St. Ives Problem/Historical Note

Historical Note on St. Ives Problem
The similarities between the St. Ives Problem and the version found in the are too close to be coincidental.

's version in his of $1202$ and $1228$ is also close.

suggested a link between this problem and the nursery rhyme , and went on to note that uses the same numbers as  and performs the calculation in the same way.

It may of course be suggested that the St. Ives Problem and the Rhind papyrus problem are in fact the same problem, having been passed down virtually unchanged for over $36$ centuries.

Hence it may be considered one of the oldest mathematical problems ever.

Note that, who reports on this problem in more than one publication, does not commit himself one way or another as to whether there is a direct intellectual link or not.

It is not completely certain that the St. Ives in question is, as opposed to the better-known.

However, the former is the more likely location, as it is a popular market town whose Great Fair may have been the venue for the travellers who thus met.