From Real to Imaginary Numbers

Mathematics, initially conceived to quantify and understand the world around us, took an unexpected turn as it encountered seemingly insurmountable problems. This journey led mathematicians to disconnect from the reality they sought to describe, introducing… imaginary numbers. Surprisingly, these surreal entities later emerged as integral components of our best physical theories.🤓

The Cubic Conundrum

The quest for a general solution to cubic equations spans millennia, with civilizations like the Babylonians, Greeks, and Persians encountering an impasse.

Luca Pacioli, math teacher to Leonardo da Vinci, declared the cubic equation unsolvable, a sentiment which echoed across ancient cultures.

Ancient mathematicians approached equations geometrically, visualizing shapes and areas. While the quadratic solution is familiar today, negative solutions were overlooked due to the real-world context of lengths and volumes. Mathematicians avoided negative numbers, resulting in multiple versions of quadratic and cubic equations.

In 16th-century Italy, Scipione del Ferro unlocked the secrets of cubics but kept his method hidden for job security. Upon his death, his student Antonio Fior revealed the solution, leading to a mathematical duel. Del Ferro’s method faced its first public test, and…