Medieval riddles from Alcuin

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.medievalists.net/2025/10/can-you-solve-these-ten-medieval-mathematical-riddles/?utm_source=gravitec&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=Push+Notification

Snail v knight 

[Duncan Head]

So an "ounce of a foot" is an inch? Never come across that phrasing before, is that Alcuin being weird or the translator?

[Nick Harbud]

Is that a US ounce or imperial ounce?   

[Nick Harbud]

Of course, in 246 years and 210 days the snail would probably have died of old age, if not hunger.

It's a long way to go for a spot of lunch...

 

[Imperial Dave]

 

[Andreas Johansson]

So an "ounce of a foot" is an inch? Never come across that phrasing before, is that Alcuin being weird or the translator?

I don't know, but it's probably relevant that "ounce" and "inch" are both from Latin uncia "twelfth part", by different routes.

[Imperial Dave]

Ooooh, love a bit of etymology

[Nick Harbud]

FWIW, a British Imperial pint contains 20 fluid ounces, whereas a US Customary pint has only 16.  Even stranger, the US fluid ounce contains 29.5735295625 mL, except on food labelling when it contains 30 mL.

None of the above should be confused with the international (Avoirdupois) ounce that is a measure of weight.

[Erpingham]

A pint of water weighs a pound and a quarter, as we learned in primary school. Hence an fluid ounce weighs an ounce.

[Nick Harbud]

...except in USA, where it weighs about 4% more.   

[Erpingham]

...except in USA, where it weighs about 4% more.   

According to wiki, the Americans say "The pint is a pound the world around". However, a US pint weighs 16.6 ounces.

[Jon Freitag]

According to wiki, the Americans say "The pint is a pound the world around". However, a US pint weighs 16.6 ounces.

That is what we were taught in primary school.

[Nick Harbud]

Yeah, I feel the SI units need some suitable mnemonics for the modern age...   

...Anyone know some good rhymes involving kilogrammes and litres?

 

[Imperial Dave]

Is it kilograms or kilogrammes though 

[Erpingham]

Is it kilograms or kilogrammes though 

Kilos, just to play safe