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The golden angle is simply the golden ratio applied to a circle: it is the smaller angle formed by two arcs that are related by the golden ratio.
 
The golden angle is simply the golden ratio applied to a circle: it is the smaller angle formed by two arcs that are related by the golden ratio.
<center> <math> /frac{a}{b} = /frac{a+b}{a} = /frac{360^o}{\theta} = \frac{1}{\phi} </math> </center>
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<center> <math> \frac{a}{b} = \frac{a+b}{a} = \frac{360^o}{\theta} = \frac{1}{\phi} </math> </center>
  
  
 
<br><br>[[Category:MA279Fall2018Walther]]
 
<br><br>[[Category:MA279Fall2018Walther]]

Revision as of 20:05, 1 December 2018

The Fibonacci Sequence in Leaves

The Fibonacci sequence is present in both the structure and arrangement of leaves in many plants. Since plants rely on photosynthesis, they want to maximize the amount of sunlight that strikes their leaves. The vertical growth of many plants means that leaves can cover up each other. To minimize this effect, the leaves are grown such that the angle between each successive leaf is the golden angle, as shown in Figure 2.

Goldener_Schnitt_Blattstand.png
Figure 1: Leaf Arrangement Using the Golden Angle
GoldenAngle.png
Figure 2: Representation of The Golden Angle

The golden angle is simply the golden ratio applied to a circle: it is the smaller angle formed by two arcs that are related by the golden ratio.

$ \frac{a}{b} = \frac{a+b}{a} = \frac{360^o}{\theta} = \frac{1}{\phi} $




Alumni Liaison

Prof. Math. Ohio State and Associate Dean
Outstanding Alumnus Purdue Math 2008

Jeff McNeal