Fibonacci

For the number sequence, see Fibonacci number. For the Prison Break character, see Otto Fibonacci.

Born c. 1170

Pisa,[2] Republic of Pisa

Died c. 1250 (aged 79–80)

most likely Pisa, Republic of Pisa

Other names Leonardo Fibonacci, Leonardo Bonacci, Leonardo Pisano

Occupation Mathematician

Known for

Liber Abaci, popularizing the Hindu–Arabic numeral system in Europe Fibonacci numbers

Parent(s) Guglielmo "Bonacci" (father)

Fibonacci was an Italian mathematician from the Republic of Pisa, considered to be "the most talented Western mathematician of
the Middle Ages".
The name he is commonly called, Fibonacci, was made up in 1838 by the Franco-Italian historian Guillaume Libri and is short for
filius Bonacci ("son of Bonacci"). He is also known as Leonardo Bonacci, Leonardo of Pisa, or Leonardo Bigollo Pisano ("Leonardo
the Traveller from Pisa").
Fibonacci popularized the Hindu–Arabic numeral system in the Western World primarily through his composition in 1202 of Liber
Abaci (Book of Calculation). He also introduced Europe to the sequence of Fibonacci numbers, which he used as an example in
Liber Abaci.

History
Fibonacci was born around 1170 to Guglielmo, an Italian merchant and customs official.[10] Guglielmo directed a trading post in
Bugia, Algeria. Fibonacci travelled with him as a young boy, and it was in Bugia that he learned about the Hindu–Arabic numeral
system.
Fibonacci travelled around the Mediterranean coast, meeting with many merchants and learning about their systems of doing
arithmetic. He soon realised the many advantages of the Hindu-Arabic system, which, unlike the Roman numerals used at the time,
allowed easy calculation using a place-value system. In 1202, he completed the Liber Abaci (Book of Abacus or The Book of
Calculation), which popularized Hindu–Arabic numerals in Europe.
Fibonacci became a guest of Emperor Frederick II, who enjoyed mathematics and science. In 1240, the Republic of Pisa honored
Fibonacci (referred to as Leonardo Bigollo) by granting him a salary in a decree that recognized him for the services that he had
given to the city as an advisor on matters of accounting and instruction to citizens:

The date of Fibonacci's death is not known, but it has been estimated to be between 1240 and 1250, most likely in Pisa.

Liber Abaci posed and solved a problem involving the growth of a population of rabbits based on idealized assumptions. The
solution, generation by generation, was a sequence of numbers later known as Fibonacci numbers. Although Fibonacci's Liber
Abaci contains the earliest known description of the sequence outside of India, the sequence had been described by Indian
mathematicians as early as the sixth century.

In the Fibonacci sequence, each number is the sum of the previous two numbers. Fibonacci omitted the "0" included today and
began the sequence with 1, 1, 2, ... . He carried the calculation up to the thirteenth place, the value 233, though another manuscript
carries it to the next place, the value 377. Fibonacci did not speak about the golden ratio as the limit of the ratio of consecutive
numbers in this sequence.

In the Liber Abaci (1202), Fibonacci introduced the so-called modus Indorum (method of the Indians), today known as the Hindu–
Arabic numeral system.[23][24] The book advocated numeration with the digits 0–9 and place value. The book showed the practical
use and value of the new Hindu-Arabic numeral system by applying the numerals to commercial bookkeeping, converting weights
and measures, calculation of interest, money-changing, and other applications. The book was well-received throughout educated
Europe and had a profound impact on European thought. No copies of the 1202 edition are known to exist. [25]
The 1228 edition, first section introduces the Hindu-Arabic numeral system and compares the system with other systems, such as
Roman numerals, and methods to convert the other numeral systems into Hindu-Arabic numerals. Replacing the Roman numeral
system, its ancient Egyptian multiplication method, and using an abacus for calculations, with a Hindu-Arabic numeral system was
an advance in making business calculations easier and faster, which led to the growth of banking and accounting in Europe.[26][27]
The second section explains the uses of Hindu-Arabic numerals in business, for example converting different currencies, and
calculating profit and interest, which were important to the growing banking industry. The book also discusses irrational
numbers and prime numbers.[25][26][27]