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Problems from Another Time

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

Japanese Temple Problem
Given two circles tangent to each other and to a common line, determine a relationship between the radii and the distance between the tangent points.
Peano on Wronskians: A Translation - Survey of Infinitesimal Analysis
How a translation of Peano's counterexample to the 'theorem' that a zero Wronskian implies linear dependence can help your differential equations students
The Cost of War
After a terrible battle it is found that 70% of the soldiers have lost an eye.
Inheritance of Three Sons
A man died leaving 3 sons, to whom he bequeathed his estate in the following manner: to the eldest he gave 184 dollars; to the second 155 dollars and to the third 96 dollars;
The Ant Race
Two ants are 100 paces apart, crawling back and forth along the same path. The first goes 1/3 pace forward a day and returns 1/4 pace; the other goes forward 1/5 pace and returns 1/6 pace. How many days before the first ant overtakes the second?
'He Advanced Him 200 Lambs of Gold': The Pamiers Manuscript - First Shoots of Capitalism
Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions
Circle With a Chord
In a circle whose circumference is 60 units, a chord is drawn forming a segment whose sagitta is 2 units. What is the length of the chord?
Right Triangle
Given a right triangle where you know the length of the base and the sum of the perpendicular side and the hypotenuse...
 
Circle, Square, and Triangle
A circle, a square and an equilateral triangle all have the same perimeter equal to 1 meter. Compare their areas.
Still More Numbers
Find two numbers, x and y, such that their sum is 10 and x/y + y/x = 25

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