Explaining Phi?

Question

I don't know algebra or geometry. Is there a way you can explain the meaning of Phi in simple mathematics terms that I can understand?
Thank you.

Answer 1

really hard to, but I'll try.
Phi is a number that just doesn't end; its called a transcendental number because its special. Its equal precisely to (root 5 + 1)/2, or 1.618033..., the dots meaning that it doesn't end.
Why is this special? Its the solution to a whole set of algebraic expressions; I don't know the geometric perspective, but I know the algebraic one:
Its the solution to 1/(1+1/(1+1/(1+1/(1+1/...... Seems strange, that an infinite number of things can have one number as a solution, right? But in many cases, transcendental numbers are simply accurate representations of a number.
Again, its really hard to explain this without using algebra jargon...you're better off reading something about the number and then asking something specific to the Yahoo answer community.

Answer 2

I found this on the web. "The Golden Mean (or Golden Section), represented by the Greek letter phi, is one of those mysterious natural numbers, like e or pi, that seem to arise out of the basic structure of our cosmos. Unlike those abstract numbers, however, phi appears clearly and regularly in the realm of things that grow and unfold in steps, and that includes living things.
The decimal representation of phi is 1.6180339887499... "

Answer 3

My guess is you mean pi (not phi). C = 2 pi R = pi D; where C is the circumference of a circle, R is its radius, D is the diameter (2R), and pi = C/D. And that's it, pi is simply a ratio of a circle's circumference to that same circle's diameter.

In other words, C/D = constant and that constant is pi = 3.1415..... This was an amazing discovery long ago...that no matter what the circumference and no matter what the diameter for a given circle, their ratios would always equal the same number...pi.

Answer 4

since no one has answered your question.. dont shoot me down for this

I personally dont know what phi is but try google-ing it (i know its bad to say that on yahoo, but wwhatever)

or use this :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

or even reference an advanced math book

hope this helps you get closer to your goal!