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A Grinding Stone
Seven men bought a grinding stone, the diameter of which was 5 feet, and they agreed that each should use it till he had ground away his share. What part of the diameter must each grind away?
The Ladies' Diary, London, 1709
Click here to reveal the answer
The answer is: approximately 4.4508 inches for first, 4.8400 inches for second, 5.3535 inches for third, 6.0765 inches for fourth, 7.2079 inches for fifth, 9.3935 inches for sixth, and 22.6778 inches for seventh.
"A Grinding Stone," Convergence (March 2005)
