The golden ratio is a mathematical concept that describes the relationship between two quantities such that their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities. This ratio is approximately equal to 1.618 and is often represented by the Greek letter phi (φ) . The golden ratio is also known as the golden number, golden proportion, divine proportion, golden mean, and golden section.
The golden ratio is strongly associated with the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. The ratio of each number and the previous number gradually approaches 1.618, or phi.
The golden ratio has been used to analyze the proportions of natural objects and artificial systems such as financial markets, in some cases based on dubious fits to data. It appears in some patterns in nature, including the spiral arrangement of leaves and other parts of vegetation.
Some artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio, believing it to be aesthetically pleasing. These uses often appear in the form of a golden rectangle, which is a rectangle whose sides are in the golden ratio.
To calculate the golden ratio, one can take a line and divide it into two parts - a long part (a) and a short part (b). The entire length (a + b) divided by (a) is equal to (a) divided by (b), and both of those numbers equal 1.618.
In summary, the golden ratio is a mathematical concept that describes the relationship between two quantities such that their ratio is approximately equal to 1.618. It is associated with the Fibonacci sequence and appears in some patterns in nature. Some artists and architects have used the golden ratio to proportion their works, often in the form of a golden rectangle.