History of Fibonacci Series & Difference from Maclaurin & Taylor

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the history of the Fibonacci series and its differences from Maclaurin and Taylor series. Participants explore various aspects of these mathematical concepts, including their definitions, applications, and cultural references.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the Fibonacci series is a sequence of integers, while Maclaurin and Taylor series are approximations of functions by power series.
  • Another participant humorously compares the difference between bread and music to the difference between the Fibonacci series and power series.
  • A participant references the movie "Pi," discussing its portrayal of the Fibonacci series and its relation to the golden ratio, while acknowledging inaccuracies in the mathematical presentation.
  • Concerns are raised about the assertion that the golden ratio is significant in Greek architecture, with one participant arguing that such claims lack evidence and are often based on selective measurements.
  • Another participant requests clarification on the statement regarding the golden ratio's occurrence in nature, prompting a request for more precise explanations.
  • A participant mentions a book titled "The Golden Section: Nature's Greatest Secret" as a light read on the subject of the golden ratio.
  • One participant shares a personal anecdote about receiving a Fibonacci scarf, linking the series to a tangible example.
  • Several participants request simple explanations of the differences between the Fibonacci series and power series, with one providing the Fibonacci sequence and a brief description of a Taylor series.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the significance of the golden ratio in various contexts, particularly in architecture and nature. There is no consensus on the importance of the golden ratio beyond its mathematical properties, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding its aesthetic implications.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on subjective interpretations of mathematical concepts and cultural references, and there are unresolved questions about the definitions and implications of the Fibonacci series compared to power series.

aeterminator1
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what is the history of it and how is it different from maclaurin and taylor series
 
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One is a sequence of integers, the other is an approximation of a function by a power series. How is bread different from music?

As I pointed out to yet another poster: JFGI. Inserting the words fibonnacci and sequence into a google search will give you a whole plethora of information - far more than anyone here could ever (be bothered to) write down.
 
matt grime said:
How is bread different from music?

That made my day!
 
haha... or look up the breadfish, perhaps? :-p

In the movie Pi, the main guy gives a brief explanation on the fibonacci series to another character, explaining how it also relates to the golden ratio etc. And yes, as a movie, it's bound to have flaws in the accuracy of the actual maths presented. One of the equations written is apparently slightly erroneous, and I quote from imdb:

Max writes the golden ratio as (a/b) = (a/a+b). It should be a/b = (a+b)/a, if, by definition, a>b.


But hey, it may just be a more interesting approach in understanding this stuff than by laborously filtering through the googolplex. Pretty standard approach, heh. :wink: You can also get films, music--various symphonies-- set to the golden ratio. Amazing. Oh, the Parthenon too, but hey, that was one of many achievements set by the Greeks. Those Greeks... :rolleyes:
 
CellarDoor said:
Oh, the Parthenon too, but hey, that was one of many achievements set by the Greeks. Those Greeks... :rolleyes:

There is no evidence to support the assertion that phi, the golden ratio, is important in greek architecture, or anywhere else, for non-mathematical reasons. Indeed, there are many elegant rebuttals of all the abuses of phi that exist. It does occur in nature for very good and well understood reasons (it has the 'slowest' converging rational approximation, in a sense that can be made precise), but none that supports any suggestion that is aesthetically pleasing.

The reason it 'occurs' in the parthenon is because some people choose to measure some ratios from some not well chosen positions. There are many rations one can write down from the parthenon that are not phi, but those are all conveniently ignored.
 
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matt grime said:
It does occur in nature for very good and well understood reasons (it has the 'slowest' converging rational approximation, in a sense that can be made precise)
Could you make that more precise? :)
 
The book The Golden Section: Nature's Greatest Secret by Scot Olsen is all about the subject. It is a very light read. You could probally finish it one afternoon at a bookstore.
 
please give a simple explanation
 
  • #10
Eighty said:
Could you make that more precise? :)

Yes. But you could equally well do a google search and save me the bother.

Or looke here

http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_06_04.html
 
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  • #11
aeterminator1 said:
please give a simple explanation

Of what? The difference between Fibonnacci series and power series?

Here is the Fibonnacci sequence

1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,...

if x(n) is the n'th term it satisfies the rule x(n)=x(n-1)+x(n-2), and x(1)=x(2)=1.

A Taylor seres looks like this:

sin(x)=x-x^3/3! +x^5/5! - ...I don't see that there is anything that needs to be said to explain that they are different.
 
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