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Problems from Another Time

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

Isoceles Trapezoid
Given the dimensions of an isosceles trapezoid, find the length of the transversal drawn parallel to the bases that divides the trapezoid into 2 equal areas.
A Snake in the Hole
A powerful, unvanquished, excellent black snake, 32 hastas in length, enters into a hole at the rate of 7 1/2 angulas in 5/14 of a day, and in the course of 1/4 of a day its tail grows 2 3/4 of an angula.
Logarithms: The Early History of a Familiar Function - Joost Bürgi Introduces Logarithms
The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.
Three Numbers in France
I wish to find three numbers of such nature that the first and the second with 1/2 of the third makes 20...
Surveying a Field
I was employed to survey a field, which I was told was an exact geometrical square, but by reason of a river running through it, I can only obtain partial measurements.
Wooden Be Board
Given a wooden log of diameter 2 ch'ih 5 ts'un from which a 7 ts'un thick board is to be cut, what is the maximum possible width of the board?
Peano on Wronskians: A Translation - References
How a translation of Peano's counterexample to the 'theorem' that a zero Wronskian implies linear dependence can help your differential equations students
A Basket Case
Rabbits and pheasants are put in a basket.
Sum of a Series
What is the sum of the following series, carried to infinity: 11, 11/7, 11/49, etc.?
Inheritance Problem
A father left $20,000 to be divided among his four sons aged 6, 8, 10, and 12 years respectively, so that each share placed at 4 1/2 percent compounded interest should amount to the same value when its possessor becomes the age 21.

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