A difficulty in case (2) that was not present in the solution to (1) is the possibility of
having the square root of a negative number appear in the numerical expression given by
the formula. Here is the derivation: Substitute x = u + v into x
3 = px + q to obtain
x
3 − px = u
3 + v
3 + 3uv(u + v) − p(u + v) = q
Set 3uv = p above to obtain u
3 + v
3 = q and also u
3
v
3 = (p/3)3
. That is, the sum and the
product of two cubes is known. This is used to form a quadratic equation which is readily
solved:
x = u + v =
3
s
1
2
q + w +
3
s
1
2
q − w
where
w =
s
(
1
2
q)
2 − (
1
3
p)
3
The so-called casus irreducibilis is when the expression under the radical symbol in w
is negative. Cardano avoids discussing this case in Ars Magna. Perhaps, in his mind,
avoiding it was justified by the (incorrect) correspondence between the casus irreducibilis
and the lack of a real, positive solution for the cubic.