Math – Integrated Geometry - Art
Project 5 - The Golden Ratio
The golden ratio (symbol is the Greek letter "phi" shown at left)
is a special number approximately equal to 1.618
It appears many times in geometry, art, architecture and other areas.
The Idea Behind It
We find the golden ratio when we divide a line into two parts so that:
the whole length divided by the long part
is also equal to
the long part divided by the short part
http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/golden-ratio.html
Fibonacci Sequence and the golden ratio:
There is a special relationship between the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Sequence:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...
(The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it.)
And here is a surprise: when we take any two successive (one after the other) Fibonacci Numbers, their
ratio is very close to the Golden Ratio.
In fact, the bigger the pair of Fibonacci Numbers, the closer the approximation. Let us try a few:
2 3 3 3 5 5 5 8 8
=1.5 =1.667 =1.6
2 3 5
8 13 13 13 21 21 21 34 34
=1.625 =1.615 =1.619
8 13 21
34 55 55 55 89 89 and so on
=1.618 =1.618
34 55
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Math – Integrated Geometry - Art
Pentagram
The pentagram is famous as a magical or holy symbol --And it has the Golden Ratio in it:
a/b = 1.618...
b/c = 1.618...
c/d = 1.618...
If you google “The Golden Ratio in advertising”, you can see how many companies try to include phi in their logos.
Your Project:
Part A: The Golden Ratio and your body.
Measure the following:
Distance from the ground to your belly button
Distance from your belly button to the top of your
head
Distance from the ground to your knees
Distances A, B and C in the picture to the left
Length of your hand
Distance from your wrist to your elbow
Now calculate the following ratios:
1. Distance from the ground to your belly button /
Distance from your belly button to the top of your
head
2. Distance from the ground to your belly button /
Distance from the ground to your knees
3. Distance C / Distance B
4. Distance B / Distance A
5. Distance from your wrist to your elbow / Length of
your hand
Feel free to use someone else as your measuring subject.
But young children are not proportioned the same as adults
so try to choose someone who is close to fully grown.
Report your findings in an organized chart.
Don’t be surprised if your numbers are not exactly phi –but
you might be surprised by how close they come.
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Math – Integrated Geometry - Art
Part 2: The Golden Rectangle with Spiral
Create a golden rectangle and a golden spiral. Here is a picture of what I am looking for:
Here is a quick tutorial of how it can be done using a computer program of your choice. Geogebra is a
free program you might explore. You might be able to use Paint.
https://youtu.be/TLxmLo0Zlg8
Or you can use graph paper and make it following these directions which use the Fibonacci numbers.
First color in two 1x1 squares on a piece of
squared paper:
Then draw a 2x2 square on top of this one:
Then draw a 3x3 square to the right of these:
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Math – Integrated Geometry - Art
Then draw a 5x5 square under these:
Followed by an 8x8 square to the left of the
whole thing.
Then draw a 13x13 square on top of these:
Each time you draw a new square, use a new
color –you do not (and should not) use the colors
from the examples.
You can continue this process using bigger and
bigger squares, using the numbers from the
Fibonacci sequence.
Now go back and add in the spiral.
You must use a compass to complete this part of
the project!
Make a semi-circle in the 1x1 squares with a
center at the midpoint of the two squares.
Now you are going to make an arc that is a
quarter circle going from one vertex of the
square to the opposite vertex. That means that
the compass point for the 2x2 square should go
in the bottom right corner.
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Math – Integrated Geometry - Art
Continue this process for every square, making
sure that as you go from square to square, the
spiral is continuous –as shown on the right.
Your final project should look something like
this:
Golden rectangle and spiral images: http://nrich.maths.org/7668
Grading Rubric for the Golden Ratio Project:
This project can be submitted electronically or in person.
Part 1
1. The student provides a chart that include all eight of the required measurements. 8 points
2. The student correctly calculates the 5 required ratios described and labels them 10 points
in an organized way.
Part 2
3. The student accurately draws the squares to form a golden rectangle 8 points
4. The student accurately draws the golden spiral 5 points
5. The student work is neat, a ruler and a compass have been used to complete the 5 points
drawing if hand drawn. Care is taken with precision if technology is used. In
both cases the final product should be carefully colored.
The student must earn 29 of the 36 points to earn credit for the project. 36 points
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