Problems from Another Time

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

Prove that the area of a regular polygon can be given by the product of its perimeter and half the radius of the inscribed circle.

Circumscribed Circle

The radius of a circle is 3.20 meters. Compute to within .001 square meters the areas of the inscribed and circumscribed equilateral triangles.

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.

Inscribed Circle and Trapezoid

A circle is inscribed in an isosceles trapezoid. Find the relationship of the radius to the sides.

Cat on a Hot Tin Wall

A cat sitting on a wall 4 cubits high saw a rat prowling 8 cubits from the foot of the wall.

'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.