# Problems from Another Time

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

Now a good horse and an inferior horse set out from Chang'an to Qi. Qi is 3000 li from Chang'an.
The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.
The steamer, Katie, leaves the wharf at New Orleans and runs an average speed of 15 mph. When Katie had gone 25 miles, the steamer R.E. Lee leaves the wharf and runs the average speed of 18 mph. How far will the Lee go before she overtakes the Katie?
A lady being asked how old she was at the time of her marriage replied that the age of her oldest son was 13; that he was born 2 years after her marriage...
A farmer sold a team of horses for $440, but did not receive his pay for them until 1 yr, 8 mo after the sale. He had at the same time another offer of$410 for them. Did he gain or lose by the sale and by how much, money being worth 6%/yr?
How a translation of Peano's counterexample to the 'theorem' that a zero Wronskian implies linear dependence can help your differential equations students
There is a lion in a well whose depth is 50 palms. He climbs and slips back a certain amount each day. In how many days will he get out of the well?
There is a log 18 feet long, the diameter of the extremities being 1 ft and 2.6 ft respectively...
Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions
A father wills his estate valued at \$40, 000 to his three children. Before the settlement one of the children dies. What should the other two receive?