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What is the golden ratio?

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Quick Answer

The golden ratio is about 1.618, a proportion where the whole relates to the larger part as the larger part relates to the smaller.

The Full Story

Represented by the Greek letter phi (φ), the golden ratio equals (1 + √5) ÷ 2, approximately 1.6180339. Euclid described it around 300 BC as dividing a line in “extreme and mean ratio”. It is closely linked to the Fibonacci sequence: dividing each Fibonacci number by the one before gets closer and closer to phi. It appears in some natural patterns, such as the spiral arrangement of seeds in sunflowers. Many popular claims, such as that the Parthenon or the Mona Lisa were deliberately designed with it, are debated or exaggerated.

Key Facts

1.Approximately 1.618
2.Linked to the Fibonacci sequence
3.Described by Euclid around 300 BC

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Suggested video title for this topic:

"The “divine” number — fact versus myth"