MATHEMATICS

IN THE
MODERN WORLD
GOLDEN RATIO
EXAMPLES
 EXAMPLE 1:
You are asked to cut a 7-inch straw into 2 pieces. And the ratio of the pieces should be equal to the golden ratio. What are the lengths of the
pieces?
Solution:
When a segment is divided into two parts whose ratio is a golden ratio, then the longer part divided by the shorter part is equal to the sum of
the parts divided by the longer part of the segment.
𝑎 𝑎+𝑏
= = 1.618 …
𝑏 𝑎
Sum of the lengths:
a + b = 7 (add the two parts)
a = 7-b
Solving for b:
𝑎
= 1.618 …
𝑏
7−𝑏
= 1.618 …
𝑏
7 - b = 1.618 b
1.618b + b = 7
2.618b = 7
2.618𝑏 7
=
2.618 2.618
b = 2.67 inches (the shorter part)
Solving for a when b = 2.67:
a = 7 – 2.67
a = 4.33 inches
 EXAMPLE 2:
• Check the 9th iteration of the function f(φ)=1+(1/x) is equal to the golden ratio.
Solution: Assuming φ=1
1 1 1 3
𝜑1 = 1 + 1 = 2 1st Iteration 𝜑2 = 1 + 1 =1+ = 2nd Iteration
1+ 𝜑1 2
1 3 𝜑
𝜑2 = 1 + 𝜑 = 2 2nd Iteration 1 1 5
1 𝜑3 = 1 + 1 =1+𝜑 =3 3rd Iteration
1 5 1+
𝜑3 = 1 + 𝜑 = 3 3rd Iteration 1
1+𝜑
2
2
1 1 8
𝜑4 =
1
1+𝜑 =5
8
4th Iteration 𝜑4 = 1 + 1 =1+𝜑 =5 4th Iteration
3 1+ 1 3
1 13 1+ 1
𝜑5 = 1+𝜑 = 5th Iteration 1+𝜑
4 8
1 21
𝜑6 = 1+𝜑 = 6th Iteration
5 13
1 34
𝜑7 = 1+𝜑 = 7th Iteration
6 21
1 55
𝜑8 = 1+𝜑 = 8th Iteration
7 34
1 89
𝜑9 = 1+𝜑 = = 1.618 9th Iteration
8 55
 EXAMPLE 3:
• Two equal circles (C) and (D) are tangent to each other. AB is the diameter
of (C) perpendicular to CD. BD crosses (D) in two points; let E be the farther
one from B. Prove that BE/AB=Golden Ratio
Solution:
Taking the common radius of the two circles to be 1,
AC = CB = DE = 1
AB = CD = 2
BD = CB2 + CD2 = 12 + 22 = 5
BE = 1 + 5
𝐵𝐸 1+ 5
𝐴𝐵
= 2
= 1.618 …
 EXAMPLE 4:
• A square is inscribed in a semicircle. The ratio AB/BC is the golden ratio.
Prove it.
Solution:
Let O be the center of the circle and r is its radius.
Assuming that the sides of the square is equal to 2.
AO = OB = 1
r = OC = OB2 + 22 = 12 + 22 = 5
BC = OC − OB = 5 − 1
𝐴𝐵 2
= = 1.618 …
𝐵𝐶 5−1
 EXAMPLE 5:
• The centers of the three equal circles ©, (D), (F) are collinear and the circles
are pairwise tangent. AB is the diameter of (C) perpendicular to the line of
the centers. Circle C(D,B) is the circle centered at D through B. G is the point
on (F), farthest from, say, D. Point H is on C(D,B) and the line of the centers.
Prove that HK/KG=Golden Ratio.
Solution:
Taking the common radius of the two circles to be 1,
DE = DK = 1
AB = KG = 2
BD = CB2 + CD2 = 12 + 22 = 5
BE = HK = 1 + 5
𝐻𝐾 1+ 5
= = 1.618 …
𝐾𝐺 2