Here is the other problem from "The Story of Civilization":
Eight rubies, ten emeralds, and a hundred pearls, which are in thy ear-ring, my beloved, were purchased by me for thee at an equal amount; and the sum of the prices of the three sort of gems was three less than half a hundred; tell me the price of each, auspicious woman.
Enter the price of one pearl , the price of one emerald , and the the price of one ruby .
Hint: I had to ponder this a bit. The word "equal" means that eight rubies cost as much as ten emeralds or a hundred pearls. The prices that add to "three less than half a hundred" are the prices for one pearl, or one emerald, or one ruby. If you knew the price of a pearl you could easily figure out the price of a ruby or an emerald, just try some suitable numbers for the price of a pearl.