the number away from itself and also remove 2. If this result is multiplied by itself, it equals the number plus 24. What is the number?

'He Advanced Him 200 Lambs of Gold': The Pamiers Manuscript - Barter Transactions

Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions

'He Advanced Him 200 Lambs of Gold': The Pamiers Manuscript - Currency Exchange

Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions

Three Piles of Rice

Now a pile of rice is against a wall with a base circumference 60 chi and an altitude of 12 chi.

Horses to Qi

Now a good horse and an inferior horse set out from Chang'an to Qi. Qi is 3000 li from Chang'an.