... the part cut away. What was the height of the part remaining? Fortunately for the latter, a moment of inspiration had come ten days previously. Tartaglia had discovered a method of solving two types of cubic, those of the form a cube and things equal to numbers () and a cube and squares equal to numbers (). Fior could only solve equations in the first form (del Ferro's type) and so the solution of other type set by his opponent eluded him. Tartaglia, armed with more tools reduced his challenges into special cases of the cubic and quickly solved all thirty of Fior's problems in less than two hours. In 1548 Tartaglia became involved in another public contest, this time his opponent was Ludovico Ferrari. It was to be held in Milan on the 10th August at the church garden of the Fratti Zoccolanti in front of a large, distinguished audience. ...

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