Studied with F. Enriques in Bologna , where he graduated in 1912. During the First World War he worked in problems of applied mathematics. He taught geometry in Cagliari (since 1923) and Milano (since 1925). He was also a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and dean of the faculty of sciences of the University of Milano (1945-50).

He was also involved in educational issues and in problems concerning the popularization of mathematics (he was one of the main contributors to the Enciclopedia Italiana ). From 1946 to 1967 he was the editor of the Italian influential educational journal, Il periodico di matematiche .

Students: C. F. Manara, M. Dedò, E. Marchionna , C. Tibiletti.

Selected papers printed by U.M.I. in 1961 (Zanichelli, Bologna ).

Main commemoration: Various authors, Periodico di Mat. , (4), 46, 1968; E. Togliatti, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. (Celebrazioni lincee, n. 26) , 1969, 1-16.