BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
MMW 101
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Module 2
The Fibonacci Sequence
“Seeing a New Yet the Same World
Through Mathematics”
The Fibonacci Sequence
Objectives of the Module
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. discuss the contribution of Fibonacci in mathematics
2. explain how the Fibonacci sequence came about
3. find and relate the Fibonacci number with things and happenings in the
environment.
Who is Fibonacci?
Are you interested to know the person who discovered a sequence of
numbers and why he is differently known from his real name?
Let me introduce him to you. The picture at the
right is Leonardo Pisano or Leonardo of Pisa. He was
born in Pisa, Italy, in 1170. He was recognized and well
known for popularizing the Hindu-Arabic numeral
system or decimal system in Europe. He advocated the
use of the digits 0 to 9 and of the place values.
He is popularly known as Fibonacci, a shortened
word for the Latin term "fillius Bonacci," which means
"son of Bonacci" because his father was Guglielmo
Bonaccio. He discovered one of the famous formulas in
mathematics, the FIBONACCI SEQUENCE. Fibonacci
was able to find this number sequence while looking at
how generations of rabbits breed.
The breeding of rabbits led to his discovery of the numbers in the Fibonacci
sequence. Let us try to discover it too. However, certain conditions are to be observed
as follows:
1. Start with a baby male and a baby female rabbit (Generation 0 or G0).
2. This pair will mature in Generation 1 (G1) and can reproduce a pair in
Generation 2 (G2).
3. This sequence continues, as in the illustration that follows.
Note: It is to be assumed that no rabbit is to die in the process.
Legends:
𝑟𝑚 = baby male rabbit
𝑟𝐹 = baby female rabbit
𝑅𝑀 = matured male rabbit
𝑅𝐹 = matured female rabbit
1
Generation Illustration No. of Pairs
0 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 1
1 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 1
2 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 2
3 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 3
4 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 5
5 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 8
Listing the number of pairs in a sequence, we have
1+1 1+2 2+3 3+5 5+8 8+13 13+21 21+34
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, …
Can you now derive the Fibonacci sequence with 30 numbers in the sequence?
Do it here:
___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___,
___, ___, ___, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, _____
Have you written the sequence correctly? I hope you do. CONGRATULATIONS!
Where Can You Find the Fibonacci Sequence?
The Fibonacci sequence application can be seen in nature, on phenomena,
on the human body, and in photographs.
1. Fibonacci Sequence in Nature
1.1 In the number of petals of flowers
Many flowers follow the numbers in the Fibonacci sequence about the number
of petals they possess naturally. These are some examples:
2
calla lily euphorbia milii trillium hibiscus cosmos
with 1 petal with 2 petals with 3 petals with 5 petals with 8 petals
with 1 petal
http://fineartamerica.co http://www.photos-public- https://c.pxhere.com/ph https://www.publicdomain https://pixnio.com/free-
m/images/artworkimag domain.com/wp- otos/92/6e/flower_trilliu pictures.net/pictures/1100 images/flora-
es/medium/1/white-alla- content/uploads/2011/03/pink- m_woodland_forest- 00/velka/pink-hibiscus- plants/flowers/dark-pink-
lily-christine-till.jpg flowers-on-crown-of-thorns- 816382.jpg!d flower- cosmos-flower.jpg
thumbnail-190x190.jpg 1413634461uMB.jpg
1.2 In the number of sections in fruits
When we observe fruits, we may notice that their number of sections is
in the Fibonacci sequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptY7JqfjT6Q
2. The Fibonacci Spiral
Using the first ten (10) numbers in the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,
21, 34, 55 as dimensions of adjacent squares, you can create a Fibonacci spiral.
When arranged in a certain way, the Fibonacci sequence creates a special spiral
pattern. 1
1 "(PDF) The Fibonacci Sequence: Nature's Little Secret."
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275994357_The_Fibonacci_Sequence_Nature's_Little_Secret.
Accessed 6 Aug. 2020.
3
2.1 How to create a Fibonacci spiral
1. In creating a Fibonacci spiral, begin by drawing
two 1 x 1 squares. Draw a 2 x 2 square using the
sides of the rectangle formed by the first two
squares. Draw a 3 x 3 square using the sides of
the second rectangle formed. You will notice that
the sides of the squares are Fibonacci numbers.
Continue drawing squares using the Fibonacci
numbers as sides of the squares.
2. In creating a spiral-like shape, draw curves in
the squares beginning with the 1 x 1 squares.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275994357_The_Fib
onacci_Sequence_Nature's_Little_Secret
Can you make your Fibonacci spiral using the first ten numbers in the Fibonacci
sequence differently from the example?
The Fibonacci spiral is seen in
the nautilus shell as shown in the
picture.
https://format-magazine-production-
res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/c_limit,w_1200,h_1600,f_jpg
,f_auto/mollusc-mother-of-pearl-nautilus-33234
4
The Fibonacci spiral can
be observed in photographs of
storms, specifically hurricanes, and
tornadoes.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7d/24/91/7d249115076c1c9342b10646c011b983--
hurricane-sandy-fibonacci-number.jpg
The sunflower seeds are
another example where we can
see the Fibonacci spiral.
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bc/17/b6/bc17b61ef58ef3be55
338eb3fc29d0d9--fibonacci-number-fibonacci-in-
nature.jpg
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/594756694526229319/? https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/310000/vel
nic_v2=1a2T6TQ1I ka/pine-cone-on-a-branch-15731202767Ic.jpg
5
Fibonacci numbers are present on the spirals that appear on the skin of
pineapples and pine cones. The number of spirals found in them belongs to the
Fibonacci numbers.
There are some parts in
the body where the
Fibonacci spiral is evident.
http://www.creomedia.ie/wp- https://www.goldennumber.net/wp-
content/uploads/2016/05/MathsOfDesignIm content/uploads/finger-golden-spiral.png
age3.jpg
