The Fibonacci Sequence in Nature

BY SEHYOGUE AULAKH

Leonardo Fibonacci

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Fibonacci was an Italian mathematician who discovered a very special sequence of numbers that is known as The Fibonacci Sequence.

The Fibonacci Sequence is 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc. Basically you add 2 consecutive numbers starting at 0 to get a new number. These sequences are found everywhere in nature, humans, music and art.

Pine cones

Pine cones show excellent Fibonacci sequences. Here there are 8 clockwise and 13 anticlockwise spirals (both Fibonacci numbers). If you look at a pinecone from the side, each level has a certain number of scales that match a Fibonacci number. Pinecones are not alone...

Just about every plant or animal is governed by Fibonacci numbers! Here's another example.

Garden daisies usually have 34 petals. Other types of daisies have 55 or 89 petals. All these numbers are Fib numbers.

Another flower example...This is a coneflower. The number of spirals in the flower head going clockwise and anticlockwise are consecutive Fibonacci numbers.

Vegetables and FruitsBroccoli and cauliflower are the main two vegetables that show the Fibonacci sequence in the spiralling of the florets. Some fruits show the Fibonacci sequence such as star fruit, pineapple and dragonfruit.

starfruit

pineapple

Fibonacci and the PianoDid you know a Fibonacci sequence is in the keys of the piano?

1 2,3 5 8 13

octave number in each set of black notes

number of black notes

number of white notes

total number of notes