Mathematics in Our World 1

The Fibonacci Sequence

Lesson 2. The Fibonacci Sequence

Objectives:
In this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Identify and appreciate Fibonacci sequence in nature
2. Solve Fibonacci sequence

Lesson Proper:
A sequence is an ordered list of numbers, it may have repeated values. In
mathematics we can make different sequence by performing one or several
operations repeatedly. Example, we start the sequence at 5, adding 6 to 5 will result
to 11 as the second number, repeating this process of adding 6 we obtain, 17, 23, 29,
35, … . Thus result to a sequence with elements, 5,11,17,23,29,35,…
Example:
Analyze the given sequence for its rule and identify the next three terms.
a. 16, 32, 64, 128
b. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Solution
a. Looking at the set of numbers, it can be observed that each term is obtained by
multiplying the previous term by 2. Therefore, the next 3 terms are: 128(2) =
256, 256(2) = 512, and 512 (2) = 1024.
b. Analyzing the sequence in b, we can see that the value in each terms are obtain
by adding the values of the 2 terms before it. Thus, the next three terms are
8+5 = 13, 13+8 = 21, 21+13 =34.

The sequence in the above sample b is what we call 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?

Christine H. Ferolino
 Mathematics in Our World 2
The Fibonacci Sequence

The Fibonacci Sequence

This sequence is invented by Leonardo Pisano Bigollo(1180-1250),
who is known in mathematical history by several names (”from
Pisa”) and Fibonacci (which means “son of Bonacci”)

The story began in Pisa, Italy in the year 1202. Leonardo Pisano
Bigollo was a young man in his twenties, a member of an important
trading family of Pisa. In his travels throughout the Middle East, he
was captivated by the mathematical ideas that had come west from India through the
Arabic countries. When he returned to Pisa he published these ideas in a book on
mathematics called Liber Abaci, which became a landmark in Europe. Leonardo, who
has since come to be known as Fibonacci, became the most celebrated mathematician
of the Middle Ages.

Fibonacci sequence has many interesting properties. Among these is that this
pattern is very visible in nature. Some of nature’s most beautiful patterns, like the
spiral arrangement of sunflower seeds, the number of petals in a flower, and the
shape of a snail’s shell.

(Vila, 2016)
This spiral is found in nature!
See: Nature, The Golden Ratio, and Fibonacci

The Rule
The Fibonacci Sequence can be written as a "Rule" (see Sequences and
Series). 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 the 8th term is the 7th term plus the 6th term:
x8 = x 7 + x 6
So we can write the rule:
The Rule is xn = xn−1 + xn−2

Christine H. Ferolino
 Mathematics in Our World 3
The Fibonacci Sequence

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 + x 7
= 21 + 13
= 34

It is also interesting to note that the ratios of successive Fibonacci numbers

approach the number 𝟇 (Phi), also known as the Golden Ratio. This is
approximately 1.618034... 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...

Geometrically, it can also be visualized as a rectangle perfectly formed by a

square and another rectangle, which can be repeated infinitely inside each section.
Shapes and figures that bear this proportion are generally considered to be
aesthetically pleasing. As such, this ratio is visible in many works of art and
architecture such as in the Mona Lisa, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Parthenon.
In fact, the human DNA molecule also contains Fibonacci numbers, being 34
angstroms long by 21 angstroms wide for each full cycle of the double helix spiral.

(Golden spiral in rectangles, 2008)

Christine H. Ferolino
 Mathematics in Our World 4
The Fibonacci Sequence

(Sites.google.com) (Mathsbyagirl-Wordpress.com)

Parthenon Golden Ratio

Using the Golden Ratio to Calculate Fibonacci Numbers

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.

Try n=12 and see what you get.

You can also calculate a Fibonacci Number by multiplying the previous Fibonacci
Number by the Golden Ratio and then rounding (works for numbers above 1):

Example: 8 × φ = 8 × 1.618034... = 12.94427... = 13 (rounded)

Christine H. Ferolino
 Mathematics in Our World 5
The Fibonacci Sequence

Exercises:
1. Let Xn be the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence, with X1 =1 and X2 = 1 and
X3 = 2, and so on.
a. Find X8.
b. Find X19.
c. Find X26.

2. If X22 = 17, 711 and X24 is 46,368, what is X23?

3. Evaluate the following sums

a. X1 + X2 = _____
b. X1 + X2 + X3 = _____
c. X1 + X2 + X3 + X4= _____

References
• Aufmann, R., Lockwood, J., Nation, R. and Clegg, D.,(2018) Mathematics in the
Modern World, Rex Book Store Inc. Manila, Philippines
• Tia Ghose, What is Fibonacci Sequence? http://www.livescience.com
• Fibonacci Sequence History. http.//science.jrank.org
• Pierce, Rod. (10 Apr 2020). "Fibonacci Sequence". Math Is Fun. Retrieved 9 Oct
2020 from http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html
• Vila, C. (2016, September). Nature by numbers. The theory behind this movie.
Retrieved April 18, 2017, from
http://www.etereaestudios.com/docs_html/nbyn_htm/about_index.htm
• Golden spiral in rectangles. (2008, January 27). In Wikimedia Commons, the free
media repository. Retrieved April 19, 2017, from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Golden_
spiral_in_rectangleflip.png
• https://math.temple.edu/~reich/Fib/fibo.html

Christine H. Ferolino