Problems from Another Time

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

The edge of a cloud is at an altitude of 20 degrees and the sun above it at 35 degrees. The shadow cast by the edge of the cloud fall on a object 2300 yards away, how high is the cloud?

Bicyclists on a Track

Two bicyclists travel in opposite directions around a quarter-mile track and meet every 22 seconds. When they travel in the same direction on this track, the faster passes the slower once every 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Find the rate of each rider

To Each His Due

A man has four creditors. To the first he owes 624 ducats; to the second, 546; to the third, 492; and to the fourth 368.

Investing in Apples and Pears

A merchant woman buys and sells apples and pears. How much did she invest in apples; how much in pears?

Conic Contents

Determine the greatest cylinder that can be inscribed in a given cone.

Feeling Sluggish

A leech invited a slug for a lunch a leuca away.

A Perfect Cone Sugarloaf

Three persons bought a sugar loaf in the form of a perfect cone 25 inches high and agreed to divide it...what was the slant height of each one's share?

Brazen Lion

I am a brazen lion; my spouts are my 2 eyes, my mouth, and the flat of my foot. My right eye fills a jar in 2 days, my left eye in 3, and my foot in 4.

Logarithms: The Early History of a Familiar Function - John Napier 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.

Indian Numbers Game

Find a number having remainder 29 when divided by 30 and remainder 3 when divided by 4.