Gerolamo Cardano was an Italian mathematician, also known for his significant contributions to astronomy, philosophy, medicine, music, physics, and religion. He was a brilliant and highly respected physician, despite the fact the the College of Physicians repeatedly denied him membership due to being an illegitimate child. In the field of mathematics, Cardano is most noted for his advancements in algebra. He also advanced the area of cubic and quartic equations in some of his writing. However, his popularization of these equations may not have been approved by their supposed originators. Although Cardano's gambling addiction lead to him to poverty, it eventually lead to advancements in the world of probability. He has authored more that fifteen works, and is best known for his book, Ars Magna, an influential book about algebra. Literally translated, Ars Magna means "Great Art." Cardano was the mastermind of the combination lock, and he is responsible for advancing the areas of hydrodynamics, drive shafts, and high speed printing.
Sources:
"Girolamo Cardano." Cardan Biography. University of St. Andrews Scotland, n.d. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Cardan.html>
Golden, John. "Gerolamo Cardando." Grand Valley State University. 2014
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Girolamo Cardano (Italian Physician and Mathematician)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/95415/Girolamo-Cardano>
"Girolamo Cardano." Cardan Biography. University of St. Andrews Scotland, n.d. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Cardan.html>
Golden, John. "Gerolamo Cardando." Grand Valley State University. 2014
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Girolamo Cardano (Italian Physician and Mathematician)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/95415/Girolamo-Cardano>