Folding Cubic Roots: Margherita Piazzolla Beloch’s Contribution to Elementary Geometric Constructions

In this paper we describe the contributions made by Margherita Piazzolla Beloch to the field of elementary geometric construction. In par- ticular we examine her solution of the classical Greek problem of doubling the cube via paper folding. The solution was achieved by creating a new fold which in turn enabled Piazzolla Beloch to construct, also by paper folding, the root of any given cubic polynomial.