Solve $10x+2x^2+x^3=20$ using only algebra and geometry?

The cubic formula and modern math is not allowed, only algebra, geometry, and the like. Supposedly this problem was given to Fibonacci. Here is the whole paragraph I read:

In Flos Fibonacci gives an accurate approximation to a root of $10x + 2x^2 + x^3 = 20$, one of the problems that he was challenged to solve by Johannes of Palermo. This problem was not made up by Johannes of Palermo, rather he took it from Omar Khayyam's algebra book where it is solved by means of the intersection of a circle and a hyperbola. Fibonacci proves that the root of the equation is neither an integer nor a fraction, nor the square root of a fraction. He then continues:-

And because it was not possible to solve this equation in any other of the above ways, I worked to reduce the solution to an approximation. Without explaining his methods, Fibonacci then gives the approximate solution in sexagesimal notation as $1.22.7.42.33.4.40$ (this is written to base $60$, so it is $1 + 22/60 + 7/60^2 + 42/60^3 + \dots$). This converts to the decimal $1.3688081075$ which is correct to nine decimal places, a remarkable achievement.

Source: : Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci (short biography), School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, Scotland

This is just out of curiosity, I have no idea how this problem could be solved in terms of a circle and a hyperbola.

• Try this automated GeoGebra applet. It helps to show how he approached it, very clever! Regards – Amzoti Sep 7 '13 at 22:25
• @Amzoti Thanks! – Ovi Sep 7 '13 at 22:50