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Magic Numbers of the Great Pyramid: A Surprising Result

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 Magic Numbers of the Great Pyramid: A Surprising Result

Hans Hermann Otto

Materials Science and Crystallography, Clausthal University of Technology,

Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]

This publication is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. Georg Müller, being over a long period president (rector)
of the TU Clausthal (Germany), in advance to the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2021.

Abstract

Recently attention has been drawn to the frequently observed fifth power of the golden mean
in many disciplines of science and technology. Whereas in a forthcoming contribution the
focus will be directed towards Fibonacci number based helical structures of living as well as
inorganic matter, in this short letter the geometry of the Great Pyramid of the ancient
Egyptians was investigated once more. The surprising main result is that the ratio of the in-
sphere volume of the pyramid and the pyramid volume itself is given by ∙ , where φ =
0.618033987…is nature’s most important number, the golden mean. In this way not only
phase transition from microscopic to cosmic scale are connected with φ5, also ingenious
ancient builders have intuitively guessed its magic before.

Keywords: Geometry, Great Pyramid, In-Sphere Volume, Golden Mean, Fifth Power of
Golden Mean, Fibonacci Number 13, Curious Angel arcsin(φ5).

1. Introduction

Recently, attention has been drawn to the more than expected occurrence of the fifth power of
the golden mean in different disciplines of science and technology [1]. The golden mean or
golden ratio is an omnipresent number in nature, found in the architecture of living creatures
as well as human buildings, music, finance, medicine, philosophy, and of course in physics
and mathematics including quantum computation [2] [3] [4] [5]. It is the most irrational
number known and a number-theoretical chameleon with a self-similarity property. When
writing down its continued fraction representation, which is the simples of all (see Equation
1), one can catch an idea of why nature works so effectively, so that Olson et al. [4] arrive to
the statement that the whole universe functions as a golden supercomputer.

1
In this contribution we use the golden mean φ as defined in Equation (1) besides big = 1 +
= . The reader can found compacted information about infinitely continued fraction
representations in reference [6] [7]. The golden mean φ and its fifth power are represented by

√
= = = 0.6180339887 … (1)
⋯.

1
5
= 1 = 0.0901699 … (2)
11+ 1
11+
11+⋯.

The seminal E-infinity (ε∞) approach developed by El Naschie years ago and applied mainly
to cosmological questions based on this simple principle of nature, too [8] [9] [10]. It
originates from a fractal Cantorian set theory [11] as a number-theoretical route of physics for
explaining the dualism between particles and waves that can help solving cosmological
mysteries such as dark matter and dark energy [12]. A probabilistic quantum entanglement
calculation delivers effective quantum gravity formulas for the cosmological mass (energy)
constituents. The baryonic matter amount eM resulted according to El Naschie and scientific
fellows in
= = 0.04508497 (3)

This result points towards the significance of the fifth power of the golden mean. Obviously
this number is fundamental and was reported before in the theory of phase transitions (see
Chapter 2). Furthermore, the fifth power of the golden mean could be identified with the
maximum of Hardy’s quantum probability of two particles [13] [14], and later it is found
again in Suleiman’s scale-free Information Relativity Theory (IRT) as maximum of the matter
energy density ( )"#$ indicating a phase transition of cosmic scale [15]

( )
( )"#$ = %( = % = % ∙ 0.09016994 … (4)
)

Seeking for a more geometry-based interpretation of the fifth power of the golden mean, the
present author has found a surprising result that will be formulated in the next chapters
revealing more secrets of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The numerous contributions about the
mysterious geometry of this pyramid can’t be quoted here. They would only contribute
marginally to the subject. However, reference is recommended again to the work initiated by
Olson [2] [3] [4]. A short summary about the appearance of the fifth power of the golden
mean is given in Chapter 2. Turning then to Chapter 3, the volume of a special quadratic
pyramid (Great Pyramid) is compared to that of its in-sphere volume. These considerations
are supplemented by a further Chapter 4 about the outstanding importance of Fibonacci
number 13, again with reference to the Great Pyramid.

2
 2. Appearance of the Fifth Power of the Golden Mean

In the following overview scientific fields were summarized according to [1], where the fifth
power of the golden mean is involved indicating that this number is frequently observed all
around the world:

1. Phase transition of the hard hexagon lattice gas model [16] [17]
2. Phase transition of the hard square lattice gas model [17] [18]
3. One-dimensional hard-boson model [19]
4. Curious angle arcsin( ) [1]
5. Baryonic matter relation according to the E-infinity theory [11]
6. Maximum quantum probability of two particles [12] [13]
7. Maximum of matter energy density [14]
8. Reciprocity relation between matter and dark matter [20] [21]
9. Superconductivity phase transition [22] [23]
10. Geometry of the Great Pyramid (this publication)

Topic 10 of this general overview will now be considered in detail in the following chapters
pointing to a not expected beautiful result. Whether also the fifth power of the golden mean,
apart from the golden mean, can be identified in the DNA genetic code is under discussion.

3. Relation between the Volume of the Great Pyramid and Its In-Sphere Volume

We were intuitively interested in the relation between the volume of the Great Pyramid of
Giza and its in-sphere volume. Whereas in case of a general tetrahedron, for instance, a
contiguous derivation of radius and center of the in-sphere was not solved as yet, very
recently such derivation was delivered from P. P. Klein of the TU Clausthal [24]. Contrary, in
case of a quadratic pyramid the in-sphere can be quite simply derived from the given data
explained in Figure 1, in which a mid-plane triangle cut down the apex of the pyramid is
displayed together with the projected in-sphere in yellow color.

3
 Figure 1. Cut through the middle of a Great Pyramid’s face down the apex with yellow
displayed in-sphere projection. Big denotes the inverse of φ: = =1+ .

Half the base edge is normed to unity, a/2 = 1, and the side legs have the numerical value of
= . Then the height h of the pyramid is

ℎ =- = /
= 1.2720196 … (5)

According to Figure 1 the outlined angle on the base is

α = arccos(φ) = 51.82729°. (6)

One can further derive that the radius of the in-sphere yields

3
0 = tan 2 4 = 0.485868 … = 5/
(7)

Now we want to compare the volume of the pyramid with the in-sphere volume. The volume
of the quadratic pyramid with full base a and height h is given by

; −1/2
6789 = 5 : ℎ = 5 (8)

and the volume of the in-sphere is

; ;
6=7> = 05 = ?/
(9)
5 5

Finally, the volume ratio gives the astonishing result apparently not widely known as yet

@ABC
@BDE
= ∙ (10)

One is again faced with the fifth power of the golden mean. However, it would be purely
speculative to connect the maximum of the matter energy density of the cosmos with such
secret of the Great Pyramid [11] [14]. It seems as if the sun is inside the pyramid. I am happy
contributing this result especially to my Egyptian friends and the Egyptian community.
In connection with the Great Pyramid, mention may be made of the vision of the great
inventor Nicola Tesla to harvest free energy from what we now characterize as dark
components of matter respectively energy. The reader can find more information about this
discussion in the references [15] and [25].
If one approximates π by a φ-based relation according to [26] the result is expressed solely by
giving
G
∙ = 0.283277 … ≈ 5
= 0.283281 … (11)

4
Another approximation is curious regarding the angle of α/2 (see Equation 4 and Figure 1) in
connection with the angle H = 15.5224° given in [1] [27]

K
J
= arctan(0) = arctan 2 L 4 ≈ 5 ∙ arcsin( ) ≈ 5H (12)

In addition, the surface ratio between the pyramid and its in-sphere is calculated. The result
would better fit into the next chapter but is given in the Appendix. In the Appendix also
another geometry-based approximation of the fifth power of the golden mean is derived for
comparison.

4. The Fibonacci Number 13

Among the numbers of the Fibonacci series [28] [29], the numbers 5 as well as 13 seem to be
most important. Whereas number 5 is involved in the definition of the golden mean, number
13 is found as helix repetition number for instance in tubulin protein, thought to be the
location from where our thinking and consciousness originates [1] [4] [30] [31]. This number
is very special because its square root can be approximated by 2 +

√13 = 3.60555 … ≈ 2 + = 3.6180339887 … (13)

Furthermore, the exact adjustment connects the number 13 to the fifth power of φ

2+ = √5 = -13 + = √13.0901699 … = 3.6180339887 … (14)

In addition it yields 2+ = -13 + = -2 + (15)

Remarkably, one can connect -13 + to the geometry of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Denoting the edge of the pyramid (from apex to base) as s, one can determine its relative
length to be
M=- +1 = - + 2 = 1.90211303 … (16)
By using equation (14) the second power of s gets

M = + 2 = -13 + = -2 + (17)

and further = M ; − 13 = (M ; − 2) (18)

This is another way of interpreting the beauty geometry of the Great Pyramid using the fifth
power of the golden mean besides Fibonacci number 13. A sketch of the pyramid is
illustrated in Figure 2.

5
 Figure 2. Artistic sketch of the Great Pyramid designed by the author
The high of the pyramid was originally h = 146.59 m (280 cubits) and is now about 138.75 m. Its base
is about a = 230.36 m (440 cubits). The ratio yields h/a = 0.636363… and can be approximated by
-N
= 0.6360098 … (see Figure 1).
5. Conclusion

This contribution may be of general interest because it connects results of different disciplines
of science and technology with the beauty of the mathematical knowledge of the ancient
Egyptian builders of the pyramids. The present author has recently shown that besides the
golden mean also its fifth power φ5 is most important in describing different problems in
science and technology such as phase transformations of microscopic to cosmic scale.
Nevertheless, it was a surprise to elicit the Great Pyramid of Giza another secret by
geometrical investigation of its golden ratio architecture. The ratio of the in-sphere volume of
the pyramid to that of the pyramid itself turned out to be beautiful simply yielding π⋅φ5. It is a
further step towards understanding our world and states once more that the golden ratio is the
great numerical dominator of our world leaving also a fingerprint in the DNA genetic code
[32]. It is under discussion whether also the fifth power of the golden mean can be identified
in the genetic code [33].

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

References

[1] Otto, H. H. (2020) Phase Transitions Governed by the Fifth Power of the Golden Mean and
Beyond. World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics 10, 135-158.
[2] Olson, S. (2006) The Golden Section: Nature’s Greatest Secret. Bloomsbury, 64 pp.
[3] Olson, S. (2018) Reassessing the Roots of Theosophy: in Pursuit of the Precious Stone. Insight
[4] Olsen, S., Marek-Crnjak, L., He, J. H., and El Naschie, M. S. (2020) A Grand Unification of the
Sciences, Art & Consciousness: Rediscovering the Pythagorean Plato’s Golden Mean Number
System. Journal of Progressive Research in Mathematics 16, 2880-2931.

6
[5] Sherbon, M. A. (2014) Fundamental Nature of the Fine-Structure Constant. International Journal
of Physical Research, Science Publishing Corporation, 1-9.
[6] Otto, H. H. (2017) Continued Fraction Representations of Universal Numbers and
Approximations. Researchgate.net. 1-4. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.20110.66884
[7] Andrews, G. E. (1981) Ramanujan’s “lost” notebook. III. The Rogers-Ramanujan continued
fraction. Advances in Mathematics 41,186-208.
[8] El Naschie, M. S. (2013) Quantum Entanglement: Where Dark Energy and Negative Gravity plus
Accelerated Expansion of the Universe Comes from. Journal of Quantum Information Science 3, 57-
77.
[9] El Naschie, M. S. (2018) From the Logical Foundation and the Derivation of E = (mc2/22) +
(mc2)(21/22) = mc2 to the Fractal Nature of Reality. International Journal of Applied Science and
Mathematics 5, 1-2.
[10] Marek-Crnjac, L. (2013) Cantorian Space-Time Theory. Lambert Academic Publishing,
Saarbrücken. 1-50.
[11] Cantor, G. (1932) Gesammelte Abhandlungen mathematischen und philosophischen Inhalts.
Springer, Berlin.
[12] El Naschie, M. S. (2017) Elements of a New Set Theory Based Quantum Mechanics with
Application in High Quantum Physics and Cosmology. International Journal of High Energy Physics
4, 65-74.
[13] Hardy, L. (1993) Nonlocality for Two Particles without Inequalities for Almost All Entangled
States. Physical Review Letters 71, 1665-1668.
[14] Mermin, N. D. (1994) Quantum mysteries refined. American Journal of Physics 62, 880-887.
[15] Suleiman, R. (2019) Relativizing Newton. Nova Scientific Publisher. New York, 2020, 1-207.
[16] Baxter, R. J. (1980) Hard hexagons: exact solution. Journal of Physics A13, L61-L70.
[17] Baxter, R. J. (1982) Exactly Solved Models in Statistical Mechanics. Academic Press, London.
[18] Baxter, R. J., Enting, I. G. and Tsang, S. K. (1980) Hard-square lattice gas. Journal of Statistical
Physics 22, 465-489.
[19] Fendley, P., Sengupta, K., and Sanchev, S. (2004) Competing density-wave orders in a one-
dimensional hard-boson model. Physical Review B69, 075106, 1-16.
[20] Otto, H. H. (2018) Reciprocity Relation Between the Mass Constituents of the Universe and
Hardy’s Quantum Entanglement Probability. World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics 8, 30-35.
[21] Otto, H. H. (2020) Reciprocity as an Ever-Present Dual Property of Everything. Journal of
Modern Physics 11, 98-121.
[22] Otto, H. H. (2016) A Different Approach to High-Tc Superconductivity: Indication of
Filamentary-Chaotic Conductance and Possible Routes to Superconductivity above Room
Temperature. World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics 6, 244-260.
[23] Otto, H. H. (2019) Super-Hydrides of Lanthanum and Yttrium: On Optimal Conditions for
Achieving near Room Temperature Superconductivity. World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics 9,
22-36.
[24] Klein, P. P. (2020) The Insphere of a Tetrahedron. Applied Mathematics 11. 601-612.
[25] El Naschie, M. S. and He, J.-H. (2018) Tesla’s dream from a modern quantum spacetime view
point. Nonlinear Science Letters A 9, 36-43.
[26] Otto, H. H. (2017) Should we pay more attention to the relationship between the golden mean and
the Archimedes’ constant? Nonlinear Science Letters A 8, 410-412.
[27] Fang, F., Irvin, K., Kovacs, J. and Sadler, G. (2013) Cabinet of curiosities: the interesting
geometry of the angle β. arXiv:1304.1771v1 [math.MG].
[28] Pisano, L. (1202) Fibonacci’s Liber Abaci (Book of Calculation). Biblioteca a Nazionale di
Firenze.

7
[29] Lucas, E. (1891) Theorie des nombres. Gauthier-Villars, Paris.
[30] Penrose, R. and Hamedoff, S. R. (1995) Quantum computing in microtubules: Self-collapse as a
possible mechanism for consciousness. Toward a science of consciousness. MIT Press, Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
[31] Penrose, R. and Hamedoff, S. R. (2011) Consciousness in the Universe: Neuroscience, Quantum
Space-Time Geometry and Orch OR Theory. Journal of Cosmology 14, 1-50.
[32] Planat, M., Aschheim, R. A., Amaral, M. M., Fang, F., and Irvin, K. (2020) Complete Quantum
Information in the DNA Genetic Code. Researchgate.net, 1-14.
Doi :10.20994/preprints202007.0403.v1
[33] Otto, H. H. (2020) A Varied Quartic Polynomial Modeling the Double-Helix Genetic Code.
Researchgate.net, pre-publication, 1-5.
[34] Otto, H. H. (2020) Ratio of In-Sphere Volume to Polyhedron Volume of the Great Pyramid
Compared to Selected Convex Polyhedral Solids. Researchgate.net.
[35] Otto, H. H. and Ellner, M. (1987) Röntgenbeugungsuntersuchungen an quasikristallinem I-Al4Mn
(X-ray diffraction analysis of quasi-crystalline I-Al4Mn). Zeitschrift für Kristalligraphie 178, 178-179

Appendix

Surface ratio between pyramid and its in-sphere:

The entire surface of the pyramid is composed of the outer surface and the base surface
yielding
P789 = 4 +4 =4 (19)

The surface of the in-sphere is

P=7> = 4 0 = 4 5
(20)

Then the surface ratio is calculated to be

QABC
= (21)
QBDE

In this way, the same result is obtained as for the volume ratio. However, this statement is
valid for all convex polyhedra. It can be proved as follows. For a convex polyhedron the
radius of its in-sphere ri is related to the ratio between its volume Vp and its surface area Op by

@B
0R = 3 Q (22)
B

Consequently, one can derive for the volume ratio

@ABC @BL
@B
= 36 QBK
(23)

and further for the surface area ratio

8
 QABC @BL
QB
= 36 QBK
(24)

This proves that volume ratio and surface area ratio are equal.
@ABC SABC
@B
= SB
(25)

Another Geometry-Based Approximation of φ5:

Another simple relation leads to the following reliable result, applying the in-sphere radius for
√5 #
the hexagon 0R,> = : ∙ and the out-sphere radius for a pentagon 0%,7 = (see Figure 3)
-

9
5 ∙ (9 U,C − 1) = 0.0903696046 … (26)
V.B

When enlarging the 0%,7 value by a factor of only 1.00003923… then the exact value of φ5 can
be confirmed. Extracting a value of φ* by recasting the relation (26) using the approximation

( ∗
) ≈5 ∗
−3 (27)
one yields

√5
∗
= -2 − − = 0.61807392 … (28)

Figure 3. Hexagon (green) and pentagon (gray) displayed with a common edge length and
center. The red outlined ring is limited by the radii ri,h (in-sphere radius of a hexagon) and ro,p
(out-sphere radius of a pentagon).

Approximating the In-Sphere of a Soccer Ball:

The in-sphere volume 6=7> of a soccer ball having the structure of a truncated icosahedron
with 32 faces and 60 vertices (60 C atoms) can be approximated by the following relation [34]

; /;
6=7> = 254 ∙ :5 , (29)
9
 where a is the edge length of the pentagonal respectively hexagonal faces.

Volume Ratio of a Triacontahedron:

This regular polyhedron belongs to the icosahedral group Ih and consists of 30 equilateral
rhobus faces, 32 vertices and 60 edges. It was first discovered by Johannes Kepler (1571-
1630). Many years ago the present author had chosen this solid serving as a structural model
for the first building sphere of quasi-crystals belonging to the Al-Mn alloy system, where
neighboring polyhedra interpenetrate [35].
G
Using the approximation = [26], the volume ratio of the triacontahedron can by
approximated by

@ABC ; XK

@B
= 5 0R5 = ∙ = 0.8872000 ≈ ∙
= 0.88721359 (30)

√
where 0R = Y : = 1.37638192 ∙ : is the in-sphere radius of the triacontahedron. In this
way, one is again faced with the fifth power of the golden mean.

10

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