The Golden Ratio

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Zeba Ahmed Dr. Cooper TSEM 102 9th October, 2012 The Golden Ratio Isn’t it ironic that the most beautiful number in the world is not a whole number but an irrational number? Surprisingly enough, PHI or the Golden Ratio which is 1.618 is the most beautiful number. The Golden ratio can be derived from “dividing a line segment so that the ratio of the whole segment to the larger piece is equal to the ratio of the larger piece to the smaller piece”(Markowsky, 1992). Another interesting way to find the approximation of the Golden Ratio is by taking the next-door Fibonacci number and dividing the larger number by the smaller number(Brown, 2003). Examples of Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio are plenty in nature as well as in man-made objects. However, many believe that the sighting of PHI in man-made object is often misconceived. What caught the attention of the Greek mathematician is the sighting of PHI in nature. They called it the Divine Proportion. For example, the quotient of the number of female bee and the male bee in all beehives in the world is always Phi or 1.618 (Brown, 2003). The seeds on the head of sunflowers grow in opposing spirals and the spirals tend to be a Fibonacci number (Livio, 2002). Therefore, the ratios between the spirals are an approximation of the Golden Ratio. Even the human body also illustrates Phi. The ratio of ones forearm to their arm is indeed a close approximation of 1.618―Phi. Phi in man-made object is a subject of controversy. Brown (2000) claims that, the structural dimensions of the Greek Parthenon, the pyramids of Egypt and the UN building embodies Phi. On the contrary, according to Markowsky (1992) the above statement is a common misconception. Taking the Greek Parthenon for example, Markowsky (1992) states: The dimension of the Parthenon as: height = 45 feet 1 inch; width = 101 feet, 3.75 inches; length = 228
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