Module 1.

4 Relationship Between Fibonacci Sequence and Golden Ratio

Consider a line segment cut into two unequal segments of lengths 1 and 𝑥, such that 0 < 𝑥 < 1
!"# !
and !
= #. How long is 𝑥?
1 x

𝑥+1 𝑥
=
𝑥 1

1(𝑥 + 1) = 𝑥(𝑥) Cross multiplication

𝑥 + 1 = 𝑥$
0 = 𝑥 $ − 𝑥 − 1 or 𝑥$ − 𝑥 − 1 = 0

To find the value of 𝑥, we use the quadratic formula with 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −1 and 𝑐 = −1, we have

% ' ± )' ! % *+, % (%#) ± )(%#)! % *(#)(%#) # ± √#" * # ± √0

𝑥= = = =
$+ $(#) $ $
#" √0 #% √0
𝑥# = $
≈ 1.618 𝑥$ = $
≈ −0.618 (discarded, 0 < 𝑥)

The approximate value of 1.618 is called the Golden or divine ratio and is represented by the Greek
#% √0
letter phi (𝜙 𝑜𝑟 𝜑). On the other hand, $
or approximately −0.618 is known as the golden ratio conjugate.

#" √0 #% √0
Focus on the computed values of 𝑥# and 𝑥$ above. The $ and $ give a hint on the relationship
between the golden ratio and the Fibonacci sequence from Binet’s formula for finding the nth term of the
Fibonacci sequence.

1 1
1 + √5 1 − √5
7 2 ; −7 2 ;
𝑓1 =
√5
2
When you take two consecutive Fibonacci numbers and get their ratio 2 " , quotients approach a
"#$
certain value. The table below shows the ratios of two consecutive Fibonacci numbers up until the 16th
term. A line graph displays the correspondence between the Fibonacci number and its consequent ratio.

Fibonacci Ratio Fibonacci Ratio

Number (rounded off) Number (rounded off)
1 55 55/34 = 1.61764706
1 1/1 = 1 89 89/55 = 1.61818182
2 2/1 = 2 144 144/89 = 1.61797753
3 3/2 = 1.5 233 233/144 = 1.61805556
5 5/3 = 1.66666667 377 377/233 = 1.61802575
8 8/5 = 1.6 610 610/377 = 1.61803714
13 13/8 = 1.625 987 987/610 = 1.61803279
21 21/13 = 1.61538462 1597 1597/987 = 1.61803445
34 34/21 = 1.61904762 2584 2584/1597 = 1.61803345
 2"
The ratio between two consecutive Fibonacci numbers approach the golden ratio. This was
2"#$
noticed by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler.