Talk:Lodovico Ferrari

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Untitled[edit]

why is there not more information on this topic, please add some more

Homosexual?[edit]

I removed this sentence from the end of the article:

A recent study of his journal shows that he was a homosexual.

This isn't supported by the sole source given in this article (as far as I can tell). I would love to see a reliable external source to verify this statement; until then, it shouldn't be in the article. —Bkell (talk) 04:11, 23 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Young Prosperous Mathematician[edit]

I also do agree that Wikipedia does not have a sufficient amount of information on the of the most influential mathematicians in world history. Although I have read a texts that account for specific time periods of Ferrari's life i have found that Ferrari's recorded biography is not all entirely certain because numerous texts may state one thing that another would say that Ferrari did differently. From texts, such as History of Mathematics: An Introduction by David M. Burton, and A History of Mathematics 2nd Edition by Carl B. Boyer, as well from the archive search from Mac Tutor, it took a great deal to mesh the information together in that it all agreed with each other.

From the compiled information I found Ferrari's life to be very interesting. Due to his father's death at the age of 14 he moved in with his uncle, Vincent Ferrari. Vincent then sent Lodovico to work for Girolamo Cardan, the most outstanding physician, mathematician, and astrologer of his time. Cardan took him under his wing and Lodovico's career soared at a young age. At 18 years of age they both worked together in finding proofs of all cases of the cubic. By 1540, Ferrari discovered the solution of the quartic equation that later was published in Cardan's book Ars Magna. 67.168.190.140 (talk) 17:20, 1 May 2011 (UTC) Brian H., student of Saint Martin's University, History of Mathematics[reply]

It is interesting that he was sent to work (apprenticed) to Cardan. What was his mathematical training prior to his father's death and then under his uncle? He must have had quite a bit or I don't imagine that Cardan would have agreed to take him under his wing. Wetzelt (talk) 21:13, 2 May 2011 (UTC) Wetzel, T[reply]

According to the book History of Mathematics: An Introduction by David M. Burton, Lodovico Ferrari was sent to work for Cardan as a servant since his background was of the lower class. The book also noted that Ferrari had no formal education up to that point. It may be the case that Cardan recognized his natural potential on the job and then decided to school him in mathematics at that point. 76.121.9.223 (talk) 02:39, 3 May 2011 (UTC) Mitch, History of Mathematics student at Saint Martin's University.[reply]

i agree, i think that cardan must have realized that the boy was a genious and decided to hone his skills for his own benefit. as burton's math history book states cardan was one of the most villainous mathematicians of his time; so it makes sense that he would want to have someone to do the dirty work of his calculations.

Kazumooo (talk) 04:17, 4 May 2011 (UTC)kazumooo[reply]


Yes that is ture and in fact I found through other sources that the reason why Lodovico was sent to Cardan to by his servant was because of Ferrari's Uncle Vincet and his Cousin Luke. When Lodovico's father passed away, and as far as I know that there is no record of a mother being around, lodovico was sent to live with his Uncle Vincent. Well, Vincent had a troubled son, who was very disobiedent, named Luke. One day Luke ran away from home and was seeking for a job. He saw a opportunity to with Cardan as his house servant. After a couple of weeks Luke began to hate the idea of work and decided that what he had at home wasn't too bad. Luke left Cardan's house wiothout telling him and by the time Luke got home Cardan found out that he was gone. Cardan was not happy for he did not complete his obligation of employment as a servant, so Cardan sent Luke's father a letter requesting his return to finish his obligation. Vincent had the bright idea to send Lodovico in place for his son to relieve his responsibilty as guardian of Lodovico. When Lodovico arrived to Cardan's house he was put to work immediately. And in time he gained Cardan's trust and allowed Lodovico to help him with his mathematical and arstology scrolls. To Cardan's suprise he realized how intelligent young Lodovico was and Cardan beagn to teach him. From that point on Ferrari became to be one of the most influential mathematicaians in history. 67.168.190.140 (talk) 04:32, 4 May 2011 (UTC) Brian H., student of Saint Martin's University. History of Mathematics[reply]

This man in photo is not Lodovico Ferrari[edit]

See here: https://el.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF:Portrait_of_Cardinal_Alessandro_Farnese_(by_Titian)FXD.jpg Geoplous (talk) 13:55, 3 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]