FIBONACCI NUMBERS
in nature
Fibonacci numbers:
After the first two 1’s in the sequence, each
subsequent number is equal to the sum of the previous
two numbers. The sequence is named after Leonardo of
Pisa, known as Fibonacci. Although he was not the first
to describe the sequence, he did publish it in his book
Liber Abaci, which introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals
to the West. These intriguing numbers can be
found in the branching of trees, the patterns on
a pineapple, the florets of a sunflower, the spirals of a pine
cone, and the placement of leaves on the stems of
many plants. Fibonacci numbers are one example of
the patterns that mathematicians search for. Perhaps you
can find examples of Fibonacci numbers—or other
patterns—in the world around you.