Happy Phi Day!

Algebra II, Engagement 1 Minute

In the United States, today is abbreviated 1/6/18, matching the first four significant digits of the irrational number \phi = (1 + \sqrt{5})/2, otherwise known as the golden ratio. For a good introduction to \phi, see http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/06/18/happy-phi-day-perfect-time-for-some-phinancial-fun.html.

For today, I’ll give a fun fact that I learned last year; for its national flag, the country of Togo chose a rectangle whose dimensions matches the golden ratio.

 

Published by John Quintanilla

I'm a Professor of Mathematics and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of North Texas. For eight years, I was co-director of Teach North Texas, UNT's program for preparing secondary teachers of mathematics and science.

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