- #1
Terrell
- 317
- 26
in Cardano's cubic formula. when reducing a cubic to its depressed form: from ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d = 0 to a form like y^3 +py + q = 0. what is the motivation behind making x = y - b/3a first before proceeding to depress the cubic? what was cardano's motivation for that substitution or whoever showed him that technique?