05.11.

2010

Pi & Fibonacci Numbers

Pi & Fibonacci Numbers

Recall that the Fibonacci sequence is defined by F(1) = 1, F(2) = 1, F(3) = 2, F(n) + F(n+1) = F(n+2). The following relation involving the Fibonacci numbers was proven by Ko Hayashi [3]. (*) The connection to is that arctan(1) = /4. Thus can be expressed in terms of Fibonacci numbers

The first three cases have been demonstrated geometrically using the Geometer's Sketchpad. (These are not really interactive sketches.)

arctan(1) = arctan (1/2) + arctan(1/3)

green angle = arctan(1) (look at the 1x1 square) red angle = arctan(1/2) (look at the tilted 1x2 rectangle) blue angle = arctan(1/3) (look at the 1x3 rectangle) One can easily see that green angle = red angle + blue angle. Thus we have /4 = arctan(1) = arctan (1/2) + arctan(1/3).

arctan(1/3) = arctan(1/5) + arctan(1/8)

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Pi & Fibonacci Numbers

As it is difficult to see the angles involved here, the following picture zooms in on the important angles.

blue angle = arctan(1/3) as before (look at a 1x3 rectangle) yellow angle = arctan(1/5) (look at the tilted 1x5 rectangle) pink angle = arctan(1/8) (look at the 1x8 rectangle) Again, it is easy see that blue angle = yellow angle + pink angle. Thus we have arctan(1/3) = arctan (1/5) + arctan(1/8). Combining this with the previous result yields /4 = arctan(1) = arctan (1/2) + arctan (1/5) + arctan(1/8).

arctan(1/8) = arctan(1/13) + arctan(1/21)

It is extremely difficult to see the angles involved here, so again the following picture zooms in on the important angles.

pink angle = arctan(1/8) as before (look at a 1x8 rectangle) cyan angle = arctan(1/13) (look at the tilted 1x13 rectangle) black angle = arctan(1/8) (look at the difficult to see 1x21 rectangle) Again, it is easy see that pink www.geom.uiuc.edu//fibonacci.html angle = cyan angle + black angle.
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Pi & Fibonacci Numbers

Again, it is easy see that pink angle = cyan angle + black angle. Thus we have arctan(1/8) = arctan (1/13) + arctan(1/21). Combining this with previous results yields /4 = arctan(1) = arctan (1/2) + arctan (1/5) + arctan (1/13) + arct an(1/21). One can represent as the sum of an arbitrary number of terms involving Fibonacci numbers by continuing in this manner. The repeated application of equation (*) yields , for any natural number n. Each sum starting with n =1, is an exact representation of . One can look at four times the summation to be a partial sum with

as the error term for . The sequence of these partial sums converges to .

also. I.e.,

Using the formula for the tangent of the sum of two angles, these relationships can be easily verified. Return to Historical Overview of Pi Go to A Slice of Pi Home Page

http://www.geom.umn.edu/~huberty/math5337/groupe/fibonacci.html Created: March 1996 ---- Last Modified: July 6, 1997 Copyright 1996-1997 Michael D. Huberty, Ko Hayashi & Chia Vang

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