Golden Ratio

GOLDEN RATIO

DEFINITION

In the Mathmatics the number 1.61803399 is the golden ratio. [Wikipedia, 2005]

Two quantities are said to be in the golden ratio, if "the whole is to the larger as the larger is to the smaller" [Absoluteastronomy]

The golden ratio is sybolised by the Greek letter (phi) and also by the less know τ (tau).

INTRODUCTION

The use of the golden ratio can be found in many different fields. In mathematics, architecture, geometry, science, biology, nature, art, design and many others.

Other names of this word are as follows: the golden mean, golden section, golden number, divine proportion or sectio divina(golden Cut).

HISTORY

The Golden ratio can be found as far back to the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza around 2560 BC.

The actual discovery of the golden ratio can be lead back to the ancient Greeks and the Pythagoras. The greek mathematician Euclid of Alexandria (365BC - 300BC) mentioned the golden mean.

... 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 lesser...

Euclid of Alexandria(ca. 300BC)

Even Plato, the Greek Philosopher was occupied by the Golden ratio.

GOLDEN RATIO IN GEOMETRY AND MATHEMATICS

Fibonacci introduced to us, the Fibonacci-Numbers:

1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,377,....

Every number of this alignement equals to 0,168 if you divide it with the one before it, and 1,618 when you divide it with the number after it.

These are the relationships between the larger and smaller numbers in the golden ratio.

Below you can find an example of the Fibonacci-Numbers

[2000, Günther Kaphammel, Der goldene Schnitt]

The Golden Ratio can also be found in different kinds of shapes. This goes on from the usual rechangle, through different kinds of triangles and to the very complicated shapes like the pentacle.

A rectanle is a Golden rectangle when the sides are in the 1:0,618 proportion. Below is an example of this kind of shape.

Golden Rectangle [8]

Another shape where the golden ratio can be found is the Pentagramm. This image below, illustrates the hidden golden ratio in this very special shape.

Golden Pentagramm [9]

GOLDEN RATIO IN ART & DESIGN

Since the beginning of ART & Design, the artist and designers used the golden ratio in order to manage and achieve beauty and balance in their creations.

... Many books claim that if you draw a rechtangle around the face of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the ratio of the height to width of the rectangle is equal to the Golden Ratio ...

Mario Livio; Nov. 2002

The evidence of the golden ratio was proved on many different creations, like the Aztek decorations below:

The space between the two heads is exacly Phi times the width of the heads. [4]

The California Polytechnic State University is planing to build a new Engineering Plaza. This new construction is based on the Fibonacci numbers. The whole plan also bases on some shapes, which can be used to show the meaning of the golden ratio. The Designers of this new Plaza have chosen the Fibonacci series spiral, or also called the golden mean to design this new state of the art plaza. Below you can see, what the plaza should look like.

California Polytechnic Engineering Plaza [5]

Even the mountainbike shown below, has the golden ratio built in. Take a look at the image, and the marked golden sections of the bike.

Mountainbike Trek Fuel 90 (belongs to Brian Agron of Fairfax)[5]

So the use of the golden ratio can not only be found in ancient paintings and sculptures, but also in the stunning creations still to come.

Did you know, that if you measure a credit-card, the outcome would be a perfect golden rectangle. This ofcourse shows, that the golden ratio is very well in use. Even if it comes to the proportions and masses of everyday things like credit cards. Credit Cards [6]

CONCLUSION

The very simple and suitable conclusion is that the Golden Ratio can be found everywhere. In probably any field you can think of. And in many, not all, but at least very many cases, the Golden Ratio is used to improve something. Some don't even know, that something they have created respects the laws of the Golden Ratio. This is kind of like the ancient egyptians, who probably used the Golden Ratio, but never thought of, and so never really discovered it.

So look for it, maybe you can discover an ancient theory in something quite modern...