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Spring 2016

The History and Applications of Fibonacci

Numbers
Cashous W. Bortner
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected]

Allan C. Peterson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected]

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Bortner, Cashous W. and Peterson, Allan C., "The History and Applications of Fibonacci Numbers" (2016). UCARE Research Products.
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 THE HISTORY AND APPLICATIONS OF FIBONACCI NUMBERS
Cashous Bortner with adviser Dr. Allan Peterson

1. Origins 2. Fibonacci Numbers in Nature 4. Application to Trading

Leonardo Bonacci, (seen in figure 1) known by Fibonacci numbers are found in numerous areas of nature One of the main applications of Fibonacci numbers
most as Fibonacci, was arguably one of the most including, the spiral bracts of a pinecone as seen in figure 2 outside of the realm of mathematics is in the area of
influential mathematicians in Europe in the 13th (and pineapple), and many other “perfect” specimens of stock market analysis. Many investors use what is
century. The book for which he is now famous, vegetation such as branches on trees and bushes. More often called the Fibonacci Retracement Technique to
Liber Abaci (1202 A.D.) not only brought the Hindu- found are examples of equiangular spirals, which can be estimate the action that the price of a particular
Arabic numeral system to the Western World, but created using the Fibonacci numbers, in Nautilus shells as stock will take, based on certain ratios found within
also brought many interesting problems that had seen in figure 3, a spiral galaxy’s arms, a hurricane, an ocean the Fibonacci numbers.
not been considered at the time. wave, and some growing ferns.
Iteration Pairs of Figure 3. Nautilus shell and
Rabbits The Fibonacci numbers can also be seen in the genealogy of Equiangular Spiral
1 1 a drone (male) bee as depicted in figure 4. A drone is born of Retrieved from http://deography.com/nautilus-shell-
isolated/
2 1 only a mother, and does not need a father (i.e. does not result
from a fertilized egg), while a female is born from a fertilized
3 2
egg.
4 3
5 5
6 8
7 13
8 21
9 34
⁞ ⁞
Figure 1. Leonardo Table 1. Figure 2. Pinecone Figure 5. Fibonacci Retracement
Bonacci Retrieved from Retrieved from http://dailypriceaction.com/forex-beginners/fibonacci-
http://curiosamathematica.tumblr.co retracement-levels
m/post/114294953296/golden-ratio-
Fibonacci’s most recognized contribution to in-phyllotaxis
Figure 4. Male Bee Genealogy As seen in figure 5, the retracement uses lines
mathematics came in the form of one of these across the 0, 23.6, 38.2, 50, 61.8, and 100
problems, which is now generally referred to as percentiles of the chosen high and low values. A
The Rabbit Problem. The problem is read as trader would then use these estimates to buy
follows: 3. Mathematical Applications stock when the value decreases to one of these
• Begin with one pair of [juvenile] rabbits. percentages, and sell stock as it peaks at another
• The rabbits must wait one iteration after birth of the percentages.
to [mature and] begin to give birth.
• Every iteration (after their first iteration of life),
each pair of rabbits gives birth to one pair of References
rabbits that will also eventually reproduce.
• The rabbits live and reproduce indefinitely. Posamentier, A.S. (2007). The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers. Amherst, NY:
Prometheus Books, Publishers.
So then, as can be seen in the table 1, a pattern
forms for the total number of rabbits in a particular Livio, M. (2008). The Golden Ratio: The Story of PHI: The World’s Most
Astonishing Number. Danvers, MA: Crown/Archetype.
iteration. To find the current number of rabbits, one
can take the sum of the previous two iterations’ Garland, T.H. (1987) Fascinating Fibonaccis: Mystery and Magic in Numbers. D.
Seymour Publications.
number of rabbits!
This is the origin of the now famous Fibonacci Fisher, R. (1993). Fibonacci Applications and Strategies for Traders. New York,
NY: Wiley Publishing.
Sequence, with the first two numbers in the
sequence being one (or equivalently zero and one
depending on the source).