Math, nature, and art merge with the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio, two concepts that show up throughout mathematics, the natural world, and even art and literature. Named after the Italian mathematician who introduced modern Hindu-Arabic numerals to Europe in the 1200s, the Fibonacci sequence is generated by starting with 0 and 1, summing them, and continuing by adding each new number to the proceeding one, producing this pattern: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and so on infinitely. Fibonacci stumbled on this sequence as the solution to a mathematical problem about rabbit population growth. Little did he suspect how powerful it would be, leading to the golden ratio, and other insights.
Award-winning educator Arthur T. Benjamin, Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College explores this exciting subject in 12 accessible lectures, presenting proofs, puzzles, magic tricks, games, and more, all centered on the deceptively simple Fibonacci sequence and the equally elementary golden ratio. Non-mathematicians may be familiar with these numbers, which appear frequently in mystery thrillers, paintings, musical compositions, and architecture, not to mention in seed patterns, leaf distributions, and other phenomena in nature. Like a thriller author, Professor Benjamin is a master at guiding you step by step through a maze of ideas, while strategically stepping back to encourage you to reach the “ah-ha!” moment on your own.