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# The Golden Ratio: What is it?

Consider the above picture (called the golden rectangle). There is a rectangle that when we separate it into a square and another rectanlge, the rectangle formed is similar to the original rectangle. Let $$a$$ be the longer side of the rectangle, and $$b$$ the shorter side. Then, because of the rectangles' similarity, we have the proportion:

$\frac{a}{b} = \frac{b}{a-b}$

We will name this value $$\phi = \frac{a}{b}$$, the greek letter phi, and call it the Golden Ratio, just as the ancient Greeks did. At this point, this may just seem like some arbitrary geometrical figure. But $$\phi$$ has a lot of hidden properties, which we will uncover. First, let's try to find a numeric value for $$\phi$$: Taking the reciprocal of both sides of the equation above gives

$\frac{b}{a} = \frac{a-b}{b} = \frac{a}{b} - 1$

or, by definition of $$\phi$$,

$\frac{1}{\phi} = \phi -1$ $\rightarrow 0 = \phi^2 - \phi - 1$ $\rightarrow \phi = \frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2} \approx 1.618$

Now we know the actual value of the ratio of the sides of the rectangle first pictured above. The following forms of equations involving $$\phi$$ will be very useful to us in the future:

$\phi^2 = 1 + \phi$ $\phi = 1 + \frac{1}{\phi}$

You may be wondering right now why I took only the positive root when I applied the quadratic formula to find $$\phi$$ above. In the geometric sense, I wanted a ratio, and ratios are always positive. The negative root results in a negative value for $$\phi$$. This value is called the conjugate of $$\phi$$ and has many similar properties to $$\phi$$. But we will normally restrict ourselves to the positive value of $$\phi$$. Tune in tomorrow for more mathematical information about the Golden Ratio.

Here is the next segment in the series.

Note by Bob Krueger
3 years ago

## Comments

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So, you're planning on doing posts everyday? Nice introductory post!

It should be noted that the golden-rectangle is said to be the most visually aesthetic rectangle. · 3 years ago

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Thanks! Every one or two days, that's correct. And about the golden rectangle being aesthetically pleasing, we will definitely be delving deeper into that concept! A quick estimation shows that this will probably continue through February. · 3 years ago

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Okay then! Good luck! · 3 years ago

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Nice, looking forward to more entries. · 3 years ago

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Why are the two rectangles similar?? · 2 years, 10 months ago

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nice work bro · 3 years ago

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Good job! Keep it up, you still have a LOT to go through ;) · 3 years ago

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Thanks! I've already got the next six days written up. · 3 years ago

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It's great · 3 years ago

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WOW! EXCELLENT. · 3 years ago

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nice work! · 3 years ago

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I read first about this in THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan brown · 3 years ago

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It's gr8... · 3 years ago

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