LESSON 2: Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio

Numerical sequences are also patterns of occurring number known as terms. In this section, we
will look into the beauty of these patterns as we unraveled some mysteries of the existence and
usefulness of these amazing mathematics.

Consider the following sequences:

a. 2, 4, 8,…
b. 3, 5, 7,…
c. 1, 4, 9,…

What is the next three terms of the given sequences?

Solution: By analyzing the given sequences, we can say that…

a. The second term of the sequence was twice the first term while the third term is the same as
twice the second so then the next three terms will be 8(2)=16, 16(2)=32, 32(2)=64
b. The given terms differ by two, which means we simply add 2 to the last term to get the next
term and so on, so the next three terms are 7+2=9, 9+2=11, 11+2=13
c. Observe that the given terms are the first perfect squares meaning, 12=1 , 22=4 ,3 2=9, so the
next three terms are 4 2=16 , 52=25 ,∧62 =36.

Consider the sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5,…

What is the sixth term of the sequence? The seventh term? Can you tell how terms are generated? This
is called the Fibonacci Sequence?

The Fibonacci Sequence is named after Leonardo of Pisa (1170-1250), an Italian Mathematician. His real
name was Leonardo Pisano Bogollo. “Fibonacci was his nickname which roughly means “Son of
Bonacci”. Fibonacci is best known, though, for his introduction into Europe of a particular number
sequence, which has since become known as Fibonacci Numbers or the Fibonacci Sequence. He
discovered the sequence- the first recursive number sequence known in Europe- while considering a
practical problem in the “Liber Abaci” involving the growth of a hypothetical population of rabbits based
on idealized assumptions.

The Fibonacci numbers started when Leonardo, proposed a problem about the breeding of rabbits. He
started with a newly born pair of rabbits which were able to mate after one month. After a month of
gestation exactly one pair of rabbits, also male and female, was produced. Every month, from then on,
the female always produced one new pair (one male and one female). The problem then was to
determine the number of pairs of rabbits after one year. Considering each month, there is one pair (pair
A) in the initial period, still 1 pair a month after (maturation period), then two pairs after two months
(pair B is born at the end of the second month which is the gestation period). On the third month, pair A
produces new pair (pair c) while pair B is maturing, yielding three pairs. On the fourth month, pair A
produces another new pair (pair D), pair C will now produce offspring (pair E), while pair D is maturing,
yielding five pairs in all. From this, the numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, and 5 are obtained. (Note that the problem
assumes that the female rabbits do not die and are biologically reproductive in the entire process.

Although there are some claims that the sequence has been discovered in India, as evidence by their
arts and writings, prior to the hypothesis of Leonardo, the sequence is still called Fibonacci Sequence.

The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it:

 the 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1),

 the 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2),

 the 5 is (2+3),

 and so on!

Example: the next number in the sequence above is 21+34 = 55

It is that simple!

Here is a longer list:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765, 10946, 17711,
28657, 46368, 75025, 121393, 196418, 317811, ...

Can you figure out the next few numbers?

The Rule

The Fibonacci Sequence can be written as a "Rule".

First, the terms are numbered from 0 onwards like this:

n= 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ...

xn = 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89 144 233 377 ...

So term number 6 is called x6 (which equals 8).

Example: the 8th term is
the 7th term plus
the 6th term:

x8 = x7 + x6

So we can write the rule:

The Rule is xn = xn−1 + xn−2

where:

 xn is term number "n"

 xn−1 is the previous term (n−1)

 xn−2 is the term before that (n−2)

Example: term 9 is calculated like this:

x9= x9−1 + x9−2

 = x8 + x7

 = 21 + 13

 = 34

This sequence has many interesting properties which can be seen from our nature. Recall the spirals of
the sunflower head and the pineapple “eyes” which can generate 34 and 55 spirals in different
directions and 5,8,13 diagonally aligned “eyes” respectively.

Golden Ratio

And here is a surprise. When we take any two successive (one after the other) Fibonacci Numbers, their
ratio is very close to the Golden Ratio "φ" which is approximately 1.618034...

In fact, the bigger the pair of Fibonacci Numbers, the closer the approximation. Let us try a few:

A B B/A
2 3 1.5

3 5 1.666666666...

5 8 1.6

8 13 1.625

... ... ...

144 233 1.618055556...

233 377 1.618025751...

... ... ...

Some figures, shapes around us resemble this beautiful mathematical system. The spiral among flowers,
shells of snails, human embryo, ears, the Eiffel tower as well as the Parthenon , which are famous
landmarks of the world, exhibits the golden ratio if proportions of some of its parts are taken.

Using The Golden Ratio to Calculate Fibonacci Numbers

And even more surprising is that we can calculate any Fibonacci Number using the Golden Ratio:

xn = [φn − (1−φ)n]÷ √ 5

The answer comes out as a whole number, exactly equal to the addition of the previous two terms.

Example: x6

x6 = [(1.618034...)6 − (1−1.618034...)6]÷√ 5

When I used a calculator on this (only entering the Golden Ratio to 6 decimal places) I got the
answer 8.00000033 , a more accurate calculation would be closer to 8.

Activity:

Try n=12, 15, 17, 19, and 21 and see what you get using the above formula.