Problems from Another Time

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

Given the dimensions of an isosceles trapezoid, find the length of the transversal drawn parallel to the bases that divides the trapezoid into 2 equal areas.

A Swarm of Bees

The square root of half the number of bees in a swarm has flown out upon a jessamine bush; 8/9 of the swarm has remained behind.

Logarithms: The Early History of a Familiar Function - The Challenges of Parallel Insights in the History of Mathematics

The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.

Pigs in a Blanket?

Three hundred pigs are to be prepared for a feast.

Age

My age is a number consisting of two digits, 1/7 of this number is a mean proportional between these two digits, and two years hence, my age will be a third proportional to the same two digits, directly as they stand in my present age.

Tree and Vine

A tree is 2 zhang tall and has a circumference of 3 chi. There is a vine that winds seven equally spaced times around the tree and reaches the top. What is the length of the vine?

Peano on Wronskians: A Translation - Acknowledgment and About the Authors

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

Family Travels

Now there are three sisters who leave home together.

The Ruins of Persepolis

There are two columns in the ruins of Persepolis left standing upright; one is 70 ft. above the plane, and the other 50 ft;

Inscribed Circle

Given: a circle with an inscribed equilateral triangle. The triangle has sides which are 12 cubits long. What is the area of the circle?