Problems from Another Time

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

A man, woman, and two boys desire to cross a river, but their boat has weight restrictions!

The cavity of our chimney is an upright parallelepiped, the diagonal of whose base is 60"; and the height of the lower side of the lintel above the plane of the floor is 40".

But What's in the Flasks?

Thirty flasks—10 full, 10 half-empty, and 10 completely empty—are to be divided among 3 sons so that flasks and contents should be shared equally. How may this be done?