Fibonacci Sequence

A Mathematics Webquest

mcostello@bshknights.org

Menu Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

Resources

Conclusion

IntroductionThe Fibonacci Sequence is one of the most

interesting and fascinating mathematical concepts out there…and not only to mathematicians! The

numbers in the sequence turn up in places that you have probably seen and many that you haven’t. They’re found in nature, art, music, literature,

television, movies and more! Hopefully you can find them in a place that interests you.

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TaskIn this webquest, you will explore Leonardo

Fibonacci’s life, learn about the numbers that are named for him and seek out places these numbers

turn up. Within your quest, there will be questions to be answered. You will type the answers to the

questions and either print them or email them to me.

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ProcessThis webquest will have 3 tasks.

1. Research the life of Leonardo Fibonacci. List five facts about his life.

2. In researching #1, you should have come across an explanation of the Fibonacci Sequence. (If not,

keep researching.) Give the first 15 elements (numbers) in the Fibonacci Sequence and explain

how to find the 16th element.

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Process3. Now let’s see where we can find these numbers. Complete

three of the four action items that follow.

a. Music…Tool uses the Fibonacci Sequence in their song and album Lateralus. Watch this video.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7CZIJVxFY

ACTION ITEM: List two ways in which Tool uses the Fibonacci Sequence in this and/or other songs. OR Find a different song by a different artist in which the sequence is used and explain how they use it in their song.

Process

b. Nature… Follow the link below and read about Fibonacci spirals and Golden Spirals in nature.

http://www.goldennumber.net/spirals/

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ACTION ITEM: Is the Nautilus spiral a “Golden spiral”? Do a search on your own and summarize two other places in nature where you can find the Fibonacci Sequence.

Process• Movies/Literature… Perhaps you’ve read the novel The Da Vinci

Code by Dan Brown, or have seen the movie based on the novel. In the story, Robert Langdon knows that a code is being used

because he recognizes the Fibonacci Numbers in a jumbled order written on the museum floor.

The numbers come up again later on in the story. Watch the following clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x55ONOC6DS8

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ACTION ITEM: What 10 digit code was used by Robert Langdon to retrieve the safety deposit box? Find another movie or book that references the Fibonacci numbers.

Processd. Art and Architecture… The Parthenon in Greece was built

using the Golden Ratio…the ratio of any two consecutive Fibonacci numbers (1:1.618)

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ACTION ITEM: Find two other places you can find the Fibonacci Sequence and/or the Golden Ratio in Architecture and Art.

EvaluationThe rubric for this webquest can be found by

following this link…

www.guildhaven.org/~min/FibonacciWebquestRubric.pdf

Please be aware that copy/pasting from a website is considered plagiarism and will result

in 0 points for the given task. All answers should be in your own words.

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Resources

In addition to the sites already linked, you may find the following sites helpful:

www.google.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.youtube.com

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Conclusion

I hope that you have enjoyed your exploration of the Fibonacci

sequence. Now you see that math is very much all around you, in

everything you see and do, whether it be art, music, literature,

architecture or movies.

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