What doesn 1.618 mean?

Question

PHI

Answer 1

1.618 is an approximation of Φ (the golden ratio).

If you imagine taking a piece of paper (or any rectangle) with sides in the ratio of 1.618 to 1, and you cut out a square, the remaining rectangle also has a ratio of 1.618 to 1.

The golden ratio in algebraic terms is:
Φ = [1 + sqrt(5) ] / 2 ≈ 1.618

At least since the Renaissance, many artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio—believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing. Mathematicians have studied the golden ratio because of its unique and interesting properties.

Answer 2

It is called the golden ratio. It was used by the ancient Greeks and by many artists. To get this ratio divide a line into two unequal parts so that the ratio of the length of the whole line to the longer part is the same as the ratio of the longer part to the shorter part. The two ratios are = (1+sqrt(5))/2 or 1.618... This really needs a picture to fully understand.

Answer 3

If you have a line segment AB, and cut it into two segments AC and CB, such that AB/AC = AC/BC, then this is said to be the Golden Ratio. It is the positive solution to x = (1/x) + 1 and it has neat properties. Add 1 to it and you've squared it! Subtract 1 from it and you have its inverse!

Do you know the Fibonacci sequence? 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 etc. (every number is the sum of the two previous numbers.) The ratio of two consecutive numbers in this sequence converges to phi.

Answer 4

The answer to this question can also be given as...

Divine Proportion

This ratio is evident in almost every natural thing...say take a ratio of your total hand length i.e. the length from your shoulder to finger tip to length from your elbow to finger tip is approximately equal to this number.

This number has been honoured to be the most beautiful number by many art historians.

Answer 5

phi the golden ratio