In his Huygens and Barrow, Newton and Hooke, Arnold mentions a notorious teaser that, in his opinion, modern mathematicians are not capable of solving quickly. Then, he adds that the exception that proved the rule in this case of his was the German mathematician G. Faltings.

My question is whether any of you knows the complete story behind those lines in Arnold's book. I mean, did Arnold pose the problem somewhere (Квант Magazine?) and G. Faltings was the only one that submitted a solution after his own heart? Is the previous conjecture totally unrelated to the actual development of things?

I thank you in advance for you insightful replies.

P.S. Guess it'd be just great for MO if we somehow managed to get first-hand information for about this query of mine.

In his Huygens and Barrow, Newton and Hooke, Arnold mentions a teaser that, in his opinion, modern mathematicians are not capable of solving quickly. Then, he adds that the exception that proved the rule in this case of his was the German mathematician G. Faltings.

My question is whether any of you knows the complete story behind those lines in Arnold's book. I mean, did Arnold pose the problem somewhere (Квант Magazine?) and G. Faltings was the only one that submitted a solution after Arnold's his own heart? Is the previous conjecture totally unrelated to the actual development of things?

I tahnk thank you in adavance advance for you insightful replies.

P.S. Guess it'd be just great for MO if we somehow managed to get first-hand information for this query of mine.

In his Huygens and Barrow, Newton and Hooke, Arnold mentions a teaser that, in his opinion, modern mathematicians are not capable of solving quickly. Then, he adds that the exception that proved the rule in this case of his was the German mathematician G. Faltings.

My question is whether any of you knows the complete story behind those lines in Arnold's book. I mean, did Arnold pose the problem somewhere (Квант Magazine?) and G. Faltings was the only one that submitted a solution after Arnold's own heart? Is the previous conjecture totally unrelated to the actual development of things?

I tahnk you in adavance for you insightful replies.