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Problems from Another Time

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

A cliff with a tower on its edge is observed from a boat at sea; find the height of the cliff and the tower.
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?
One person possesses 7 asava horses, another 9 haya horses, and another 9 camels. Each gives two animals away, one to each of the others.
How long does it take a single man to do work when...
When knowing the sum of their ages along with another equation, determine how old a father and son are.
Three men have a pile of money, their shares being 1/2, 1/3 and 1/6. Each man takes some money from the pile until nothing is left.
Two men have a certain amount of money. The first says to the second, "If you give me 5 denari, I will have 7 times what you have left."
There is a log of precious wood 18 feet long whose bases are 5 feet and 2.5 feet in circumference. Into what lengths should the log be cut to trisect its volume?
The number 50 is divided by a certain number. If the divisor is increased by 3, the quotient decreases by 3.75. What is the number?
The authors recount the 'great tale' of Napier's and Burgi's parallel development of logarithms and urge you to use it in class.

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