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UNIT VII

Lesson 14
Art and Golden Ratio
“Without mathematics there is no art.”- Luca Pacioli

Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, students must have:

• discussed the meaning and importance of Golden Ratio in Art, Beauty, and
nature;
• explained how the Golden Ratio is applied in quantifying body proportion,
art composition, and judgement of what is beautiful.
• expressed personal feelings and judgement about computer mapping,
technology or other body modification technique as form of art and
beauty;
• compiled photos of any artwork or kinds of nature which showcase the
golden ratio or proportion.

Materials:

photos, object from the natural environment , and tape measure

Duration: 3 hours

Key concepts and ideas:

Golden Ratio

Let’s ponder about these!

• The golden ratio is the ratio of approximately 1 to 1.618.

• Golden ratio is known by the Greek letter Φ , the number phi is a

mathematical concept that people have been referencing since the time of
the ancient Greeks. It is an irrational number, meaning that the number will
go on forever after the decimal point without repeating, like the more widely
known pi, or π.

• The human face is based entirely on the Golden ratio. Particularly, the head
forms a Golden rectangle with the eyes at its midpoint. The mouth and nose
are each placed at Golden sections of the distance between the eyes and
the bottom of the chin. The proportions of the length of the nose, the
position of the eyes and the length of the chin, all conform to some aspect
of the Golden ratio.

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• Parthenon is the exclusive human creation furtive with architectural and

sculptural grandeur and the main cause of Parthenon’s beauty is the
exquisite harmony of its parts based on the Golden ratio.

• The Golden ratio is prevalent in Da Vinci’s The Annunciation, Madonna with

Child and Saints, The Mona Lisa and St. Jerome. He was famous for using
the Golden ratio in his works. The Mona Lisa, a well-known portrait of a
woman with a coy smile, is embedded with Golden rectangles. The sketch,
An Old Man, has many rectangles on it.

• The golden ratio is used in painting, to define the horizon, to place points
of interest and to create balance in what would appear to be a very active
scene.
• The golden ratio can be used in more elegant ways to create aesthetics
and visual harmony in any branch of the design arts.

References:

Meisner, G. (2014). Golden Ratio in Art Composition and Design . Retrieved on

August 2020 at https://www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/

Palmer, L. (2015). Golden Ration in Art. Retrieved on August 2020 at

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/golden-ratio-in-art-328435

I. You can do this!

Read or watch the following articles for you to answer the subsequent questions.

• Golden Mean by Donald Duck (2020) (See Appendix 14.1)

• Golden Mean = Mind Blown by Davidson, T. (2018) (See Appendix 14.2)

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Figure 2 The Golden Ratio

1. What is the Golden Ratio? What is its significance in art composition, beauty,
and nature? (10 points)
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Figure 3 Golden Ratio in Human Body (A & B) – Harmony: C -

Disharmony

2. What is the Golden Ratio in human body? Who among the celebrity/ies or
famous people have it? (5 points)
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_______________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________

3. Are you in favor of body modification digital face-mapping technology? You

may use philosophical, moral, practical, or aesthetic perspectives to explain
your answer? (10 points)
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II. Analysis

A. Examine the following paintings below and determine the Golden Ratio
applied in it by mapping or drawing its measure on the painting. Use
pencil for tracing. Refer to example below. (5 points each)

Example:

Figure 4

The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai

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Retrieved from: https://www.ucsart.com/learn/blog/learn-the-golden-ratio-

for-your-artworks-on-canvas
Figure 5 Figure 6

Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci Girl with a pearl earring

Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa by Johannes Vermeer
Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earring

Figure 7

Sacrament of the Last Supper by Salvador Dali

Retrieved from: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/555842778992571838/

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B. Read the article entitled The Relation of Golden Ratio, Mathematics

and Aesthetics by Thapa, G.B. (See Appendix 14.3). Write a 2 or 3-
paragraph Reaction Paper about it.

Submit your work on ______________________________

Rubrics for rating the Essay

Component EXCELLENT SATISFACTORY UNSATISFACTORY

Points 5-4 3-2 1-0

Ideas/ Provides a thorough,
Contents accurate, and original ideas
as bases for the formation of
essay and justified the ideas
sufficiently and effectively.
Provides minimal accurate and Provides deficient and
original ideas as bases for the irrelevant ideas and does not
formation of essay with enough meet its justification and
justification of ideas. elaboration.

Organization Provides clear and Provides understandable order of The flow of ideas is fragmented
of Ideas understandable order of ideas ideas but ideas are a little and are not properly arranged
in accordance to its disarranged with its significance according to its significance
significance and scope. and scope. and scope.

Presentation Provides a clean, succinct, Provides a not much organized The format is not organized
and organized format of the format of the essay and a bit and lengthy, thus, it is
essay. Quite easy to read and lengthy. Not quite easy to read confusing to read and follow.
follow. and follow.

Writing Consistently grammatically Few errors in spelling and Utilizes poor spelling and
Mechanics correct with rare misspellings grammar are evident and just grammar and few good word
and good choice of words. enough good word choices. choices.

III. Highlights of the Lesson

• The golden ratio creates harmony and organic compositions in pieces of art.
It describes the perfectly balanced relationship between two proportions.

• There are many well-known “formulas of beauty” such as certain

geometrical shapes: square, circle, isosceles triangle, and pyramid.
However, the most wide-spread criterion of beauty is one unique
mathematical proportion called the Golden ratio which is termed as Divine
proportion or Golden section or Golden number or Golden mean. Examples
of well-known works, which exhibit this proportion, are Khufu’s Pyramid of
Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, Greek sculpture, the “Mona Lisa” by
Leonardo da Vinci, paintings by Rafael, Shishkin and the modern Russian
artist Konstantin Vasiljev, music of Beethoven and Mozart, (Thapa, G.B.,
2018).

• Truth, Beauty and Goodness are interrelated, an artist searches for the
Truth in the Beauty, and a scientist searches for the Beauty in the Truth.

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With the evolution of civilization, human beings have aspired for beauty.
And the flip side of beauty is goodness which tempts human heart to yearn
and explore beauty in creation. Ancient Greeks developed the science of
aesthetics as a way to analyze beauty, believing that harmony is its basis,
(Thapa, G.B., 2018).

• Body modification often has multiple meanings; its primary aim is

sometimes aesthetic and erotic enhancement. The Tiv of Nigeria chip their
teeth and create elaborate patterns of scars on their bodies. They deny that
these are tribal marks and instead say their purpose is simply to make
themselves more attractive. Scars enhance an individual’s best traits. A man
with ‘good legs’ (full calves and prominent heels) will have scars applied to
draw attention to them. Often rubbed with oil and red dye until they ‘glow’,
scars have a strongly erotic attraction. Areas of skin that have been scarred
are sensitive and erogenous, and a woman with scars on her belly is said to
be both more fertile and sexually demanding.

• In the West, body modification and decoration are often viewed as primarily
a female and feminized activity. In the nineteenth century, as men adopted
the somber suit, aesthetic expression and cosmetics were often seen as the
domain of women. However, Non-Western body modification and theories
of the body have been in flux due to colonialism, religious conversions, and
other forces of globalization. Beauty is equally a male concern.

IV. Application
Identify an artwork or objects of nature found in your immediate environment
that manifested the golden proportion and take a photo of it for compilation. Post
the said photo in your Facebook, twitter, or Instagram account with a caption or you
may have it compiled in your tablet/laptop as mosaic art/gallery art/profile picture.

Submit your work on _______________________________

Rubrics

OUTSTANDING EFFECTIVE Accomplished ADEQUATE INEFFECTIVE

(96-100) (90-95 ) 86-90 80-84 79 - below
Responds to the Responds to the Support claims Responds to Does not
expressive expressive by presenting works of art express a
qualities of the qualities of the credible and and nature personal
arts and arts; expresses persuasive expresses a response to
recognizes an informed evidence. personal artistic works.
particular personal Develop and response to the
elements of the response to of explain points in work(s) using
work the arts using clear, specific relevant
and reactions to relevant language, information and
them; expresses information and providing personal
an informed relating, the concrete observations.
personal response personal referents for
to artistic works responses to the key concepts
using relevant work(s) to that the
information and understanding of audience can

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relating personal self or others. easily

responses to the understand.
work(s) to Diagnose errors
understanding of in spelling,
self or others. usage, and
grammar,
correcting most
independently
and
seeking aid in
correcting
others.
SUNY Geneseo General Education Rubrics (2020). Retrieved on July 2020, from
http://gened.geneseo.edu/pdfs/assess_tools_revised.pdf

References:

Scott, D. (2017). Using The Golden Ratio To Improve Your Artworks. Retrieved
August 2020, https://drawpaintacademy.com/golden-ratio-in-
art/#:~:text=Applying%20The%20Golden%20Ratio%20In%20Art&text=The%2
0golden%20ratio%20has%20been%20used%20by%20artists%20to%20locate,
distribute%20weight%20in%20our%20paintings.&text=Another%20option%20i
s%20to%20segment,sections%20using%20the%20golden%20ratio.

Thapa, G.B. (2018). The Relation of Golden Ratio, Mathematics, and Aesthetics.
Retrieved on July 2020 at
https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JIE/article/download/20084/16485/0

Meisner, G. (2014, May 4).Golden Ration in Art Composition and Design. Retrieved
on August 2020 at https://www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/

Heidelbaugh, J., and Yen. G. (2008). Body Modification. Retrieved August 2020, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/body-modification

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APPENDIX 14.1

Donald Duck - Golden Mean

By Sam Alfano (2013)

It was our old friend Pythagoras who discovered that the pentagram
was full of mathematics. The two shorter lines combined exactly equal the
third and this line shows the magic proportions of the famous golden section
the second and third lines exactly equal the fourth. Once again we have the golden
section but this is only the beginning. Hidden within the pentagram is a secret for
creating a golden rectangle which the Greeks admired for its beautiful proportions
and magic qualities the star contains the golden rectangle. Many times over it's a
most remarkable shape, it can mathematically reproduce itself indefinitely all these
rectangles have exactly the same proportions.

This figure also contains a magic spiral that repeats the proportions of the
golden section into infinity. To the Greeks, the golden rectangle represented a
mathematical law of beauty, we find it in their classical architecture. The Parthenon
perhaps one of the most famous of early Greek buildings contains many golden
rectangles. These same golden proportions are also found in their sculpture in the
centuries that followed the golden rectangle dominated the idea of beauty and
architecture throughout the Western world. The Cathedral of Notre DOM is an
outstanding example the Renaissance painters knew this secret.

Well today, the golden rectangle is very much a part of our modern world.
Modern Painters have rediscovered the magic of these proportions. Indeed this ideal
proportion is to be found in life itself. Mathematically perfect, we're all good now that
you're all pent up in a Pentagon. Let's see how nature uses the same mathematical
form the petunia, the star jasmine, the starfish, the wax flower. There are literally
thousands of members in good standing in nature's Pythagorean Society of the star.
All nature's works have a mathematical logic and her patterns are limitless

The magic proportions of the golden section are often found in the spirals of
nature's desires. The profusion of mathematical forms brings to mind the words of
Pythagoras. Everything is arranged according to number and mathematical shape.
Yes, there is mathematics in music, in art, in just about everything and as the Greeks
had guessed the rules are always the same.

Reference:

Alfano, S. (2013). Donald Duck – Golden Mean. Transcript retrieved on August 2020
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwYfuJfIgaw

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APPENDIX 14.2

Golden Ratio = Mind Blown!

by Tessa Davidson

When I learned about this math ratio, it changed my life the Golden
Ratio. It is also referred to as "Phi." So, what is the Golden Ratio? Well, to
help explain it, I am going to put out the sequence of numbers called the
Fibonacci sequence, which is really just the Golden Ratio in a sequenced, numeric
form. Now to arrive at this Golden Ratio sequence of numbers, we just need to
follow a basic math formula. And I am not a math person, so we're just going to
keep this very simple.

So you just start with 0+1=1. And now to get to the next number in the
sequence, you take the sum of that simple equation and add it to the last number in
the equation. So, 1+1=2 and then 1+2 = 3. And it is around this point that the ratio
actually, starts showing up. As we continue to do this formula, we start arriving at a
set of numbers: 2, 3, 5, 8... and you see what we are doing-- we're adding the sum
of the equation to the last number in the equation, and we arrive at this sequence of
numbers. It is interesting that this sequence and ratio remains consistent no matter
how long you follow this mathematical formula. And so, this sequence continues to
expand outward around the rate and the ratio of 1 to 1.6.

Now to help give you an idea of what a 1 to 1.6 ratio is compared it to a 1 to

1 ratio so to make a 1 to 1.6 ratio, you just envision a little more than half of the
initial line added to the line of the other side. Alright so this ratio 1 to 1.6 This is the
ratio that is called the Golden Ratio a 1 to 1.6 ratio. So, this is what the Golden Ratio
looks like as a rectangle 1 to 1.6. And if we were to start making incremental Golden
Ratio points within that, we can get an idea of what a spiral looks like when it
expands outward at the same measured sequence.

Now this is all well and good, but what does that have to do with everyday
life? Well, a lot. And that is because when we look to nature, we see that so many
things flourish when they go to the golden ratio design and when they follow this
sequence. Growing and expanding to the rate of the golden ratio spiral allows the
maximum amount of rain to be directed down to the roots of many plants. And
remarkably when you study nature, you see the golden Fibonacci numbers like 3, 5,
8, 13, all of that again and again in the seed patterns and spirals of plants, as well as
in the number of petals.

Next time you are bored and have a sunflower, try counting the number of
seeds in the sunflower spiral-- the Golden Ratio! Or maybe try something else with a
spiral, like a pinecone or pineapple. So, we can spend all day counting the seeds of

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flowers, and plants, and fruit... I mean, you get the idea. But we do not just see this
Golden Ratio sequence on a small scale. This ratio is the mathematical sequence in
the spirals of our storms. Tornadoes, hurricanes-- these all spin in this golden
sequence 1 to 1.6! Even the waves can be measured using this ratio. But it does not
stop there-- modern technology continues to be mystified by the far-reaching scope
of the Golden Ratio. From the alignment of the planets to the spirals of our Milky
Way galaxy, as well as the spirals of other ratios of planets.

Now let's take this closer to home, I want you to hold out your arm and look
at the distance between your shoulder and your elbow. And then from your elbow to
your fingertips. Notice how your elbow from your shoulder to your elbow is "1" and
then from your elbow to your fingertips is "1.6." Pretty crazy huh? but doesn't stop
there. Now take that further the distance from your fingertips to your wrist is "1" and
from your wrist to your elbow is "1.6" Keep it going-- from the furthest tip of your
finger to the bottom of your fingers is "1" and from the bottom of your fingers to
your wrist is "1.6." Now check out the spacing of your knuckles 1 to 1.6. Are you
getting freaked out yet? Think about this: the head to your belly button "1" and then
belly button to your feet "1.6." From your toes to your knees, and from your knees
to your hips-- Golden Ratio! Ever wonder why your two front teeth are so much
bigger? Golden ratio! The pupils of your eyes-- I mean, you name it, your whole
body is the symphony of the Golden Ratio! In fact, as you are listening to this video,
the sound waves are passing through your ear in a perfect golden spiral. Scientists
have discovered that the golden ratio pattern is necessary for the human brain, the
neural system, our sense organs, and our lung system.

The golden ratio sequence is even in the helix of our DNA, and it forms the
very rhythm of our heartbeat pattern! This is amazing if you ask me! The universe is
an incredible place, and to think that these beautiful intricacies of the world all hang
on a stacked, razor edge with the incomprehensible fine-tuning of all these precise
constants and quantities which allow the universe to begin to exist. I mean it's
unfathomable! No wonder we are a naturally bent to worship a higher creative
power. I mean, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we live in a universe that
is designed and hardwired to be life permitting. And speaking of which, I think it is
interesting that the Golden Ratio also comes up in the ancient Biblical texts. Scholars
have noted that would not you consider design measurements of things like Noah's
Ark and the Ark of the Covenant, the Golden Ratio is an exact match to the
measurements. Pretty interesting... Okay, so we've seen how the Golden Ratio is
embedded into our life and even into our own heartbeat. So naturally, it's going to
affect our aesthetics and the arts.

It is believed that the Greeks used the Golden Ratio to achieve ideal
acoustics, and many instruments are actually designed with the ratio. When you look
at the number of black keys and white keys on a piano, it should be no surprise that
you see the Golden Ratio. And that's because the musical scales and notes align with
the Fibonacci sequence. So scientists, mathematicians, and artisans have been aware
of the Golden Ratio and have been incorporating it into their architectural and artistic

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designs throughout history. For some reason, designs tend to look better when
composed and designed with the Golden Ratio.

Look at iconic ideal Greek temples like the Parthenon in Athens-- you can see
that they use the ratio again and again. Painters have also been incorporating the
golden ratio into their artistic designs because it gives the composition a "je ne sais
quoi" ("I don't know what.") Leonardo da Vinci was obsessed with it, so was
Michelangelo. Even in the 20th century, you see the ratio being used in painting--
whether it be in the dimensions of the canvas, or the placement of the focal point.
And by the way, the Golden Ratio is one of the reasons artists don't like to line
everything up in the center. But you don't have to go to Greece or to the Louvre to
appreciate the Golden Ratio in human design. I mean, just look around your house
or go to the grocery store.

The golden ratio is used in product design, logos, and in branding all the
time. It's a ratio that, for some reason, is pleasing on the eye, and it can be a great
template for solving multiple design problems. I remember when I first started
learning about the golden ratio, I began to see it everywhere, and it's really
remarkable with how it comes up in nature and in the design world, and and how
artists can greatly improve their designs by using its sequence. So now that you
know about this mysterious sequence that pops up again and again, now go out, and
I want to challenge you to go and look and find places where you see this ratio. You
don't necessarily have to take around a measuring stick, but take pictures, and
notice where you see this ratio come up in design and in nature. And I think you will
be surprised-- and perhaps, even, this newfound awareness it might even change
your life.

Reference:

Davidson, T. (2018). Davison Art Center. Golden Ratio = Mind Blown. Transcript
retrieved on August 2020 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ccsE_IumM

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APPENDIX 14.3

The Relation of Golden Ratio, Mathematics and Aesthetics

by Gyan Bahadur Thapa & Rena Thapa (2018)

Department of Science and Humanities, Pulchowk Campus, IOE, Tribhuvan

University, Nepal
Fine Art College, Bhotahity, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract: The Golden Ratio, mathematics and aesthetics are intricately related
among each other. In this paper, we exhibit the presence of mathematics in
aesthetic impression that appears in nature, classic art, architecture, logo
design
and much more. The divine proportion can be found in music, poetry and other
forms of art, however our focus here is only in the visual ones. The Golden ratio
is considered sacred due to its relationship to nature and even the construction of
the universe and the human body. It has been used for centuries in the
construction of architectural masterpieces by the great artists, who, being able to
see its beauty used it in their designs and compositions. We explain how the
applications of the Golden ratio in architectures, paintings and geometrical
shapes create the mystery of beauty. Further we present the existence of the
divine proportion in human body and natural flora and fauna. There are a diverse
number of directions, paths and tangents to which the study of this beautiful
concept could take us. Besides mathematicians and artists, we expect that this
paper will be interesting for general readers as well.

Keywords: Golden ratio, Fibonacci sequence, aesthetics, architecture, Phyllotaxis

1. Introduction

Mathematics and art are considered as two distinct disciplines. Art is

associated with aesthetics and mathematics is supposed to be a complete curt and
dry subject; the two disciplines as two extremes. However, both mathematics and
fine art are the output of human consciousness that strive to express not only the
physical reality but also the metaphysical one. Reflecting on the structure of reality,
artists express the psychological mood in their creation. As painting represents
figurative aspect of concrete object, mathematician tries to extract specific
mathematical property to investigate physical phenomenon. Mathematics and
painting are related in several ways. Mathematical geometry is used to analyze
paintings (both figurative and abstract) and architect in terms of shapes such as
points and lines, circles, triangles, cubes etc. Likewise mathematics can be used in a
more concrete direct way to analyze painting such as “the use of concepts like

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fractals for the comprehension of abstract paintings. . . Jackson Pollock’s drip

paintings in terms of fractal geometry”. Mathematics and visual arts share common
aspects in both form and function. One of such relations is explored as Golden ratio.
Though Greeks in ancient period defined and formulated the Golden proportion, the
celebration and the use of this mathematical phenomenon in art and architecture
extends to the present day. Examples of Golden section can be seen throughout
nature such as in shells, plants, flowers and animals. It is considered as the
strongest and the oldest ties between mathematics and visual arts. The intriguing
mathematical phenomenon employed in art, architect, music science and philosophy
has aesthetic impression.

As Truth, Beauty and Goodness are interrelated, an artist searches for the
Truth in the Beauty, and a scientist searches for the Beauty in the Truth. With the
evolution of civilization, human beings have aspired for beauty. And the flip side of
beauty is goodness which tempts human heart to yearn and explore beauty in
creation. Ancient Greeks developed the science of aesthetics as a way to analyze
beauty, believing that harmony is its basis. Harmony is acquired by arranging the
parts, generally different in nature, by certain perfect ratio so that they meet one
another creating beauty. It encompasses everything that is made by nature that
creation is not aloof from the law of harmony. The term “proportion” is more
relevantly used to compare relation between parts of things or to describe
harmonious relation between different parts. When a formula could be found, then
the loveliness of a chamomile flower and a naked body could be measured and
compared. Even it is possible to compare the beauty of a sculpture, a temple, a
picture, a symphony, a poem or a nocturne accordingly. There are many well-known
“formulas of beauty” such as certain geometrical shapes: square, circle, isosceles
triangle, and pyramid. However, the most wide-spread criterion of beauty is one
unique mathematical proportion called the Golden ratio which is termed as Divine
proportion or Golden section or Golden number or Golden mean. Examples of well
known works, which exhibit this proportion, are Khufu’s Pyramid of Egypt, the
Parthenon in Athens, Greek sculpture, the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci,
paintings by Rafael, Shishkin and the modern Russian artist Konstantin Vasiljev,
music of Beethoven and Mozart etc.

The rest of the paper comprises the sections that include concept and history
of Golden ratio, quadratic formula and algebraic derivation of golden number,
geometrical golden shapes, golden section in nature, human body, art, architecture
and conclusion.

2. Golden Ratio and its History

The Golden Ratio is an irrational number that is approximately equal to 1.618,

which is represented by the Greek symbol known as phi (ϕ). The digits after decimal
in the Golden ratio just keep on going and never end as such
1.61803398874989484820 ... … When the ratio is used in cubic geometry, it is called
the Golden section. The Golden rectangle refers to a rectangle with a short to long
side ratio of 1: 1.618. An interesting aspect of the Golden rectangle is that if one

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cuts out a square starting from one of the short sides of the Golden rectangle one
will have another Golden rectangle. When an isosceles triangle has the ratio of the
perpendicular a to the base b in the Golden ratio, it is called a Golden triangle.
Similarly, there is the Golden spiral which grows logarithmically. It is important to
know that the geometrical shapes of the rectangle, triangle and spiral get their
“Golden” name when they have properties that connect them back to the Golden
ratio.

The concept of Golden ratio has close connection to the Fibonacci sequence
which is named after Leonardo Fibonacci, the great mathematician. This sequence
begins with the numbers 1 and 1. In order to get the next number, one must add
the previous two numbers in the sequence as follows:

1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, 2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 8 = 13, 8 + 13 = 21, ....

Therefore, the pattern of Fibonacci sequence is: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, ……
where the

Golden ratio ties into this sequence through the ratio between the numbers. This can
be seen in the following:

2/1=2.0 3/2=1.5

5/3=1.67 8/5=1.6

13/8=1.625 21/13=1.615

34/21=1.619 55/34=1.618

89/55=1.618 …. …. …

Narain states on The Golden Ratio Page, as the numbers in the sequence get
larger; the ratio will eventually become the same number, which is the Golden Ratio.
“One more interesting thing about Phi is that it is reciprocal. If you take the ratio of
any number in the Fibonacci sequence to the next number, the ratio will approach
the approximation of 0.618. This is the reciprocal of Phi: 1/1.618=0.618” [6]. There
is not another known number to have this property outside the Fibonacci sequence.
The idea behind the Golden ratio is: if a line is divided into two parts, the ratio of
longer part and smaller part should be equal to the ratio of whole length and longer
part. This makes the Golden ratio as in Fig. 1.

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Equivalently, they are in the golden ratio if the ratio of the larger one to the
smaller one equals the ratio of the smaller one to their difference as follows:

After simple algebraic manipulations, i.e., multiplying equation (1) by a/b, or

equation (2) by (a − b)/b, both of these equations are equivalent to which is the
quadratic expression, and hence the Golden Ratio is

It is believed that the Egyptians were well aware of it and used in building
pyramids and later they taught this concept to Greeks. So the ratio is very connected
to the Greeks as it was named after Phidia, the sculptor of Athena, who made most
of the decoration on Parthenon.

Legend says the Golden ratio was discovered by Pythagoras and that it was
through him that the true knowledge of this ratio began to be understood. It is
believed that the Greek Philosopher Pythagoras discovered the concept of harmony
while listening to the different sounds produced as the blacksmiths’ hammers hit
their anvils. After further studies using stringed instruments and observing nature, he
came to the conclusion that the ratio of small integers defines beauty. “With this
discovery, the Pythagoreans saw the essence of the cosmos as numbers and
numbers took on special meaning and significance. The symbol of the Pythagorean
brotherhood was the pentagram in itself embodying several Golden means”. Euclid, a
Greek mathematician who is known as the Father of Geometry, was the first person
to write a definition of the Golden ratio: “A straight line is said to have been cut in
extreme and mean ratio when, as the whole line is to the greater segment, so is the
greater to the less”. The “extreme and mean ratio”, was not referred to as “golden”
until the early 16th century AD. Luca Pacioli equated the Golden ratio with God in his
book, La Divine Proportione (The Divine Proportion). Leonardo Da Vinci contributed
several drawings to La Divine Proportione and made reference to the “section aurea”

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(Latin for “golden section”). There was a keen interest in the Divine proportion
during the Renaissance among artists, architects, scientists and mystics. The idea of
using the Golden ratio in art and architecture was aesthetically pleasing and was
widely established during this time.

3. Some Golden Shapes

3.1 Golden Triangle

The Golden triangle can be characterized as an isosceles triangle ABC with

the property that bisecting the angle C produces a new triangle CXB which is a
similar triangle to the original. If angle BCX = α, then XCA = α because of the
bisection, and CAB = α because of the similar triangles; ABC = 2α from the original
isosceles symmetry, and BXC = 2α by similarity. The angles in a triangle add up to
180°, so 5α = 180, giving α = 36°. So the angles of the golden triangle are thus 36°,
72°, 72°. The angles of the remaining obtuse isosceles triangle AXC (sometimes
called the golden gnomon) are 36°, 36°, 108°. Suppose XB has length 1 and the
length of BC be denoted by φ. Because of the isosceles triangles, we have XC = XA
and BC = XC, and hence XC = XA = BC = φ. Thus, AC = AB = φ + 1. But triangle
ABC is similar to triangle CXB, so AC/BC = BC/BX, and hence AC = φ2. Thus φ2 = φ
+ 1, confirming that φ is indeed the Golden ratio. Similarly, the ratio of the area of
the larger triangle AXC to the smaller CXB is equal to φ, while the inverse ratio is φ
− 1.

3.2 Golden Rectangle

Golden rectangle can be sketched in the following steps as shown in the Fig.
3:

Step 1: Begin with a square ABCD. Find the midpoint M of AB.

Step 2: Draw a circle with radius MC, centered at M. Produce the side AB through B
until it intersects the circle at the point E.
Step 3: Draw a line EF perpendicular to AE. Produce DC through C up to the point F.
The rectangles AEFD and BEFC are known as Golden Rectangles.

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3.3 Golden Spiral

Golden Spiral is drawn in the following steps as sketched in Fig. 4:

Step 1: Begin with Golden Rectangle. Construct a square by drawing a circle whose
radius is the
height of the Golden Rectangle.
Step 2: Repeat this process inside the smaller Golden rectangles.
Step 3: Inscribe quarter circles in each square to create the spiral.

3.4 Golden Pentagram

The regular pentagon consists of a number of wonderful figures, which are

widely used in works of art. The law of the "golden cup" was well known in ancient
Egypt and classic Greece, which was used by architects and goldsmiths. The
Pentagon and Pentagram have Golden relationships as shown in Fig. 5. The ratio of
the side of a regular pentagon to its diagonal is φ. In the condition, the pentagram is
inscribed within the pentagon, many of the ratios between segments are also φ. If a
pentagon is divided by diagonals from one vertex, the resulting triangles are known
as Golden triangles. The middle triangle is an acute Golden triangle and the other
two are obtuse Golden triangles.

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4. Golden Ratio and Nature

The Golden proportion as Golden spirals and Golden pentagon are commonly
present in nature. Plant and animal worlds hold the abundance of Golden symmetry
in their form, internal and external both. For example, animal horns grow only from
one end resulting on the equiangular spiral. It is proved that among different kinds
of spirals showing in horns of rams, goats, antelopes and other horned animals, the
Golden spirals meet most often. The plant tendrils become twisted by spirals, the
growth of tissues in tree's trunks is formed by spiral there, the sunflower seeds
appear on the spirals, the helical motions are watched at growth of the roots and
sprouts.

In the nature, the forms based on the pentagonal symmetry (marine asters,
marine hedgehogs, flowers) are widespread. The flowers of water lily, wild rose,
hawthorn, small nail, pear, apple, strawberry and many other flowers owe five-petal.
Some of the evidence of pentagonal symmetry apparent in nature are shown in Fig.
7.

The next noticeable surprise in nature is the screw symmetry in organism which is
formulated as the stringent mathematical laws. The arrangement of leafs on stems
of plants has a stringent mathematical structure and this phenomenon is called

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"phyllotaxis" in botany. The pattern of phyllotaxis exists in screw arrangement of

leaves on plant stems (branches on trees, petals in racemes and so on). Botanists
affirm that the fractions describing the plant screw axes form the stringent
mathematical sequence consisting of the adjacent Fibonacci number ratios, i.e., 1/2,
1/3, 2/5, 3/8, 5/13, 8/21, 13/34, ...... Arrangement of leaves on the plant stem
conforms the phyllotaxis phenomena, particularly the screw axis of symmetry (Fig.
8). Leaves can be noticed at different altitudes of the stem along the screw curve
winded round of its stem.

To pass from the leaf of 1 to the leaf of 2, it is necessary to turn the leaf of 1
around of the stem axis on 120° counter-clockwise (if to look from below) and then
to move the leaf of 1 along the stem in vertical direction so long as it will be
combined with the leaf of 2. Repeating similar operation, one needs to pass from the
leaf of 2 to the leaf of 3 and so on. It is necessary to attract attention to the fact that
the leaf of 4 lies above of the leaf of 1 (as though repeats it, but its level is higher).
While moving from the leaf of 1 to the leaf of 4, it turns triply on the angle 120° and
completes the full revolution around of the stem axis (120° × 3 = 360°). The turning
angle of the screw axis is called leaf divergence angle. The revolutions around of the
stem axis for transition from the lower leaf to the upper one arranged exactly above
lower can be equal not only 1, but also 2, 3 and so on. This number of the
revolutions is called the leaf cycle. Botanic screw leaf arrangement can be
characterized with the help of some fraction; the numerator of the fraction is equal
to the leaf cycle and the denominator to a number of leafs in this leaf cycle. In this
case one finds the screw axis of the kind of 1/3. The fraction describing the given
axis is expressed by 2/5; the leaf divergence angle is equal to 144° (360° : 5 = 72°;
72° × 2 = 144°). There might be more intricate axes, for example, of the kind of
3/8, 5/13 and so on [8]. The phyllotaxis fractions from Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3,
5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, .... are characteristic of different plants. For example, the
fraction of 1/2 is peculiar to cereals, birch, grapes; 1/3 to sedge, tulip, alder; 2/5 to
pear, currants, plum; 3/8 to cabbage, radish, flax; 5/13 to spruce, jasmine and so
on. Practically all racemes and densely packaged botanic structures (pine and cedar
cones, pineapples, cactuses, heads of sunflowers and many others) also strictly
follow to Fibonacci numbers regularity.

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5. Golden Ratio and Human Body

A human body and all its parts are based on the principle of the Golden
proportion. A harmonic human body is divided by the navel into the golden section.
Human bodies that do not follow golden proportions look formless. The navel (belly
button) represents the mean of the golden ratio. When the navel is positioned as
such that the ratio of the short half to the long half is equal to the ratio of the whole
to the long half, the body implies the golden ratio with perfect harmony.

Similarly the formation of human hand creates a Golden section in relation to

our arm, as the ratio of forearm to our hand is also 1.618, the Golden ratio. It is
proved that the human face is based entirely on the Golden ratio. Particularly, the
head forms a Golden rectangle with the eyes at its midpoint. The mouth and nose
are each placed at Golden sections of the distance between the eyes and the bottom
of the chin. The proportions of the length of the nose, the position of the eyes and
the length of the chin, all conform to some aspect of the Golden ratio (see [8] for
more detail).

6. Golden Ratio and Architecture

The use of Golden ratio is prevalent in ancient and modern architecture. The
creation of the goddess Athens temple, the magnificent Parthenon, is outcome of
joint efforts of architects and sculptors of ancient Greece. It is rightfully considered
as the greatest monument of ancient Greek architecture. Parthenon is the exclusive
human creation furtive with architectural and sculptural grandeur and the main
cause of Parthenon’s beauty is the exquisite harmony of its parts based on the
Golden ratio. Some of the features of Parthenon are described in [3] as follows:

Analysis of the proportions of the building has revealed many hidden

golden section rectangles. The ground plan consists of two reciprocal
golden rectangles, and the interior chamber is in golden proportion; the
main façade fits into a single golden rectangle, and a comparison of the
façade with ground plan reveals the basic harmonic relationships we
associate with golden proportion. All of these connections add a sense
of order and continuity to sequence of space and forms.

Similarly, the divine proportion was used in the construction of the meditation
symbol Sri Yantra in ancient India (Fig. 11). Sri Yantras are formed by 9 interlocking
isosceles triangles, 4 of them point upwards representing the female energy Shakti,

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while the other 5 point downwards representing the male energy Shiva. The
standard form of the Sriyantra, with the 9 interwoven triangles, constitutes a total of
43 triangles. The amazing part is that the triangle of the Yantra is a proportionate
cross-section of the Giza Pyramid, incorporating both special numbers π (3.142...)
and ϕ (1.618...) ratio. The base angle of the triangle in the Yantra is seen to be
around 51ᵒ, the same value that was attributed to the base of the great Pyramid of
Giza.

Similarly, the main building of Taj Mahal is another monument in the oriental
architecture employing the golden proportion. The rectangles that served as the
basic outline for the exterior of the building are all in the Golden ratio (Fig. 12). The
gigantic pyramids of ancient Egypt are magnificent wonders attributing the golden
proportion. These huge monuments were constructed for preservation of Pharaoh’s
body and his spirit and for glorifying his authority. Egyptian pyramids demonstrate
Egyptians' mathematical knowledge and their keen interest to incorporate it in
pyramids before the era of Pythagoras. Among them, Khafre’s pyramid is rather
interesting. "The measurements of Khafre’s pyramid showed that the inclination
angle of the lateral faces is equal to 53°12′ that corresponds to the leg ratio of the
right triangle: 4:3. Such leg ratio corresponds to the well-known right triangle with
the side ratios: 3:4:5; this one is called perfect, sacred or Egyptian triangle”.

7. Golden Ratio and Art

While exploring the masterpieces of world arts, critics have found the wide
use of the proportion of the Golden section in the compositional structures of
Michelangelo (pentagram), Rafael Santi (Golden triangle), Iva Shishkin, Konstantin
Vasil’ev (Golden rectangle). The Golden ratio is prevalent in Da Vinci’s The
Annunciation, Madonna with Child and Saints, The Mona Lisa and St. Jerome. He was
famous for using the Golden ratio in his works. The Mona Lisa, a well known portrait
of a woman with a coy smile, is embedded with Golden rectangles. The sketch, An
Old Man, has many rectangles on it. Through the Vitruvian Man, Vinci is trying to
show the perfection of human body in all divine proportion. The Golden triangles and
stars (pentagrams) are used in the composition of several famous paintings including
The Holy Family, by Michelangelo and The Crucifixion by Raphael. Salvador Dali used
the Golden rectangle as the frame for The Sacrament of the Last Supper. The statue
of Athena in ancient Greece and the sculpture of Apollo of the "Belvedere" illustrate
the use of Golden ratio. It is present in prolific number in portraits, paintings of
Christian God and sculptures during renaissance epoch.

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8. Conclusion

Advanced mathematical concepts paradoxically lose some relations to the

physical world from which they are derived. The intensely scrutinized complex
numbers are drawn from the real numbers; yet do not conform to the experience of
real numbers to the real world. Mathematics, like art stands alone as an object of
free perception. Since art is not obliged to make reference to outside world,
mathematics is also motivated by wonder and imagination. “The great questions of
mathematics- the kind that draw people to math in the first place are called great
not because they may lead to applications, but because they captivate the
imagination. They inspire wonder and delight. One could say they are beautiful” [5].
The closer the dimensions of the face fit to the Golden ratio, the more beautiful the
person is perceived by others. The architects explored connection between
geometrical design and artistic beauty when incorporating the Golden ratio into their
construction. In modern times, buildings such as the United Nations Headquarters in
New York City (having three Golden rectangles) and the CN Tower in Toronto have
Golden ratios in their design. Golden ratio is not just lofty mathematical theory; it
shows up all the time in the real world. Likewise, graphic designer can use Fibonacci
sequence as a general guideline and creative tool to make the design perfect.
Designers can incorporate Golden ratio to crop photos or images into Golden
rectangle or Golden spiral for the shot’s composition, logo design, layout etc. These
days’ designers are privileged with modern technical apps to employ as the best
tools to help them incorporate Golden ratio in their work, such as Atrise Golden
section, Golden calipers, Golden ratio app, Golden ratio typography app, Phi
calculator etc. People may argue that the Golden ratio probably does not have any
mystical powers of beauty drawn from archetypal fabric of the transcendental world.
But it is more likely that this ubiquitous pattern has some aesthetically appealing
properties suggesting a sense of natural balance and visual harmony.

References:

Thapa, G.B. & Thapa, R. (2018, February 20). The Relation of Golden Ratio, Mathematics and
Aesthetics. Department of Science and Humanities, Pulchowk Campus, IOE, Tribhuvan
University, Nepal. Retrieved on August 28, 2020 at
file:///C:/Users/CAS/Downloads/20084-Article%20Text-63899-1-10-20180601.pdf

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UNIT 7-LESSON 14

ANSWER SHEET (FT)

NAME:__________________________________ YEAR & SECTION:__________________

LESSON NO. & TITLE: _______________________________________________________
DATE: ___________________________________ SCORE:______________

1) What is the Golden Ratio? What is its significance in art

composition, beauty, and nature? (10 points)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

2) What is the Golden Ratio in human body? Who among the celebrity/ies or
famous people have it? (5 points)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

3) Are you in favor of body modification or digital face-mapping technology? You

may use philosophical, moral, practical, or aesthetic perspectives to explain
your answer? (10 points)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
end

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