Did you know that Gerolamo Cardano was born today in 1501? He was an Italian polymath, someone who studied and researched many different subjects. Gerolamo Cardano studied math, medicine, biology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and engineering. He was a prominent mathematician; he was the first to use negative numbers, acknowledged the existence of imaginary numbers, and presented fundamentals of algebra. He studied hypocycloids, which are basically paths created by circles that rotate in circles (think Spirograph). Gerolamo Cardano also developed mechanical devices such as the combination locks; a gimbal that allowed a compass to rotate freely; and the Cardan shaft, a device that can redirect kinetic energy in different directions, which is still used with motors today.
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Bonus Facts:
Gerolamo Cardano’s father was a jurist and lawyer. He was also a friend of Leonardo DaVinci. Gerolamo’s father wanted him to study law, but Gerolamo chose to go against his father’s wishes and studied medicine and philosophy. A mixture of Gerolamo’s confrontational personality and Gerolamo’s illegitimate birth denied him educational and employment opportunities. However, he was consulted by many because of his undeniable intelligence and knowledge. Even though he was initially denied a license to practice medicine, he eventually became one of the most sought-after doctors in Milan and abroad.
One of the most outstanding mathematicians in history, Gerolamo Cardano studied or presented many foundational theories in Algebra such as the binomial theorem.
One of the reasons Gerolamo Cardano studied probability was because of his recurring lack of income. To stay financial solvent, Gerolamo Cardano gambled. He studied the game of dice throwing and established the idea of defining odds as a ratio of desired and unfavorable outcomes. He wrote about his research in the “Book on Games of Chance” and included a section on effective cheating methods.
Gerolamo Cardano’s study of hypocyloids also helped in the development of high-speed printing presses.
Gerolamo Cardano believed in educating the deaf. He believed that they were just as capable of learning how to read and write, even if they could not be taught conventionally how to speak.