# Problems from Another Time

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

Two ants are 100 paces apart, crawling back and forth along the same path. The first goes 1/3 pace forward a day and returns 1/4 pace; the other goes forward 1/5 pace and returns 1/6 pace. How many days before the first ant overtakes the second?
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?
Suppose a man had put out one cent at compound interest in 1620, what would have been the amount in 1824, allowing it to double once in 12 years?
A barrel has various holes in it. The fist hole empties the barrel in three days...
A circle, a square and an equilateral triangle all have the same perimeter equal to 1 meter. Compare their areas.
Determine the different values of x, when a certain function hits a minimum.
Gun metal of a certain grade is composed of 16% tin and 84% copper. How much tin must be added to 410 lbs. of this gun metal to make a composition of 18% tin?
Given a door and a measuring rod of unknown dimensions, the rod is used to measure the door.
Now there are six-headed four legged animals and four-headed two-legged birds. Find the total number of animals and birds.
The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.