Part 3/12:
In stark contrast to the struggle surrounding cubics, the quadratic equation (ax² + bx + c = 0) was mastered by ancient mathematicians long before. This achievement raises the question: why could simple quadratics be tackled while their cubic counterparts remained elusive? It centers around a significant conceptual shift: ancient mathematicians embraced a geometrical understanding of mathematics, regarding numbers as physical entities with tangible representations—like squares and rectangles—rather than abstract symbols.