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Problems from Another Time

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

If you are h feet tall and walk all the way around the Earth, keeping to the same circumference, how much farther has your head gone than your feet when you complete the journey?
Chuquet claimed that if given positive numbers a, b, c, d then (a + b) / (c + d) lies between a/c and b/d. Is he correct? Prove your answer
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.
The three sides of a triangular piece of land, taken in order, measure 15, 10, and 13 chains respectively.
A man hired a horse in London at 3 pence a mile. He rode 94 miles due West to Bristol then due north to Chester, whence he returned toward London for 66 miles, which put him in Coventry.
The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.
A tree is 20 feet tall and has a circumference of 3 feet. There is a vine that winds seven equally spaced times around the tree and reaches the top. What is the length of the vine?
After a terrible battle it is found that 70% of the soldiers have lost an eye.
A speculator bought stock at 25% below par and sold it at 20% above par. He gained $1560. How much did he invest?
Discussion of 15th century French manuscript, with translation of its problems, including one with negative solutions

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