what is the golden ratio?

Answer 1

The golden ratio is the relationship that the sum of two quantities is to the larger quantity as the larger is to the smaller.

I.e. if you have a line in 2 parts, 'a' and 'b', the total length a+b is to the longer segment a as a is to the shorter segment b

It is approximately 1.62

Answer 2

1.61803398874989484820

If you were going to design a rectangular TV screen or swimming pool, would one shape be more pleasing to the eye than others? Since the early Greeks, a ratio of length to width of approximately 1.618, has been considered the most visually appealing. This ratio, called the golden ratio, not only appears in art and architecture, but also in natural structures

Answer 3

It's the ratio that satisfies the equation 1 + r = 1/r (0.618...1.618)

It is the aspect ratio of a rectangle for which if you cut off a square (sides equal to shorter side of rectangle) then it leaves a smaller rectangle with exactly the aspect ratio.

It is supposed to be pleasing to look at and hence figures in art & architecture a lot.

Answer 4

is, as the name suggests a ratio...
I think the Romans kind of invented it...
You can use it to see if you are "beautiful" or not.

Basically you measure different parts of your face, multiply them and the number you end up with is you r ratio. If it is the same as the Golden Ratio, it means you're pretty...

Answer 5

here is a copy of my answer
a few months back:-

if you have a rectangle with length x and
breadth 1 unit say
you then cut a 1 unit square out of this
rectangle,you are left with a smaller
rectangle with the same length/breath
ratio as the larger rectangle,namely,

x/1=1/(x-1)
x(x-1)=1
x^2-x-1=0

using the quadratic formula,

x= {1+or- sqrt(5)}/2

this value {1+sqrt5}/2 is known as the
'golden ratio' or the'divine proportion'

it's greek name is 'PHI'

also,in the fibonacci series,the ratio of
the (n+1)th term to the nth term limits to
PHI (approx 1.618033989)

i hope that this helps

Answer 6

It's a ratio of length in geometry and was used in lots of architecture and art. Here's a writeup ....

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

Answer 7

1:0.618
the square root of 2