# Problems from Another Time

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

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?
An official asks a woman why she has so many bowls to wash. The woman explains that she had dinner guests who ate meat, rice, and soup. Judging by the number of bowls, how many guests were there?
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?
Two bicyclists travel in opposite directions around a quarter-mile track and meet every 22 seconds. When they travel in the same direction on this track, the faster passes the slower once every 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Find the rate of each rider
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? X, Y and Z hired a pasture for the season for$90.00. Each has a different number of mules and are on the pasture for a different number of days. How much is each to pay?
Having been given the perimeter and perpendicular of a right angled triangle, it is required to find the triangle.
A horse, halving its speed each day, travels 700 miles in 7 days. How far does it travel each day?
Determine the dimensions of the least isosceles triangle ACD that can circumscribe a given circle.
A rifle ball is fired through a three-inch plank, the resistance of which causes an unknown constant retardation of its velocity.