How would i explain the Fibonacci numbers to a 10 year old kid?

Answer 1

Its an interesting sequence that is neither arithmetic nor geometric was discovered by Leonardo of Pisa, aka Fibonacci--an Italian mathematician of the 13th century.

The Fibronacci numbers is in a surprising variety of natural phenomena. For example, the spirals at the center of a sunflower or on the bottom of a pineapple or a pine cone are arranged so that the ratio of the number of spirals in one direction of the number of spirals in the other direction is composed of two consecutive Fibonacci numbers.

Or, in maybe more easier finite terms, look at an octave of a piano keyboard. The are 13 keys altogether. 8 white keys, 5 black keys with 3 black keys in one cluster and 2 black keys in another cluster.

You would probably experience the concept in art and architecture more than in math.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I had now idea what Fibonacci numbers are! However did Yahoo Search:-Fibonacci Maths Question ! Literally 100"s of answers to choose from! I took no.(6) on the list and came up with ENRICH MATHS ! " GNOMON" looked like a very simply way of teaching your 10 year old son! I have never heard of this before an wondered as we have put our own family through school and college and now the grandchildren ages from 5-18 but never came across this name in Maths?

Answer 3

The next number on the sequence is what you would get if you added the last two numbers together.

Even though 0 doesn't appear on the sequence and you start with 1, 0+1=1, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13, 8+13=21, and so on.

Answer 4

Fibonacci series is very simple. It is a series where the ratio of a number to the previous number is basically a constant. That ratio forms the golden triangle.

The Series is formed by adding starting from unity and adding to the previous number to generate the next number. It resembles the theory of fractals where the basic unit generates the next form and combined ,forms the whole.

A good example is the way the formation of the leave on a tree occurs.

Answer 5

Just tell him this example:

A man has a couple of rabbits and he wants to know how many rabbits he wil get if the rabbits have 2 kids each year, and the next year the kids will grow up and have kids but the parents also will have kids, and the babys born that year wont have kids. So:

How many rabbits he will get? He only has to add the number of rabbits and the rabbits existing the year before. That is:

parium 1
primus 2
secundus 3
tercius 5
quartus 8
quintus 13
sestus 21
septimus 34
octauus 55
nonus 89
decimus 144
undecimus 233
duodecimus 377


Sorry if Im not completly clear, Im not a native english speaker

Answer 6

I would first show the child the sequence:

{1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89,...}

From there I would ask if the child recognizes a pattern within the sequence. If s/he doesn't I might point out the sequence within the first 6 terms. Then I would ask if s/he can point out the sequence in the subsequent terms, having the child continue the sequence on his/her own for a bit.

As for explaining the meaning/use of the Fibonacci sequence...I probably wouldn't, unless my child really wanted to know. Even then I'd have to brush up before sticking my foot in my mouth.

Answer 7

say that the sequence starts with 0 and 1 and you add the last two previous 'terms' (or you could say numbers instead) to get the next 'term' (or number)...simple really...there is also a website where you can find animated video clips for kids to learn things and there is a video clip to explain the fibonacci sequence: www.brainpop.com/math/numbersandoperators/fibonaccisequence/
hope it helps
ok, it doesn't seem like the whole website is showing itself so...you go to www.brainpop.com > click on math (its an american website) > click on fibonacci sequence for the video

Answer 8

Construct a Fibonacci triangle and show how each row is obtained. Then show how these numbers form the Fibonacci series.

Answer 9

Can't really see why you would want to explain them to a ten year old but I suggest you write down a few Fibinacci sequences and simply show the way the numbers are related to the next number in the sequence with arrows or something.

Answer 10

Write the first few numbers out of a sheet of paper, 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21..., then show him/her how 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, and so on.