The most ubiquitous, and perhaps the most intriguing, number pattern in
mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence. In this simple pattern beginning
with two ones, each succeeding number is the sum of the two numbers
immediately preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ad infinitum). Far
from being just a curiosity, this sequence recurs in structures found
throughout nature - from the arrangement of whorls on a pinecone to the
branches of certain plant stems. All of which is astounding evidence for
the deep mathematical basis of the natural world. With admirable
clarity, two veteran math educators take us on a fascinating tour of the
many ramifications of the Fibonacci numbers. They begin with a brief
history of a distinguished Italian discoverer, who, among other
accomplishments, was responsible for popularizing the use of Arabic
numerals in the West. Turning to botany, the authors demonstrate,
through illustrative diagrams, the unbelievable connections between
Fibonacci numbers and natural forms (pineapples, sunflowers, and daisies
are just a few examples). In art, architecture, the stock market, and
other areas of society and culture, they point out numerous examples of
the Fibonacci sequence as well as its derivative, the "golden ratio."
And of course in mathematics, as the authors amply demonstrate, there
are almost boundless applications in probability, number theory,
geometry, algebra, and Pascal's triangle, to name a few. Accessible and
appealing to even the most math-phobic individual, this fun and
enlightening book allows the reader to appreciate the elegance of
mathematics and its amazing applications in both natural and cultural
settings.
