WebQuest

Directions: I think this would be a lot of fun if you worked with someone, but feel free to do the investigation on your own. Please use today’s (4/26) class time to work on this webquest. You do not need to write anything up… I will know by the look on your face on Wednesday if you have completed the assignment J Since it is raining today, we will do our Algebra Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday. I’ll see you then!!

 

Step 1. Go to http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibpuzzles.html

Scroll down to the link "Chairs in a Row: The Friendly Version." Click that link and you will see one solution to your midterm investigation.

Step 2. Go to three websites that provide information about the Fibonacci sequence. Be sure to learn something about Fibonacci himself, the history of the sequence, and perhaps a formula.

Step 3. Write a formula for a column in a spreadsheet that generates triangular numbers.

Step 4. Using either the spreadsheet you created or a calculator, investigate the ratios of consecutive terms in the Fibonacci sequence. For example, 2/3 3/5 5/8 8/13… keep going until you see a pattern.

Step 5. Go to http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/phi.html to read about an amazing number – hopefully one that looks familiar after step 4.

Step 6. Look for information on the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio in nature, art, human forms, Pascal’s triangle, architecture, ECG tracings, and anything else you find. I think a great place to begin is http://goldennumber.net

Step 7. I hope that you have said things like, "Cool!’ "No way!" "I never knew about all this connection." and "Wow!" Keep exploring… there are many, many activities you can do with students of any age to introduce them to these amazing numbers.

Note. A great novel to read is "The Da Vinci Code." It is full of interesting trivia about these numbers and how they have been used for centuries.