# Problems from Another Time

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

The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.
In Archimedes' Book of Lemmas (ca 250), he introduces a figure that, due to its shape, has historically been known as "the shoemaker's knife" or arbelos.
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?
A general formed his men into a square, that is, an equal number in rank and file, and he found that he had an excess of 59 men.
Problems from a 15th century French manuscript, including one with negative solutions
Now a pile of rice is against a wall, it has a base perimeter of 60 feet and a height of 12 feet.
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?
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?
What number which being increased by 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 of itself, the sum shall be 75?
A gentleman has bought a rectangular piece of land whose perimeter is to be 100 rods.