Learn the mathematics behind the Fibonacci numbers, the golden ratio, and their relationship to each other. These topics may not be taught as part of a typical math curriculum, but they contain many fascinating results that are still accessible to an advanced high school student.
The course culminates in an exploration of the Fibonacci numbers appearing unexpectedly in nature, such as the number of spirals in the head of a sunflower.
Download the lecture notes from the link
https://www.math.hkust.edu.hk/~machas/fibonacci.pdf
Watch the promotional video:
https://youtu.be/VWXeDFyB1hc
We learn about the Fibonacci numbers, the golden ratio, and their relationship. We derive the celebrated Binet's formula, which gives an explicit formula for the Fibonacci numbers in terms of powers of the golden ratio and its reciprocal. This formula can be used to calculate the nth Fibonacci number without having to sum the preceding terms in the sequence.
What's included
6 videos8 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 48 minutes
The Fibonacci Sequence | Lecture 1•8 minutes
The Fibonacci Sequence Redux | Lecture 2•7 minutes
The Golden Ratio | Lecture 3•8 minutes
Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Ratio | Lecture 4•7 minutes
Binet's Formula | Lecture 5•10 minutes
Mathematical Induction•7 minutes
8 readings•Total 61 minutes
Welcome and Course Information•1 minute
Fibonacci Numbers with Negative Indices•5 minutes
The Lucas Numbers•5 minutes
Neighbour Swapping•10 minutes
Some Algebra Practice•10 minutes
Linearization of Powers of the Golden Ratio•10 minutes
Another Derivation of Binet's formula•10 minutes
Binet's Formula for the Lucas Numbers•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 65 minutes
Week 1 Assessment•30 minutes
Diagnostic Quiz•5 minutes
The Fibonacci Numbers•15 minutes
The Golden Ratio•15 minutes
Identities, sums and rectangles
Week 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
We learn about the Fibonacci Q-matrix and Cassini's identity. Cassini's identity is the basis for the famous dissection fallacy, the Fibonacci bamboozlement. A dissection fallacy is an apparent paradox arising from two arrangements of different area from one set of puzzle pieces. We also derive formulas for the sum of the first n Fibonacci numbers, and the sum of the first n Fibonacci numbers squared. Finally, we show how to construct a golden rectangle, and how this leads to the beautiful image of spiraling squares. This image is a drawing of a sequence of squares, each with side lengths equal to the golden ratio conjugate raised to an integer power, creating a visually appealing and mathematically intriguing pattern.
What's included
9 videos10 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 65 minutes
The Fibonacci Q-matrix | Lecture 6•11 minutes
Cassini's Identity | Lecture 7•8 minutes
The Fibonacci Bamboozlement | Lecture 8•6 minutes
Sum of Fibonacci Numbers | Lecture 9•9 minutes
Sum of Fibonacci Numbers Squared | Lecture 10•8 minutes
The Golden Rectangle | Lecture 11•6 minutes
Spiraling Squares | Lecture 12•4 minutes
Matrix Algebra: Addition and Multiplication•6 minutes
Matrix Algebra: Determinants•8 minutes
10 readings•Total 65 minutes
Do You Know Matrices?•0 minutes
The Fibonacci Addition Formula•10 minutes
The Fibonacci Double Index Formula•10 minutes
Do You Know Determinants?•0 minutes
Proof of Cassini's Identity•10 minutes
Catalan's Identity•10 minutes
Sum of Lucas Numbers•5 minutes
Sums of Even and Odd Fibonacci Numbers•5 minutes
Sum of Lucas Numbers Squared•5 minutes
Area of the Spiraling Squares•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Week 2 Assessment•30 minutes
The Fibonacci Bamboozlement•15 minutes
Fibonacci Sums•15 minutes
The most irrational number
Week 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
We learn about the golden spiral and the Fibonacci spiral. Because of the relationship between the Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio, the Fibonacci spiral eventually converges to the golden spiral. You will recognize the Fibonacci spiral because it is the icon of our course. We next learn about continued fractions. To construct a continued fraction is to construct a sequence of rational numbers that converges to a target irrational number. The golden ratio is the irrational number whose continued fraction converges the slowest. We say that the golden ratio is the irrational number that is the most difficult to approximate by a rational number, or that the golden ratio is the most irrational of the irrational numbers. We then define the golden angle, which is related to the golden ratio, and use it to model the growth of a sunflower head. The use of the golden angle in the model allows a fine packing of the florets, and results in the unexpected appearance of the Fibonacci numbers in the sunflower.
What's included
8 videos8 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 61 minutes
The Golden Spiral | Lecture 13•9 minutes
An Inner Golden Rectangle | Lecture 14•5 minutes
The Fibonacci Spiral | Lecture 15•7 minutes
Fibonacci Numbers in Nature | Lecture 16•4 minutes
Continued Fractions | Lecture 17•15 minutes
The Golden Angle | Lecture 18•7 minutes
A Simple Model for the Growth of a Sunflower | Lecture 19•9 minutes
Concluding remarks•5 minutes
8 readings•Total 81 minutes
The Eye of God•30 minutes
Area of the Inner Golden Rectangle•10 minutes
Continued Fractions for Square Roots•10 minutes
Continued Fraction for e•10 minutes
The Golden Ratio and the Ratio of Fibonacci Numbers•10 minutes
The Golden Angle and the Ratio of Fibonacci Numbers•10 minutes
Please Rate this Course•1 minute
Acknowledgments•0 minutes
3 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Week 3 Assessment•30 minutes
Spirals•15 minutes
Fibonacci Numbers in Nature•15 minutes
Instructor
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Showing 3 of 1194
K
KN
5·
Reviewed on Feb 13, 2021
Very neat and well organized, all material at hand. I liked the skipped math bits that the others mentioned, so that I could myself engage in figuring out.
A
AK
5·
Reviewed on Mar 22, 2019
Absolutely loved the content discussed in this course! It was challenging but totally worth the effort. Seeing how numbers, patterns and functions pop up in nature was a real eye opener.
J
JR
5·
Reviewed on Jul 12, 2020
Someone has said that God created the integers; all the rest is the work of man. After seeing how the Fibonacci numbers play out in nature, I am not so sure about that. A very enjoyable course.
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