Problems from Another Time

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

Three people buy timber together. One pays the merchant 5 coins, another 3 coins, and the last 2 coins.

If a ladder, placed 8 ft. from the base of a building 40 ft. high, just reached the top, how far must it be placed from the base of the building that it may reach a point 10 ft. from the top?

Oracle for Rent

An oracle ordered a prince to build a sacred building, whose space would be 400 cubits, the length being 6 cubits more than the width, and the width 3 cubits more than the height. Find the dimensions of the building.