The quadratic formula for the general degree two equation is one of the most familiar
equations in mathematics. Surely every college mathematics teacher can quote it and
derive it without efiort. In contrast, the corresponding equation for the solution of the
general cubic is quite obscure. We are all aware that such a formula exists, but it is
an uncommon mathematician who can quote the result, let alone derive it from flrst
principles. Imagine the surprise, therefore, of discovering a simple algebraic derivation
in the middle of looking for something else. Even more surprising, when we reviewed
the literature, we discovered (or rediscovered) other derivations that are just as simple.
Indeed, Oglesby [9] came up with a closely related approach 75 years ago. In retrospect,
the solution of the cubic seems direct enough that we ought to have been more familiar
with it. We hope the reader will experience a similar reaction as we share the derivation
we found so serendipitously, and sketch the more usual approach.
Before proceeding, we should recall that an arbitrary cubic equation can be reduced to
one of the form
x3
+ px + q = 0 (1)
by a linear change of variable. So in what follows, we will only consider this kind of cubic
equation.
The derivation that we will present depends on the following identity.
(!a + b + c)(a + !b + c)(a + b + !c)=(a3
+ b3
+ c3
)! ¡ 3abc!2
(2)