Algebra 1050 Group Project 1

Algebra Constants

Phi, e, Pi, Golden Ratio

Amber B., Dalton T., Keaton R., Kimberly W., Lana G., Rick B.
Algebra 1050 Group Project 2

It is asked, often in many different forms, “How is Algebra even useful in life?”. The

majority of people don't quite understand the daily applications for Algebra. Quite simply,

algebra is a part of everything, from architecture to recipe conversions. The most common

Algebraic constants are, Phi, e, Pi, and the Golden Ratio.

Phi:

The term “Neo-Phi-tes”, also known as “Phi,” for short, is an irrational number that

appeared to be used first by the Egyptians during the construction of the Great Pyramids. It is the

ratio of the line segments that occur when a line is divided in a unique way. Similar to Pi, Phi

represents a long list of numbers that goes on forever but is typically represented with the

number 1.618.

There are multiple different ways Phi is used today:

• Proportions of the human body

• Measuring DNA

• Music

• Bible Theology

• Art and architecture

The Value of e:

The value of e in math stands for a mathematical constant that equals approximately

2.71828. This is also referred to as Euler’s number. The function of this value is used in many

real-world scenarios that aren’t related to a linear relationship. Such functions deal with

logarithmic functions such as growth and decay functions, half-life calculations and compound
Algebra 1050 Group Project 3

interest. Functions also relate to statistical bell curves which can be used for frequency

distributions.

Ex: population growth formula= P=P0 x e^r*t

The value of e was first used by a Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler when he was

discovering the properties of exponential functions. But the number of 2.71828 was used many

years before Euler used e as a value. John Napier the creator of logarithms originally used the

value to progress his new discovery of logarithms. Although, Euler permanently cemented the

letter e in association with the value 2.71828.

Pi:

Pi, also known as Archimedes’ constant, has been recorded in calculations dating back as

far as 1650 BC. In 1900–1680 BC the Babylonians calculated the area of a circle by taking 3

times the square of its radius resulting in the calculation of 3.125. This is known as one of the

greatest revelations of the ancient world.

The Egyptian Rhind Papyrus, calculated the area of a circle to be 3.1605 for Pi. Later on,

Pi came about while Archimedes was reviewing the area of a circle around 287-212 BC. At this

time people approximated that Pi equaled between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71.

The symbol π that we now know today was created in 1700 in the Greek alphabet.

William Jones brought it to mathematics as Pi and was popularized by Leonhard Euler in 1737.

As we know today Pi is a never-ending number that goes on forever, but we have great insight

that it at least starts off like this 3.14159265359. The use of Pi has been a great asset to our

dimension of human existence and is used all over the world today.

Golden Ratio:
Algebra 1050 Group Project 4

“Simply, the golden ratio

(also called the golden rectangle and

golden mean) is a shape with a

proportion of 1 to 1.618. More

complexly, the math can be

described like this as explained by

the Interaction Design Foundation:

Each number in the Fibonacci

sequence is simply the sum of the two numbers before it. (Hom, 2013)

The Golden ratio is a special number found by dividing a line into two parts so that the

longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer

part. It is often symbolized using phi, after the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. In an equation

form, it looks like this:

a/b = (a+b)/a = 1.6180339887498948420

In conclusion, Algebra is a part of most everything that we see and do on a daily basis.

Whether it be beautiful patterns in nature or the rotation of the earth, to engineering cars and

skyscrapers. These constants are staples in the structure of algebraic functions and equations and

are realistically in play in all that we do from sun up to sun down. Even if we don’t fully

understand how.
Algebra 1050 Group Project 5

Sources

Cousins, C. (2018, September 24). The Golden Ratio in Design: Examples & Tips.

Retrieved from design shack: https://designshack.net/articles/layouts/golden-ratio-in-design/

Hom, E. J. (2013, June 24). What is the Golden Ratio. Retrieved from

LiveScience: https://www.livescience.com/37704-phi-golden-ratio.html

https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/Math/Math-e.htm

Meisner, Gary, et al. “History of the Golden Ratio.” The Golden Ratio: Phi, 1.618, 26

Aug. 2017, www.goldennumber.net/golden-ratio-history/.