Problems from Another Time

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

A set of n disjoint, congruent circles packs the surface of a sphere S so that each region of the surface exterior to the circles is bounded by arcs of three of the circles.

Loafing About

There were two men, of whom the first had 3 small loaves of bread and the other, 2.

'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?

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

Storm's a' Brewin'

What is the perpendicular height of a cloud when its angles of elevation were 35 degrees and 64 degrees as taken by two observers?

Deer in the City

Now there are 100 deer [being distributed] in a city. If one household has one deer there is a remainder...Find the number of households in the city.