Problems from Another Time

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

Euclid's Algorithm for the Greatest Common Divisor

Project to help discrete mathematics and computer science students learn basic properties of division and the Euclidean algorithm and its proof from Euclid himself

Sums of Powers in Discrete Mathematics: Archimedes Sums Squares in the Sand

A project to help students learn from Archimedes' writings how he summed squares

Deduction through the Ages: A History of Truth

A project to introduce students to logic and especially implication by consulting original sources from ancient to modern times

Primary Historical Sources in the Classroom: Discrete Mathematics and Computer Science

A collection of modules for teaching and learning by 'reading the masters'

Two Circles

Two circles of radii 25 feet intersect so that the distance between their centers is 30 feet. What is the length of the side of the largest square inscribable within their intersecting arcs?

Peano on Wronskians: A Translation - On the Wronskians

How a translation of Peano's counterexample to the 'theorem' that a zero Wronskian implies linear dependence can help your differential equations students

Traveling on a Train

Two travelers, starting at the same time from the same point, travel in opposite directions round a circular railway.

Bargain Houses

A man agreed to pay for 13 valuable houses worth $5000 each, what the last would amount to, reckoning 7 cents for the first, 4 times 7 cents for the second, and so on, increasing the price 4 times on each to the last.

Weights and Measures

A certain man says that he can weigh any amount from 1 to 40 pounds using only 4 weights. What size must they be?

'He Advanced Him 200 Lambs of Gold': The Pamiers Manuscript - A Fair Was Serious Business

Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions