What significant contribution did Cardano make to algebra?
First systematic use of negative numbers in Europe
Invented algebraic symbols
Solved Fermat's Last Theorem
First to use matrices
Answer
The Italian mathematician Girolamo Cardano is credited with the first systematic use of negative numbers in Europe, though his work on negative numbers was rejected by some of his contemporaries. In his book Ars Magna, Cardano developed rules for working with negative numbers, such as the rule that the product of two negative numbers is positive. He also used negative numbers to solve cubic equations.
Cardano's Chronicles: Unveiling the Brilliance of Gerolamo Cardano
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