Problems from Another Time

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

A cylindrical tin tomato can is to be made which shall have a given capacity. Find what should be the ratio of the height to the radius of the base that the smallest possible amount of tin shall be required.
Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions
A round pond sits in a rectangular garden. Its center is inaccessible; however, you know the distances from each corner of the garden to the center of the pond: 60, 52, 28, and 40 yards. What is the radius of the pond?
What will the diameter of a sphere be, when its volume and surface area are expressed by the same number?
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.
A circle is inscribed in an isosceles trapezoid. Find the relationship of the radius to the sides.
A carpenter has undertaken to build a house in 20 days. He takes on another man and says; "If we build the house together, we can accomplish the work in 8 days!" How long would it take this other man to build the house working alone?
A man bought a number of sheep for $225; 10 of them having died, he sold 4/5 of the remainder for the same cost and received$150 for them. How many did he buy?
A barrel has various holes in it. The fist hole empties the barrel in three days...
A fellow said that when he counted his nuts by twos, threes, fours, fives and sixes, there was still one left over; but when he counted them by sevens they came out even. How many did he have?