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Problems from Another Time

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

Peano on Wronskians: A Translation - Introduction
How a translation of Peano's counterexample to the 'theorem' that a zero Wronskian implies linear dependence can help your differential equations students
Square in the Circle
There is a circle from within which a square is cut, the remaining portion having an area of 47.6255 square units.
Arbelos
In Archimedes' Book of Lemmas (ca 250), he introduces a figure that, due to its shape, has historically been known as "the shoemaker's knife" or arbelos.
Disjoint Congruent Circles
A set of n disjoint, congruent circles packs the surface of a sphere S so that each region of the surface exterior to the circles is bounded by arcs of three of the circles.
Loafing About
There were two men, of whom the first had 3 small loaves of bread and the other, 2.
'He Advanced Him 200 Lambs of Gold': The Pamiers Manuscript - Prices and Purchases
Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions
Wooden Beam Against the Wall
A wooden beam is stood vertically against a wall. The length of the beam is 30 units.
Poles
On a certain ground stands two poles 12 feet apart, the lesser pole is 35 ft. in height and the greater 40 ft. It is sought, if the greater pole will lean on the lesser, then in what part will it touch?
Area Approximation
Fibonacci gave a practical rule for approximating the area of an equilateral triangle.
Man Crossing a Bridge
A man is walking across a bridge, when a boat passes under the bridge.How rapidly are the boat and the pedestrian separating after the boat passes under the bridge?

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