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Museum of Harmony and the
Golden Section |
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MATHEMATICAL CONNECTIONS IN NATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART |
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MUSEUM OF HARMONY AND THE GOLDEN SECTION:
MATHEMATICAL CONNECTIONS
IN NATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART
ABSTRACT
In the article we consider a
concept of the Museum of Harmony and the Golden Section as unique
history-nature-science-art museum, collection of the Nature, Science and Art
works based on the Golden Section.
Throughout the history people aspire to surround themselves with beautiful things. At some point the question arose: What is the basis of beauty? Ancient Greeks developed the science of aesthetics as a way of analyzing beauty, believing that harmony was its basis. Beauty and Truth are interrelated: an artist searches for Truth in Beauty, and a scientist for Beauty in Truth.
Is it possible to compare the beauty
of a sculpture, a temple, a picture, a symphony, a poem, or a nocturne? If a formula could be found, then the
loveliness of a chamomile flower and a naked body could be measured and
compared. The well-known Italian
architect Leone Battista Alberti spoke about harmony as follows: “There
is something greater, composed of combination and connection of three things
(number, limitation and arrangement), something that lights up the face of
beauty. And we called it Harmony, which
is, doubtlessly, the source of some charm and beauty. You see assignment and
purpose of Harmony in arranging the parts, generally speaking, different in
their nature, by certain perfect ratio so that they meet one another
creating beauty … It encompasses all
human life, penetrates through the nature of things. Therefore everything that is made by Nature is measured by the
law of Harmony. Also there is no
greater care for the Nature than that of everything created by it to be
perfect. It is impossible to achieve this
without Harmony; therefore without it the greatest consent of the parts is
disintegrated”.
There are many well-known “formulas of beauty” such as certain geometrical shapes: square, circle, isosceles triangle, and pyramid. However, the most wide-spread criterion of beauty is one unique mathematical proportion called the Divine Proportion, Golden Section, Golden Number, or Golden Mean. The Golden Section and related to it Fibonacci numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …) permeate the history of art. Examples of well known works, which exhibit this proportion, are Khufu’s Pyramid of Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, Greek sculpture, the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci, paintings by Rafael, Shishkin, and the modern Russian artist Konstantin Vasiljev, Chopin’s etudes, music of Beethoven and Mozart, “Modulor” by Corbusier.
The Museum of Harmony and the Golden Section [1] contains a vast
collection of information on the Golden Section in nature, science, and art. In
virtual form, the Museum can be seen on the Web at http://www.goldenmuseum.com/. The main goal of the Museum is given in the
introduction: “The ‘Golden Proportion’ is a mathematical concept and its analysis is
first of all a problem of science. But
it is a criterion of Harmony and Beauty, and this is already category of Art
and Aesthetics. And our Museum, which
is dedicated to analysis of this unique phenomenon, is doubtlessly, a
scientific museum dedicated to the analysis of harmony and beauty from the
mathematical point of view.”
The Museum includes two main parts: cognitive and scientific. The former part aims to acquaint all people—students, teachers, engineers, specialists in various areas of science, artists, musicians, and representatives of all arts—with surprising discoveries of ancient science: the Golden Section and its various applications. The scientific part of the Museum aims to give information on modern scientific discoveries based on the Golden Section.
The Museum consists of the following halls:
(1) The Golden Section in History of Culture
(2) The Golden Section, Nature and Man
(3) The Golden Section in Art
(4) Mathematics of Harmony
(5) Fibonacci Computers
(6) Fibonaccization of Modern Science
(7) Harmonic Education
This hall of the Museum consists of the following exhibitions:
(1) What is the meaning of the Golden Section and Fibonacci Numbers?
(2) The Golden Section in history of Ancient Art
(3) Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Section in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
(4) The problem of Harmony and Symmetry in the 19th century science.
Although the material of every exhibition is well known separately, the collection of facts concerning the golden section confirms the outstanding role it plays in the history of culture. Let us consider the basic exhibitions of the Museum, which carry scientific evidence of the role of the golden section in the history of material and spiritual culture.
2.1. The Golden Section. Johannes Kepler said that geometry has
two treasures: one of them is Pythagorean Theorem, the other one is the golden
section. The former can be compared to a measure of gold, the latter to a
precious jewel.
The
golden section arises from the division of the line-segment AB by the point C in the extreme and mean ratio (Fig.1) that is,
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(1) |
Fig. 1. The Golden Section
It is reduced to the
equation:
x2 = x + 1 (2)
The positive root of the equation
t =
» 1,618
is called the golden ratio and the division of the line-segment in the ratio of
(1) is called the golden section.
Being
the root of the equation of (2), the golden ratio has the following wonderful
property:
t2 = t + 1 (3)
The expression of (3) can be rewritten
as
(4)
(5)
Hence, by subtracting of 1 from t = 1,618 we get the reciprocal to
the golden ratio
.
It was proved that the golden ratio is
the only positive number having this property.
It
should be noted that the numbers of 1,618 and 0,618 are supposed to express a
proportion of the golden section or the golden ratio.
Let us prove now one more
surprising property of the golden ratio, which results from the identity (4).
If in the right-hand part of (4) we substitute t by its value given (4), we will come
to representation of t in the form of the following
"multistoried" fraction:
. (6)
If
we continue such substitution many times in the right-hand part of (6) we will
get the following "multistoried" fraction with infinite number of
"stories":
(7)
The representation of (7) is called in mathematics "continued" or "chain" fraction. Note that the theory of "continued" fractions is one of the significant parts of modern mathematics.
Let us consider now once again the identity
of (3). It can be represented in the following form:
(8)
If in the right-hand part of the identity (8) we substitute now t by the same expression of (8), we will get the following representation for t:
(9)
If we substitute again t in the right-hand part of the identity (9) by the same expression of (8) and repeatedly, we will get one more remarkable representation of the golden ratio in "radicals":
. (10)
Every
mathematician intuitively aims to express mathematical results in the simplest,
compact form. And if he finds such form, he enjoys "aesthetic
pleasure". In this respect (in tendency to "aesthetic"
expression of mathematical outcomes) the mathematical creativity is similar to
creativity of composer or poet, whose main problem consists of obtaining
perfect musical or poetic forms, which would give us "aesthetic
pleasure". Note, that the formulas (7) and (10) produce also
"aesthetic enjoying" and invoke feeling of rhythm and harmony, when
we begin to think about infinite repeatability of the same simple mathematical
elements in the formulas for t given by (7) and (10).
Pentagon and pentagram
The
golden section is widely used in geometry. It is proved that
t =
= 2 cos 36°.
Using
this formula we can show that in the regular pentagon ABCDE the cross points of the diagonals F, G, H, K, L divide them in the golden section and form the new
pentagon FGHKL (Fig.2).

Fig. 2. Regular pentagon.
The “golden” cup and the “golden” triangle
The regular pentagon
comprises a number of wonderful figures, which are widely used in works of art.
In ancient Egypt and classic Greece the law of the "golden cup" was
well known. It was used by architects and goldsmiths. If we draw the diagonals BE, BD and EC in the pentagon ABCDE
(Fig.3), the dashed part receives a form of the "golden cup", which
can be expressed by means of the following ratios:
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Fig. 3. The "golden" cup.
Fig. 4. The golden
triangle.
There is another graceful
figure enclosed into the pentagon. It is the golden triangle, for example, ADC (Fig.4), whose base is the side of
the regular pentagon. The triangle has the vertex angle measuring 36° and the base angles measuring 72° each. The Pythagoreans were greatly excited by
the fact that the bisector DH of the
angle D coincides with the diagonal DB of the pentagon and the point H divides the side AC in the golden section. So, the new smaller golden triangle DCH appears. If we draw the bisector of
the angle H to the point H' on the side DC, then the bisector of the angle H' to the point H"
on the side AC and continue this
procedure endlessly, we get an infinite sequence of the golden triangles.
The “golden” rectangle
The same property is
inherent in the golden rectangle ABCD
(Fig.5), which ratio of the sides AB : AD
equals to the golden ratio.
Fig. 5. The golden rectangle.
Deriving the square AEFD from the rectangle ABCD we get the new golden rectangle EBCF, which ratio of the sides EF:EB equals to the golden ratio. If we
continue the procedure endlessly we get an infinite sequence of the squares and
the golden rectangles.
The “Golden” spiral
The spiral is a
plane line derived by a driving point, which moves away according to a definite
law from the beginning of the ray and uniformly rotates around the beginning.
If we assume the beginning of the spiral as the pole of the polar coordinate
system then mathematically the spiral can be presented with the help of some
polar equation r = f(j), where r is the
radius-vector of the spiral, j is the angle put aside on the
polar axis, f(j) is some monotonically increasing or decreasing
positive function. If the point moves away from the beginning uniformly (r = aj) we have Archimedes spiral.
If the point moves away according to the exponential law (r = aemj where a
is an arbitrary positive number we have an equiangular spiral (Fig.6).

Fig. 6. Equiangular spiral.
The equiangular
spiral has a number of interesting properties:
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where m is a
denominator of the progression.
Any equiangular
spiral represents the scheme of growth or ascending and can be expressed by
geometrical progression. Here the "golden" equiangular spiral is of a
special interest. In this spiral the terms of geometrical progression
corresponding to the spiral are the degrees of the golden proportion {tn}(n
= 0, ±1, ±2, ±3, ...). Such spiral has a property to be simultaneously
geometric and arithmetic progression. This means that its exponential growth is
provided by simple addition of the two adjacent terms. In opinion of many researchers,
this remarkable property (a possibility of implementation of ascending by
simple addition) enables to explain many phenomena and processes in botanic and
biology. Note also, that the "golden" spiral is inscribed into the
"golden" rectangle in natural mode (Fig.7).

Fig. 7. The
"golden" spiral
If as the beginning of the spiral we select the point,
to which "golden" rectangles sequentially converge, the
"golden" spiral will pass through three of four tops of each
"golden" rectangles sequentially constructed on Fig. 7.
Dodecahedron and icosahedron
The golden section is
closely connected to the so-called Platonic
solids, in particular to dodecahedron
and icosahedron (Fig.8). The
dodecahedron has 12 faces, 30 edges and 20 vertices. Each face of the
dodecahedron is the regular pentagon and has 5 plane angles. Thus, a total
number of plane angles of the dodecahedron surface equals to the number of 60=5´12. On the other hand, 60=3´20. The latter means that three neighboring plane
angles converge at each dodecahedron vertex. Finally, the face number of 12
multiplied by the edge number of 30 equals to the number of 360.

Fig. 8. Dodecahedron and Icosahedron
If we look at the dodecahedron we
can see that the 12 corners become the 12 centers of each of the 12 pentagons
that form the faces of the dodecahedron. If we look at the icosahedron we can
see that the 12 corners can also become the 12 points of each of the 20
triangles that form the faces of the icosahedron. As for the icosahedron, it is the Platonic solid,
which is "polar" to the dodecahedron. Both the icosahedron and the
dodecahedron have the same edge number of 30. Besides, the icosahedron face
number of 20 equals to the vertex number of the dodecahedron and the vertex
number of 12 of the icosahedron equals to the face number of the dodecahedron.
As five plane angles converge in each icosahedron vertex, a total number of
plane angles equals to the number of 60=5´12 and the product of the edge number
by the vertex number equals to 360. The icosahedron also has a relation to a
regular pentagon and, therefore, to the golden ratio because the outer edges of
the five neighboring triangles, which converge in any icosahedron vertex, make
the regular pentagon.
2.2. Phenomenon of Ancient Egypt. Early in the 20th century in Saqqara (Egypt), archaeologists opened the crypt, in which the Egyptian architect Khesi-Ra (Khesira) was buried. The wood boards-panels covered by a magnificent thread were extracted from the crypt alongside with different material assets. In total there were 11 boards in the crypt; among them only 5 boards were preserved; the remaining panels were completely destroyed by moisture in the crypt.
All preserved panels depict the architect Khesi-Ra who is surrounded
by different figures having symbolical
significance (Fig.9). For long time the
assignment of Khesi-Ra’s panels was vague. At first the Egyptologists
considered these panels as false doors. However, since the 60th
years of the 20th century situation with the panels began to be
elucidated. In the beginning of the 60th the Russian architect
Shevelev paid his attention to the fact that the staffs the architect holds in
his hands on one of the panels relate between themselves as 1:
, that is, as the ratio of the small side and the diagonal of
the rectangle with the side ratio of 1:2 ("two-adjacent square").
Just this observation became the initial point for research of the other
Russian architect Shmelev who made careful geometrical analysis of Khesi-Ra’s
panels and as a result came to the sensational discovery described in the
brochure "Phenomenon of Ancient Egypt" (1993) [2].
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Fig. 9. Khesi-Ra’s panel
After
exploring Khesi-Ra’s panels Igor Shmelev made the
following discovery: “But now, after the comprehensive and argued
analysis by the method of proportions we get good causes to assert that
Khesi-Ra’s panels are the harmony rules encoded in geometry language…. So, in
our hands we have the concrete material evidence, which shows us by “plain
text” the highest level of abstract thinking of the Ancient Egypt
intellectuals. The artist who cut the
panels with amazing accuracy, jeweler
refinement and masterly ingenuity demonstrated the rule of the ‘Golden Section’ in its broadest range of
variations. In outcome it was born the
‘GOLDEN SYMPHONY’ presented by the ensemble of the highly artistic works, which
testifies not only ingenious talents of their creator, but also convincingly
verifies that the author was let to the secret of harmony. This genius was of the ‘Golden Business
Craftsman’ by the name of Khesi-Ra.”.
But who was Khesi-Ra? The ancient texts inform us that Khesi-Ra was "a Chief of Destius and a Chief of Boot, a Chief of doctors, a writer of the pharaoh, a priest of Gor, a main architect of the pharaoh, a Supreme Chief of South Tens, and a carver".
Analyzing the above listed Khesi-Ra’s regalia Shmelev pays special attention to the fact that Khesi-Ra was the priest of Gor. In the Ancient Egypt Gor was considered as the God of Harmony and therefore to be the priest of Gor meant to execute functions of the keeper of Harmony.
As follows from his name, Khesi-Ra had been elevated to the rank of the God of Ra (God of the Sun). Shmelev suggests that Khesi_Ra could get this high award for "development of aesthetic … principles in the canon system, which reflects the harmonic fundamentals of the Universe … The orientation on the harmonic principle discovered by the Ancient Egypt civilization was the path to unprecedented flowering of culture; this flowering falls into period of Zoser-pharaoh when the system of written signs was completely implemented. Therefore it is possible to assume that Zoser’s pyramid became the first experimental pyramid, which was followed by construction of the unified complex of the Great pyramids in Giza according to the program designed under Khesi-Ra supervision".
And let us consider one more quotation from Shmelev’s brochure [2]:
“It is only necessary to recognize that
the Ancient Egypt civilization is the super-civilization explored by us
extremely superficially and it demands a qualitatively new approach to
development of its richest heritage…. The outcomes of researches of Khesi-Ra’s
panels demonstrate that the sources of modern science and culture are in
boundless stratums of a history feeding creativity of the craftsmen of our days
with great ideas, which for long time inspired aspirations of the outstanding
representatives of the mankind. And our
purpose is not to lose a unity of a binding thread.”
2.3.
Mysteries of the Egyptian Pyramids. Iinfinite, uniform sea of sand, infrequent dried bushes of plants,
hardly noticeable tracks from an elapsed camel are swept with a wind. The incandescent
sun of wasteland … And it seems dull, as if covered with fine sand.
And suddenly, as a mirage, before
the amazed look there arise pyramids (Fig.10), fancy rock figures directed
toward the Sun. By their vast sizes, perfection of the geometric form they
strike our imagination. According to many descriptions, these gigantic
monoliths earlier had different view than presently. They shined on the Sun
with white glaze of the polished calcareous tables on the background of
many-pillar adjacent temples. Near the pharaohs’ pyramids there were the
pyramids of pharaohs’ wives and other members of their families. Pharaoh’s authority in Ancient Egypt was
huge, divine honors were given to him, the pharaoh was called the “Great God”.
The God-Pharaoh was a Promoter of country, a Judge of people fates. Cult of the
died pharaoh gained huge importance in the Egyptian religion. The gigantic
pyramids were constructed for preservation of pharaoh’s body and his spirit and
for extolling his authority. And it is not without reason that these works of
human hands fall into one of the seven miracles of the World.

Fig. 10. Complex
of pyramids in Giza
The
assignment of pyramids was multifunctional. They are served not only burial
vaults of pharaohs, but also were attributes of majesty, power and riches of
country, monuments of culture, storehouses of the country history and items of
information on life of pharaohs and people.
It is clear, that the pyramids had
deep "scientific contents” embodied in their forms, sizes and orientation
on terrain. Each part of a pyramid, each element of the form were selected
carefully and had to demonstrate high level of knowledge of the creators of
pyramids. They were constructed to last millennia, "for all time”. And it
is not without reason the Arabian proverb claims: "All in the World is
afraid of the Time. The Time is afraid of the Pyramids ".
Among the gigantic Egyptian
pyramids the Great Pyramid of the pharaoh Khufu is of special interest. Before
analyzing the shape and sizes of Khufu’s pyramid it is necessary to remind
ourselves of the Egyptian measure system. The Ancient Egyptians used three
measure units: "elbow" (466 mm) equaling to 7 "palms" (66,5
mm), which, in turn, was equal to 4 "fingers" (16,6 mm).
Let us regard geometric analysis of the sizes of Khufu’s pyramid
(Fig.11) following the reason given in the remarkable book of the Ukrainian
scientist Nickolai Vasutinski "The Golden Proportion” (1990) [3].
The majority of researchers
believe that the length of the side of the pyramid basis for example, GF is equal to L = 233,16 m. This
value corresponds almost precisely to 500 "elbows". We would lave
full correspondence to 500 "elbows" if we considered the length of
"elbow" equal to 0,4663 m. The
altitude of the pyramid (H) is estimated by researchers variously from
146,6 m up to 148,2 m. And depending on an adopted pyramid altitude all the
ratios of its geometric elements change considerably. What is a cause of
distinctions in estimation of the pyramid altitude? Strictly speaking, Khufu’s
pyramid is truncated. Its topic platform today has the size approximately 10´10
m, but one century back it was equal to 6´6m.
Apparently, that the top of the pyramid was dismantled and it does not
correspond to the initial pyramid.

Fig. 11. Geometric
model of Khufu’s pyramid
Estimating
the pyramid altitude it is necessary to take into consideration such physical
factor as "shrinkage” of construction. For a long time under effect of
enormous pressure (reaching 500 tons for 1 ì2 of undersurface) the
pyramid altitude decreased in comparison to its initial altitude.
What was the initial altitude of
the pyramid? This altitude can be reconstructed if we find the main
"geometrical idea" of the pyramid.
In 1837 the English colonel G.
Vaise measured the inclination angle of the pyramid faces: it appeared equal to
a=51°51¢. The majority of researchers recognize this
value up to now. The indicated value of the inclination angle corresponds to
the tangent equal to 1, 27306. This value corresponds to the ratio of the
pyramid altitude AC to the half of its basis ÑÂ (Fig.11), that is, ÀÑ/ ÑÂ = H/(L/2) = 2H/L.
And here the researchers met large
surprise! If we take a square root of the
“golden” proportion
we get the following
outcome
= 1,272. Comparing
this value with value tga = 1,27306 we can see that these
values are very close. If we take the angle a=51°50¢,
that is, decrease it by one arc minute
the value of tga will become equal to 1,272, that
is, will be equal to the value of
. It is necessary to note, that in 1840. G. Vaise repeated his measurements and corrected the
value of the angle to a=51°50¢.
These measurements resulted in the
following rather interesting hypothesis: the ratio ÀÑ/ÑÂ =
= 1,272 was
put in the basis of the triangle ÀÑÂ of Khufu’s pyramid! If we mark now the lengths of the triangle ABC sides through x, y, z, and also take into consideration
that the ratio y/x =
then according to the Pythagorean Theorem the length z
can be computed as the following:
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If we take x=1, y=
, then
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Fig. 12. The “golden”
right triangle
The
right triangle, which ratios of the sides are t:
:1, is called the "golden" right
triangle (Fig.12). Then if we accept a hypothesis that the "golden" right triangle is the main
“geometrical idea" of Khufu’s pyramid it is possible to compute the
"design" altitude of Khufu’s pyramid. It is equal to H = (L/2)´
= 148,28 ì.
Let
us deduce now some other relations for Khufu’s pyramid, which result from the
"golden" hypothesis. In particular, let us find the ratio of the
external area of the pyramid to the area of its basis. For this purpose we take
the length of the leg ÑÂ as the unit, that is, ÑÂ = 1. But then
the length of the side of the pyramid basis GF = 2 and the area of the
basis EFGH will be equal to SEFGH = 4. Let us calculate
now the area of the lateral face of Khufu’s pyramid. As the altitude of AB
of the triangle AEF is equal to t then the area of each lateral face
will be equal to
= t.
Then the common area of all the four lateral faces of the pyramid will be equal
to 4t and the ratio of the common
external area of the pyramid to the area of its basis will be equal to the
“golden” proportion! This also is the main geometrical secret of Khufu’s
pyramid!
The
analysis of the other Egyptian pyramids demonstrates that the Egyptians always
aimed to embody some relevant mathematical knowledge in pyramids. In this
respect Khafre’s pyramid is rather interesting. The measurements of Khafre’s
pyramid showed that the inclination angle of the lateral faces is equal to 53°12¢
that corresponds to the leg ratio of the right triangle: 4:3. Such leg ratio
corresponds to the well-known right triangle with the side ratios: 3:4:5; this
one is called "perfect", "sacred" or "Egyptian"
triangle. According to historians
testimony the "Egyptian" triangle had magic meaning. Plutarch wrote
that the Egyptians compared nature of the Universe to the "sacred"
triangle; they symbolically assimilated the vertical leg to a husband, the
basis to a wife, and the hypotenuse to a child who is born from both.
According
to the Pythagorean Theorem we have: 32 + 42 = 52
for the right triangle with side ratios: 3:4:5. It is possibly that the
Egyptian priests wanted to perpetuate just this theorem in carrying up the
pyramid based on the right triangle 3:4:5? It is difficult to find a more
successful example for demonstration of the Pythagorean Theorem, which was well
known for Egyptians long before its rediscovery by Pythagoras. Thus, the
ingenious designers of the Egyptian pyramids aimed to strike their far offsets
by depth of their mathematical knowledge, and they have reached this by
selecting the “golden” right triangle as the main “geometrical idea" of
Khufu’s pyramid and of the "sacred" or "Egyptian" triangle
as the main “geometrical idea" of Khafre’s pyramid.
2.4. Mystery of the Egyptian Calendar. The Egyptian calendar, created in the 4th millennium B.C., was one of the first solar calendars. One year of the Egyptian calendar had the following structure: 365 = 12´30+5. It meant that the Egyptian calendar consisted of 12 months by 30 days in each month plus 5 holidays, which were added to current year consisted of 360 days and which did not entered to any month.
Several questions arise about the principal idea of this calendar. Why did the Egyptians choose 12 months in the year? Why did every month have exactly 30 days? Other calendars, such as the Mayan, consisted, for example, of 18 months by 20 days in each. Similar questions concern the Egyptian system of time and angle measurement, in which the numbers 12, 30, 60, 360 recur again. Why was a circle circumference divided into 360 degrees (2π = 360˚ = 12 x 30˚)? Why did early astronomers consider that there were 12 “zodiacal” signs though actually the Sun intersects 13 constellations? And, further, why did the Babylonian number system have the number of 60 as its base?
Analyzing these questions we find that the four numbers consistently arise: 12, 30, 60, and 360=12x30. In the most ancient calendars originated in the eastern and southeastern Asia a big attention was given to the motions of the Sun, the Moon, and the two largest planets of the Solar system, Jupiter and Saturn. Note that Jupiter make its full revolution around the Sun approximately in 12 years (11.862 years) and Saturn does approximately in 30 years (29.458 years). Based on these numbers, the Ancient Chinese introduced the 60-year cycle of the Solar system during which Saturn makes the two full revolutions around the Sun and Jupiter does the five revolutions.
Ancient scientists were surprised to discover mathematical connection between the main cycles of the Solar system and one of the “Platonic Solids”, the dodecahedron. The Egyptians ranked the dodecahedron as the “main Universe figure,” symbolizing the “Harmony of the Universe.” They thus based their systems of measurement (calendar, time and angle measurement) on the numerical parameters of the dodecahedron (12 faces, 30 edges, 60 plane angles on the dodecahedron surface). These systems were coordinated very well with their “Theory of Harmony” based on the “Golden Proportion” underlying the dodecahedron. According to this hypothesis, the mankind lives for thousands years according to the “Golden Proportion”!
2.5.
Striking by Pythagoras. Pythagoras is possibly the most celebrated person in history of science. This name is known to each person studied geometry.
“The famous philosopher and scientist, religious and ethical reformer, influential
politician, “demigod” in eyes of his followers and “charlatan” under recalls of
some of his contemporaries” – such characteristics are given to Pythagoras in
the antique literature. The coins with
his image exhausted in 430-420 BC testify to exclusive popularity of Pythagoras
already at his life. For the 5-th centuries BC it is unprecedented case!
Pythagoras was the first among the Greek philosophers who was granted with a special
book dedicated to him.

Pythagoras
(about 580 B.C. – about 500 B.C.)
His scientific school is internationally known. He organized it in Croton, the Greek colony in the north of Italy. The Pythagorean School or the "Pythagorean Union" was simultaneously both philosophical school, and political party, and religious brotherhood. The status of the “Pythagorean Union" was very severe. Everyone joined the Union should refuse from a personal property in favor of the Union, undertook not to spill a blood, not to eat meat nutrition, to protect secret of their teacher doctrine. It was prohibited to the members of the Union to train other people for reward.
The Pythagorean doctrine touched upon harmony, geometry, number theory, astronomy etc. But most of all the Pythagorean appreciated the results obtained in the theory of harmony because they confirmed their idea: "the numbers determine everything ". Some ancient scientists assure that a concept of the golden section was borrowed by Pythagoras from the Babylonians.
Many great mathematical discoveries were attributed to Pythagoras undeservedly. For example, the famous geometric "theorem of squares" ("Pythagorean Theorem") was known for Egyptians, Babylonians and Chinese’s long before Pythagoras.
In what is a cause of so large Pythagoras popularity
already at his life? The answer this question can be given by some interesting
facts from his biography placed in the “Biographic dictionary of the persons in
the field of mathematics" (1979) [4]. In the article dedicated to
Pythagoras it is noticed that "according to the legend Pythagoras went
away to Egypt to be acquainted himself with the wisdom of the eastern scientists and lived there for 22 years. By
taking possession of all the Egyptian sciences, including mathematics, he moved
to Babylon, where he lived for 12 years and was acquainted himself with the
scientific knowledge of the Babylonian priests. The legend ascribes to
Pythagoras the visit of India. It is very probably as then Ionia and India had
business relations. On returning home (about 530 BC) Pythagoras attempted to
organize his philosophical school. However on unknown causes he abandons soon
Samos and settles in Croton (the Greek colony in the north of Italy). Here
Pythagoras organized the school, which acted almost thirty years".
Thus, the outstanding role of Pythagoras in development of the Greek culture consists of fulfillment of historical mission of knowledge transmission from the Egyptian and Babylonian priests to the culture of Ancient Greece. Just thanks to Pythagoras who was, without any doubt,
one of the most learned
thinkers of his time the Greek science received a huge volume of knowledge in
the field of philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences, which by getting to
favorable medium of the Ancient Greek culture promoted to its rapid development
and augmentation.
Developing the
idea about Pythagoras’ historical role in development of the Greek science,
Igor Shmelev in the brochure [2] wrote the following:
"His World renowned name of Pythagoras the Croton
teacher obtained after the rite of “consecration”. This name is composed from
two halves and means the "Elucidated Harmony” because “Pythians” were
pagan priests predicted a future in Ancient Greece and Gor personified harmony
in Ancient Egypt. So on the decline of their civilization Egyptian priests by
transmitting their secret knowledge to the representative of gained forces
civilization cemented symbolically in one person the Union of man's and woman’s
origins, the bastion of Harmony ".
2.6.
Golden Section in the Greek Art. The idea of harmony based on the golden section became
one of the fruitful ideas of the Greek art. A nature taken in a broad sense
included also of the person creative patterns, art, music, where the same laws
of rhythm and harmony act. Let us give a word to Aristotle:
"The Nature aims to contrasts
and from them, instead of from similar things, forms consonance … It combined a male with a female and thus the first public
connection is formed through the connection of contrasts, instead of by means
of similar. As well the art, apparently, acts in the same way by imitating to
the nature. Namely the painting makes the pictures conforming the originals by mixing white, black, yellow
and red paints. Music creates unified
harmony by mixing different voices, high and low, lingering and short, in
congregational singing. The grammar creats the whole art from the mixture of
vowels and consonants".
To
take a material and to eliminate all superfluous is the aphoristically embodied
artist schedule. And this is the main idea of the Greek art, for which the
"golden section" became some aesthetic canon.
Theory of proportions is the basis of art.
And, certainly, the problem of proportionality could not pass past Pythagoras.
Among the Greek philosophers Pythagoras was the first one who attempted
mathematically to understand an essence of musical harmonic proportions.
Pythagoras knew that the intervals of the octave can be expressed by numbers,
which correspond to the certaing oscillations of the cord, and these numerical
relations were put by Pythagoras in the basis of his musical harmony. Knowledge
of arithmetical, geometrical and harmonic proportions, and also the law of the “golden
section” are attributed to Pythagoras. Pythagoras paid a special, outstanding
attention to the “golden section” by making the pentagon or pentagram as
distinctive symbol of the “Pythagorean Union".
Plato used the
five regular polyhedrons ("Platonic Solids") and emphasized their
"ideal" beauty by borrowing the Pythagorean doctrine about harmony.
Importance of proportions is emphasized by Plato in the following words:
„Two parts or values cannot be
satisfactorily connected among themselves without third part; the most
beautiful link is that, which gives the perfect unit together with two initial
values. It is reached in the best way
by proportion (analogy), in which among three numbers, planes or bodies, the mean
one so concerns to the second one, as the first one to the mean one, and also
the second one to the mean one as the mean one to the first one. This implies,
that the mean one can exchange the first one and the second one, the first one
and the second one can exchange the mean one and all things together thus makes
a indissoluble unit ".
As the main
requirements of beauty Aristotle puts forward an order, proportionality and
limitation in the sizes. The order arises then, when between parts of the whole
there are definite ratios and proportions. In music Aristotle recognizes the
octave as the most beautiful consonance taking into consideration that a number
of oscillations between the basic ton and the octave is expressed by the first
numbers of a natural series: 1:2. In
poetry, in his opinion, the rhythmic relations of a verse are based on small
numerical ratio; thanks to this it is reached a beautiful impression. Except
simplicity based on commensurability of separate parts and the whole, Aristotle
as well as Plato recognizes the highest beauty of the regular figures and
proportions based on the “golden section”.
The
three adjacent numbers from the initial fragment of Fibonacci series: 5, 8, 13
are values of differences between radiuses of circumferences lying in the basis
of the schedule of construction of the majority of Greek’s theatres. The
Fibonacci series served as the scale, in which each number corresponds to
integer units of Greek’s foot, but at the same time these values are connected
among themselves by unified mathematical regularity.
At construction of
temples a man is considered as a “measure of all things”: in the temple he
should enter with a “proud raised head ". His growth was divided into 6
units (Greek foots), which were marked on the ruler, and they were connected
closely to the sequence of the first six Fibonacci numbers: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13
(their sum is equal to 32=25). By adding or subtracting of these
standard line segments necessary proportions of building are reached. A
six-fold increase of all sizes, laying aside of the ruler, saved a harmonic
proportion. Pursuant to this scale also temples, theatres or stadiums are
built.
The magnificent Parthenon
The ancient Greeks kept to us magnificent architectural monuments
delivering modern people the same aesthetic enjoying as well as their far
ancestors. And among them the first place rightfully belongs to Parthenon. A construction of Parthenon is connected to
dramatic period of the Ancient Greece history. In 480 BC the Persian army
intruded in Greece. Hordes of the barbarians moved from the North and stayed
near to the Fermopil gorge. The 300 Spartanian soldiers covering a withdrawal
of the main troops blocked their path. As a result of betraying all of them
were killed together with their leader, the king Leonid. The Persian army
trapped and routed Athens. But Greeks with honor maintained high-gravity trial
by routing the Persian fleet and army. The victory of the Greeks over Persians
meant celebration of principles of democracy and freedom; it resulted in a new
fruitful impulse in Greek’s art, to the epoch of high classics. In art’s works
of this period feelings of majesty and pleasure dominate. The forms of art’s
works distinguished by a high harmony, plastics, humanism.
The Athens temple of Parthenon,
the magnificent construction of the Athenian Acropolis is implementation of
these qualities. During 15 years of Pericle’s government the temples, altars,
sculptures unusual on their beauty were constructed in Athens. The outstanding
Greek’s sculptor Fidij was the chief of all art’s works. All the second half of
the 5th century BC at the Acropolis there was built the temples,
altar and statue of Athens-Warrior. In 447 BC the building of the Athens temple
of Parthenon began and it continued until 434 BC. For creation of harmonic composition
on the “sacred hill” its builders increased the hill by building the powerful
embankment. The modern researchers established that the length of the hill
before Parthenon, the lengths of the Athens temple and of the Acropolis segment
behind of Parthenon are in proportion of the golden section! Thus, the golden
proportion was used already at the creation of composition of the temples on
the “sacred hill”.

Fig.
13. Parthenon and its harmonic analysis
The harmonic analysis of Parthenon was carried out by many researchers. And though these researches differ a little by approaches, but all they agreed in the main: Parthenon distinguishes itself by surprising grandeur and steep humanity of architectural and sculptural images and the main cause of Parthenon’s beauty is the exclusive harmony of its parts based on the golden proportion.
2.7.
Icosahedral-Dodecahedral structure of the Universe. The great Greek’s
philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) was the second (after Pythagoras) scientific
figure contributed into development of the idea of the Universe harmony. According to the remark of the commentator
of the last issuing of Plato’s works for him "all
cosmic proportionality is based on the principle of the “golden” or harmonic
proportion”.
Plato’s
cosmology is based on the regular polyhedrons called "Platonic Solids”.
Each Plato’s Solid symbolized some of the five "beginnings" or "elements":
tetrahedron – a body of fire, octahedron – a body of air, hexahedron (cube) – a body of the Earth, icosahedron – a
body of water, dodecahedron – a body of the Universe. A representation about
the "throughout" harmony of the Universe was associated invariably
with its embodiment in these regular polyhedrons. And the fact that the
dodecahedron, the main "cosmic" figure, was based on the golden
proportion gave to the latter significance of the main proportion of the
Universe.
"Euclid did not intend to write the systematic tutorial on geometry. He set as a goal to write the text-book about the regular polyhedrons intended for the beginners by virtue of what he set forth all necessary information" – the joke of the known English geometer d’Arci Thompson, as well as any good sharpness, contains in itself a grain of true. According to Proclus, the commentator of the “Euclidean Elements”, Euclid considered the methods of construction of the Platonic Solids as the “crown” of all the thirteen books of the "Elements". And he placed just this major mathematical information in the concluding, thirteenth book.
Plato’s cosmology became the basis of the so-called icosahedral-dodecahedral doctrine, which by red thread passes through all human science. The essence of this doctrine consists of the fact that the dodecahedron and the regular icosahedron are typical forms of Nature in all its manifestations starting since cosmos and ending by micro-cosmos.
The problem about the form of the Earth permanently took minds of scientists since antique times. And when the hypothesis about the spherical form of the Earth got scientific grounds there arose an idea the Earth represents by itself the dodecahedron by its form. So, already Plato wrote: "The Earth, if to look at it from above, is similar to the ball consisting of 12 skin’s pieces". This Plato’s hypothesis found further scientific development in the works of physicists, mathematicians and geologists. So, the French geologist de Bimon and the well-known mathematician Poincare considered the form of the Earth represents by itself the deformed dodecahedron.
The Russian geologist Kislitsin also used in his researches the idea about the dodecahedral form of the Earth. He put forward the hypothesis that 400-500 millions years ago the geo-sphere of the dodecahedral form began to turn into the geo-icosahedron. However, such transformation appeared not full and uncompleted. As the result the geo-dodecahedron appeared to be inscribed into the frame of the geo-icosahedron.
Last years the hypothesis about the icosahedral-dodecahedral form of the Earth was subjected to verification. For this purpose scientists combined the axis of the dodecahedron with the axis of the terrestrial globe and, gyrating around of it this polyhedron, paid attention that its edges coincide with gigantic disturbances of Earth’s crust. By taking then regular icosahedron they established that its edges coincide with more small-sized partitionings of Earth’s crust (mountain ranges, breaks etc.). These observations confirm the hypothesis about proximity of the tectonic framework of Earth’s crust with the forms of the dodecahedron and icosahedron. All these examples confirm surprising insight of Plato’s intuition.
A long time it was considered, that in the inorganic nature there were not used almost dodecahedron and regular icosahedron having so-called "pentagonal" symmetry axis, but the "pentagonal" symmetry axis is a constant "satellite” of the living nature. The regular icosahedron is geometric object, which form is used by viruses, that is, the icosahedral form and pentagonal symmetry are fundamental in organization of living material.
The discovery of the quasi-crystals (based on the regular icosahedron) made in 1984 by the Israel physicist Dan Shechtman (in more details about this discovery we will tell later) became the outstanding event in modern physics, as this discovery showed that the "pentagonal" symmetry and the icosahedral form play also a fundamental role in crystallography.
2.8. Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci. The "Middle Ages" in our
consciousness associate with inquisition orgy, campfires, on which witches and
heretics are incinerated, and also with crusades for "the body of
God". Science in those times obviously was not "in centre of social
attention". At these conditions the appearance of the mathematical book
"Liber abaci" ("the book about an abacus") written in 1202
by the Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano (by the nickname of Fibonacci) was
the relevant event in the "scientific life of society".
Who was Fibonacci? And why his mathematical works are so important for the West-European mathematics? To answer these questions it is necessary to reproduce the historical epoch, in which Fibonacci lived and worked.
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It is necessary to note that the period since the 11th until the 12th centuries was the epoch of brilliant flowering of the Arabian culture but at the same time the beginning of its downfall. In the end of the 11th century, that is, in the beginning of the Crusades the Arabs were, doubtlessly, the most educated people in the Glob surpassing in this respect of their Christian enemies. Jet before the Crusades the Arabian influence began to penetrate to the West. However the greatest infiltration of the Arabian culture to the West began after the Crusades weakened the Arabian world, but on the other hand, boosted the Arabian influence on the Christian West. Not only the Palestinian cotton and sugar, pepper and black wood of Egypt, self-color rocks and specifies of India are searched and appreciated by the Christian West in the Arabian world. He starts to assess properly the cultural heritage "of the great antique East". The world discovered by the West researchers blinded them by the brilliant Arabian art works and scientific achievements and therefore there arose in the West world demands on the Arabian geographical maps, tutorials on algebra and astronomy, and the Arabian architecture.
The emperor Fridrich Gogenstaufen, the apprentice of the Sicilian Arabs and the admirer of the Arabian culture, was one of the most interesting persons of the Crusades epoch, the harbinger of the Renaissance epoch. The greatest European mathematician of the Middle Ages Leonardo Pisano (by the nickname of Fibonacci that means the son of Bonacci) lived and worked at his palace in Pisa.
.
Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci (about 1170 – after 1228)
About Fibonacci life it is known a little. Even the exact date of his birth is obscure. It is supposed that Fibonacci was born in the eighth decade of the 12th century (presumptively in 1170). His father was a merchant and a government official, the representative of the new class of the businessmen generated by the “Commercial Revolution". In that time the city of Pisa was one of the largest commercial Italian centers actively cooperating with the Islam East, and Fibonacci’s father traded in one of the trading posts founded by Italians on the northern coast of Africa. Thanks to this circumstance he could give his son, the future mathematician Fibonacci, good mathematical education in one of the Arabian educational institutions.
One of the known historians of mathematics Moris Cantor called Fibonacci "as the brilliant meteor flashed past on the dark background of the West-European Middle Ages". He supposed that, probably, Fibonacci perished during one of the Crusades (presumptively in 1228) accompanying the emperor Fridrich Gogenstaufen.
Fibonacci wrote several mathematical
works: “Liber abaci”, “Liber quadratorium”, “Practica geometriae”. The book
"Liber abaci" is the most known of them. The problem of “rabbits multiplying” is the most known among the different mathematical
problems formulated by Fibonacci. This one resulted in discovery of the
numerical sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13... called Fibonacci numbers.
Though Fibonacci was one of the brightest mathematical minds in the history of the West-European mathematics, however his contribution to mathematics is belittled undeservedly. A significance of Fibonacci’s mathematical creativity for mathematics is assessed properly by the Russian mathematician Prof. Vasiljev in his book "Integer Number" (1919):
"The works of the learned
Pisa’s merchant were so above the level of mathematical knowledge even of the
scientists of that time, that their influence on the mathematical literature
became noticeable only in two centuries after his death namely in the end of
the 15th century, when many of his theorems and problems were
included by Leonardo da Vinci’s friend, professor of many Italian universities
Luca Pacioli in his works and in the beginning of the 16th century,
when the group of the talented Italian mathematicians: Ferro, Cardano,
Tartalia, Ferrari gave the beginning of higher algebra by the solution of the
cubical and biquadrate equations".
It follows from this statement that Fibonacci almost for two centuries anticipated the West-European mathematicians of his time. Like to Pythagoras who obtained his "scientific education” in the Egyptian and Babylonian science and then promoted transferring the obtained knowledge to the Greek science, Fibonacci obtained his mathematical education in the Arabian educational institutions and many from the obtained there knowledge, in particular, the Arabian-Hindu decimal notation, he attempted to introduce to the West-European mathematics. And like to Pythagoras a historical role of Fibonacci for the West science consists of the fact that he by his mathematical books promoted transfering the Arabian mathematical knowledge to the West-European science and by that he created fundamentals for further development of the West-European mathematics.
2.9. Fibonacci numbers. The golden section relates closely to so-called Fibonacci numbers [5, 6]
discovered in the 13th century by the famous Italian mathematician
Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci while solving the problem of "rabbits
multiplying".


Fig. 14. Fibonacci’s
rabbits
Let us assume that A and B are the pairs of "mature" and "baby" rabbits respectively. A rule of "rabbit multiplying" consists of realization of the following month's passage: B®A (maturing the "baby" pair); A®AB (birthing the "baby" pair).
A statement and solution
of the problem is considered to be Fibonacci's great contribution to
combinatorial analysis. While solving the problem Fibonacci discovered the
first recursive formula in mathematics history
Fn= Fn-1 + Fn-2 (7)
generating Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2,
3, 5, 8, 13, … at the initial conditions
F1 = F2 = 1. (8)
Note that by this discovery
the Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci anticipated the method of
recurrence relations, which was regarded as the most appropriate for solving combinatorial problems.
2.10. The idea of harmony in the Renaissance epoch. The Renaissance epoch in history of culture of the Western and Central Europe countries is the transient epoch from the medieval culture to the culture of the New Time. The most typical feature of this epoch is humanistic world outlook and reversal to the antique cultural heritage, as though the "Renaissance" of the ancient culture. The Renaissance epoch is distinguished by large scientific shifts to the field of natural sciences. A close connection to art was a specific feature of the Renaissance epoch science and this feature is expressed sometimes in creativity of some learned persons of the Renaissance epoch. Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest artist, scientist, inventor, and engineer, was the brightest example of such “multilateral” person.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) and his famous picture “Joconda”
Together with other achievements of the ancient art the scientists and artists of the Renaissance epoch perceived with great enthusiasm the Pythagorean idea of the Universe harmony and the golden section. And it is not incidentally that just Leonardo da Vinci introduced in wide use the name of the "golden section", which at once became the aesthetic canon of the Renaissance epoch.
The idea of harmony appeared among those antique conceptual ideas, to which the church treated with a great interest. According to the Christian doctrine, the Universe is God’s creation and therefore is subjected implicitly to his will. And at the creation of the Universe the Christian God was guided by the mathematical principles. In science and art of the Renaissance epoch this catholic doctrine gained the form of searching the mathematical schedule used by the God at the creation of the Universe.
In opinion of the modern American historian of mathematics Moris Klain, just a close union of the religious doctrine about the God as the creator of the Universe and the antique idea about numerical harmony of the Universe became one of the major causes of huge cultural splash of the Renaissance epoch. Brightly the main purpose of the Renaissance epoch science is expressed in the following Kepler’s words:
"The main purpose of all
researches of the external world should be discovering the rational order and
harmony sent by the God to the World and expressed by him by using mathematics
language”.
The same idea, the idea of the Universe harmony, the expression of its ordering and perfection is transformed into the main idea of the Renaissance art. In works of Bramante, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael, Jordano, Tizian, Alberti, Donatello, Michelangelo it was shown the strong ordering and harmony subordinated to the golden proportion. The law of harmony, law of a number is uncovered in the art works and scientific-methodical researches by Leonardo da Vinci, Durer, Alberti.
In the famous portrait of Mona Lisa ("Jokonda"), which was completed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1503, the image of rich townswoman is presented as implementation of a raised feminist ideal, not losing thus of intimate-human charm (the famous “Jokonda’s smile”); a relevant composition element becomes the cosmically vast landscape running in the cold mist. The picture of the ingenious artist attracted attention of researchers and they found out the composition construction of the picture is based on the two "golden" triangles, which are the parts of the "pentagram".
In the period of the Italian Renaissance researches in the field of the proportionality theory of sculpture and architecture works are continued. In this period in Italy the works of the famous Roman architect Vitruvij were reissued and they rendered a certain influence on the works of the Italian art theorists (Alberti). By arising in Florence, the classic style of the High Renaissance created the sculpture and architecture monuments in Rome, Venice and other cultural centers of Italy.
Apart
from the artists, architects and sculptures of this epoch all musical culture
develops under strong influence of the antique harmony ideas. In this period
the 12-sound musical system was introduced into music by the well-known
philosopher, physicist and mathematician Mersenn. In some of his works
("Tractate about the Overall Harmony", “The Overall Harmony")
Mersenn considers music as the integral part of mathematics and sees in it and
in its consonance sounding one of the main ways of global harmony and beauty
development.
Just
in this period the first book dedicated to the "golden section"
appears. The famous Italian mathematician and learned monk Luca Pacioli is the
writer of the book.
2.11. Luca Pacioli. The culture of Ancient Greece and the culture of Rome and Byzantium are the two powerful flows of spiritual values, which gave sprouts of the new Renaissance culture and became a cause of the origin of the Renaissance epoch “Titans”. The “Titan” is the most precise word with respect to such persons, as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Nicola Copernicus, Albert Durer and others. And a honor place among them belongs to Luca Pacioli, the outstanding Italian mathematician of the Renaissance epoch [7].
He was born in 1445 in provincial town Borgo San-Sepolcoro that in translation from Italian sounds is not too joyous: "City of the Sacred Coffin".
We do not know how much years was to the future mathematician when he began to study at the workshop of the artist Pierro della Franchesko. Franchesko’s glory “rattled” in all Italy. This was the first meeting of juvenile talent with a great person. Pierro della Franchesko was the artist and mathematician, but only the second vocation of his teacher found out a respond in heart of his schoolboy. Juvenile Luca, the mathematician from the God, was loved in number world; the numbers were perceived by him as some universal key simultaneously opening an access to the true and to the beauty.
Leone Battista Alberti, the famous Italian architect, scientist, writer, and musician, was the second great person met on the life path of Luca Pacioli. The following Alberti’s words entered deeply to Luca’s consciousness:
"A beauty is a certain consent
and consonance of the parts in the whole, which parts they are by, answering to stringent number, limitation and
arrangement, which are demanded on harmony, that is, on the absolute and primary beginning of the nature
"
Being loved in the number world and following to Pythagoras Luca Pacioli will repeat that numbers underlay the Universe.
In 1472 Luca Pacioli becomes by the monk of the Franciscan order that gives him a possibility to be engaged in science. The events showed that he made a right decision. In 1477 he gets a Professor chair at Perugi University.

Luca Pacioli and his famous book “Divina Proportione”
The following portrait’s description of Luca Pacioli gives a presentation about him:
"The beautiful, vigorous young man: the raised and rather broad
shoulders expose inherent physical force, a potent neck and developed jaw,
expressive face and eye beaming nobleness and intellect, underline force of
nature. Such professor could urge to listen himself and to respect his
subject".
Pacioli combines successfully his pedagogical work with scientific activity: he starts to write the encyclopedic mathematics book. In 1494 his book was issued under the title "The Sum of arithmetic’s, geometry, doctrine about proportions and relations". All material of the book is divided into two parts; the former part is dedicated to arithmetic and algebra, the latter one to geometry. One of the book sections is dedicated to problems of mathematics application to commercial business and in this part his book is a development of the famous Fibonacci’s book "Liber abaci" (1202). In essence, this mathematical work by Luca Pacioli was a total of the mathematical knowledge of the Renaissance epoch.
Fundamental Luca Pacioli’s book promoted to his glory. When in 1496 in Milan, the largest city and state of Italy, the mathematics chair was opened Luca Pachioli was invited to take this chair.
In that period Milan was the center of science and art and many outstanding scientists and artists lived and worked there. And one of them was Leonardo da Vinci who became the third great person met on the life path of Luca Pacioli. Under direct Leonardo da Vinci’s influence he starts to write his second great book "De Divine Proportione"
This book published by Pacioli in 1509 rendered noticeable influence on his contemporaries. Pacioli’s folio was one of the first brilliant examples of the Italian book-printing art. A historical significance of the book consists of the fact that it was the first mathematical book dedicated to the "golden section". The book is illustrated by 60 (!) magnificent figures executed by Leonardo da Vinci. The book consists of the three parts: in the first part the properties of the “golden section” are given; the second part is dedicated to regular polyhedrons; the third one is dedicated to applications of the golden section in architecture.
Appealing to the "State", "Laws", and "Timey" by Plato Luca Pacioli sequentially deduces the 12 (!) different properties of the golden section. Characterizing these properties, Pacioli uses a rather strong epithets: "exclusive", "remarkable", "almost supernatural” etc. Uncovering the given proportion as the universal relation expressing a perfection of beauty in Nature and Art he names it the "Divine Proportion" and considers it as the “instrument of thinking", the “aesthetic canon", and the “Main Principle of the Universe”.
This book is one of the first mathematical works, in which the Christian doctrine about the God as the creator of the Universe gets a scientific substantiation. Pacioli names the golden section as the "Divine Proportion" and selects a number of the golden proportion properties, which, in his opinion, are generic to the God himself. Following Plato’s "Timey" he selects the dodecahedron as the main figure of the Universe.
In 1510 Luca Pacioli was 65 years old. He was tired and grown old. In the library of Bolon University the manuscript of the unpublished Pacioli book "About forces and quantities" is stored. In the foreword we found the sad phrase: "The last days of my life approach”. He died in 1515 and was buried at the cemetery of his native city Borgo San-Sepolcoro.
After his death the works of the great mathematician were forgotten almost for four centuries. And when at the end of the 19th century his works became internationally known, the grateful offsets after 370-year's oblivion put the monument on his grave with the following inscription:
"To Luca Pacioli who was the friend and adviser of Leonardo da
Vince and Leone Battista Alberti, who was the first scientist given to algebra
a language and a frame of science, who applied his great discovery to geometry,
who invented the double accounting and who gave in his mathematical works fundamentals and invariable standards for
succeeding generations".
2.12. Johannes Kepler: from "Mysterium" to "Harmony". Johannes Kepler is known for all educated mankind as the author of the three famous astronomical laws inverted the astronomical ideas existed from the antique times. But it is less known that these laws were obtained by Kepler
as the partial outcomes of his grandiose program on
research of the Universe harmony put forward by him in young age.

Johannes
Kepler (1571 - 1630)
Johannes Kepler was born in 1571 in poor protestant family. In 1591 he enrolled in the Tubingen Academy where he got a quite good mathematical education. Just there the future great astronomer was acquainted with the heliocentric system by Nicola Copernicus. After graduation of the Academy Kepler obtained a Master degree and then was appointed as mathematics teacher in the Graz High School. The small book with the intriguing title "Misterium Cosmographium" published by Kepler in 1596 in the age of 25 years was his first astronomical work.
Reading this first Kepler’s book it is impossible to be not surprised by his imaginations. A deep belief in existence of the Universe harmony imposed an impress on all Kepler’s thinking.
The purpose of his researches was formulated by Kepler as the following:
"The kind reader! In this
book I intended to demonstrate, that the all-good and almighty God at the
creation of our moving world and at the arrangement of the celestial orbits
used the five regular polyhedrons, which from Pythagoras and Plato’s times and
up to now got so loud glory, and selected a number and proportions of celestial
orbits, and also the relations between the planet motions pursuant to the nature of the regular
polyhedrons.
Especially I interested by the nature of the three things: why the
planets are arranged so but no otherwise, namely, a number, sizes and motions
of celestial orbits ".
So, already in the foreword to his first book the 25-year's Kepler put forward the problem being the main problem of the new time physics, the problem of natural phenomena causes. So natural today, this problem during Kepler’s times sounded unusually. In Ptolomey’s and even in Copernicus astronomy this problem did not be formulated. Following to this old tradition, the astronomers considered a problem of their science only in possible precise description of planet’s motions and prediction of celestial phenomena.
How Kepler answered the surprising problems? After check of numerous hypotheses connected with arrangement of planets Kepler came to the following geometrical model of the Solar system based on the "Platonic Solids":
"The Earth orbit is the measure
of all orbits. Around of it we circumscribe the dodecahedron. The orbit
circumscribed around of the dodecahedron is the Mars orbit. Around of the Mars
orbit we circumscribe the tetrahedron. The orbit circumscribed around of the
tetrahedron is the Jupiter orbit. Around of the Jupiter orbit we circumscribe
the cube. The sphere circumscribed around of the cube is the Saturn orbit. In
the Earth orbit the regular icosahedron is inserted. The orbit entered in it is
the Venus orbit. In the Venus orbit the octahedron is inserted. The orbit
entered in it is the Mercury orbit”.
Kepler figured his model geometrically as the following (Fig. 16).

Fig.
15. Kepler’s model of the Solar system
In Kepler’s opinion, a secret of
the Universe consists of the following: the Universe is arranged on the basis
of the unified geometrical principle! But Kepler’s joy was prematurely. In
spite of his exaltation character Kepler had all capacities of serious
scientist. Kepler perceived that the theory should be coordinated with
observations data. By constraining his delight Kepler undertakes to check his
model.
The
unified geometrical principle allowed to Kepler to give the answer on the two
of the three problems put forward by him: (1) to explain a number of the known
then planets (with the help of the five “Platonic Solids" it is possible
to construct 6 orbits; it follows from here a conclusion about existence of the
six planets known in that period); (2) to give the answer to the problem about
distances between planets.
The answer to the third problem (about motion
of planets) appeared by most difficult and its solution was obtained by Kepler
many years after.
Kepler’s
model was based on the supposition about spherical nature of planet’s motion.
By obtaining to his disposal the data of perennial observations of the famous
astronomer Brage and by making his own observations, Kepler made convinced of
necessity to reject astronomical constructions as his forerunners, Ptolomey and
Copernicus, and his own one’s. Carefully observing the planet orbits he came to
the following conclusion:
"The
fact that the planet motions are circular is testified by their incessant
repeatability. The mind extracting this
true from experience at once concludes from here, that the planets are rotated
on the “ideal” circles, wherefore among the plane figures the circle and among
the spatial figures the celestial orbit are considered as perfect. However at
the more close examination it appears that the experience learns a little bit
other, namely: planet’s orbits differ from simple circles ".
The tireless search of the laws
corresponding to the observational data ended by the discovery of the three
famous laws of planet’s motion. The former two laws were stated by Kepler in
the book “New Astronomy" published in 1609.
The
first Kepler’s law introduced the ellipse as geometric model of planet’s
motion in contradictory to the astronomical tradition. The first Kepler's Law
asserts that planets move on ellipsoidal orbits. But it keeps silent
about a question how fast the planets are moved on their orbits. The answer
this question is given by the second Kepler's Law, which asserts: "The
areas covered for equal time by the segment, draw from the Sun to the planet
are equal".
But
one relevant problem remained unsolved. Under what law do the distances from
the Sun to planets change? The matter was complicated by the fact that the
distances from the planets to the Sun are non-constant and Kepler attempts to grope
for a new principle for the solution of this complicated problem. Here again
the philosophical Kepler’s beliefs ascending to Pythagoras and Plato came on
the aid. According to Kepler’s deep belief the God created the nature on the
basis not only mathematical but also harmonic principles. He believed in
"music of spheres", which charming melodies are embodied not in
sounds but in planet’s motions capable to bear harmonic consonances. Following
to this idea, Kepler by the way of surprising combinations of the mathematical
and musical nature arguments Kepler came to the third law of planet’s motion,
which asserts: “If Ò is a cycle time of the planet circulation around of the
Sun, and D is its middle distance from the Sun, then we have:
T2 = kD3,
where
k is a constant equal for all planets”.
But there came old age. The death
(in 1630) interrupted Kepler’s work under the last book "Somnium"
("Dreaming"), the first scientific-fantastic novel about flight on
the Moon. But about harmony was not written any more word. There were no
captious checks; there were no new hypotheses. Kepler got tired: "My
brain gets tired, when I attempt to understand, that I have written, and it is
difficult to me already to reestablish connection between figures and text,
which was found by me at one time …".
With Kepler’s death his
discoveries were forgotten. Even wise Descartes does not know about Kepler’s
works. Galilei had not found necessary to read his books. Only for Newton
Kepler’s Laws found new life. But the harmony was not be interested for Newton.
He had the Equations. There came the New Times.
Kepler
terminated the epoch of “scientific romanticism", the epoch of harmony and
golden section that was inherent in the Renaissance epoch. But on the other
hand, his scientific works became the beginning of a new science, which began
to develop since the works of Descartes, Galilei and Newton.
But
with Kepler’s death the golden section considered by him as one of the
"geometry treasures” was forgotten. And this strange oblivion was
continued almost for two centuries. The interest in the golden section is
revived again only in the 19th century.
2.13. Zeising’s Law of Proportionality. In the 19th century a large contribution to development of the theory of proportionality was made by the German scientist Zeising issued the book "Neue Lehre von den Proportionen des menschlichen Korpers" (1854). This one is until now by widely quoted book among the works dedicated to proportionality problem.
Outgoing from the fact that proportion is the ratio of the two unequal parts between themselves and to the whole in their perfect combination Zeising formulated the “Law of Proportionality” as the following:
"The division of the whole on the unequal
parts looked proportional when the ratio of parts of the whole between
themselves is the same that the ratio of them to the whole, that is, the ratio
given by the golden section ".
Attempting to prove that the Universe is subjected to this law Zeising tries to find it both in the organic and in the inorganic world.
To confirm this he gives diverse data about ratios of mutual distances between themselves of celestial heavenly bodies (corresponding to the golden section), also he finds the same ratio in the constitution of human body, in the configuration of minerals, in plants, in the sound chords of music, and in the architectural monuments. By considering of Apollo and Venus statues Zeising finds that at division of the human altitude by the given ratio the line of division passes through natural partitioning of the human body. The first division passes through the navel, the second one through the middle of the neck etc., that is, all sizes of the separate body parts are obtained by the division of the whole in the golden section.
Analyzing significance of the golden section law in music Zeising shows that the ancient Greeks attributed an aesthetic impression of chords to proportional division of the octave through the arithmetical and harmonic proportion. Basing on the fact that only those combinations of tones are beautiful when they are in proportional ratio and that the combination of only two tones does not give a full harmony, Zeising shows that the most pleasant consonances have such combination of tones when the ratio of frequencies included in the chord is close to the golden proportion. For example, the combination of small third with the octave of the main tone corresponds to frequency ratio: 3:5; the combination of the large third with the octave of the main tone gives the frequency ratio: 5:8 (note that the numbers 3, 5, 8 are Fibonacci numbers!). Further Zeising makes a conclusion as these two-tone combinations among two-valued combinations are the most pleasant for hearing, it, apparently, explains the fact why only these combinations finish musical periods. By using this fact Zeising explains why impromptu national melody and simple music of the two French or English horns is gone in sixths and their supplements, the thirds.
Zeising pays attention for one curious fact. As is known, the major (man's) and minor (woman’s) harmonies are constructed on the basis of the major and minor triad. The major triad constructed on the basis of the large third is a fine consonance since acoustical point of view. This one creates the impression of balance, physical perfection, light, vigor integrated in life with a concept of "majority". The minor triad constructed on the basis of the small third is a consonance, which is incorrect since acoustical point of view. This one creates the impression of the broken sounding and has a nature of gloominess, sadness, weakness integrated in life with a concept of "minority". In this connection Zeising notes that the combination of the octave with the large third of the main tone corresponds to the ratio of the lower and upper parts of man's body, and the combination of the octave with the small third of the main tone corresponds to the ratio of the lower and upper parts of woman’s body.
Passing to a significance of the law
of proportionality in architecture Zeisung shows that the architecture in the
field of arts takes the same place as well as the organic world in the nature
inspiring the inert matter on the basis of world’s laws. Systematization,
symmetry and proportionality thus are its indispensable attributes; it follows
from here that the problem of
proportionality laws stands considerably more acute in architecture,
than in sculpture or in painting.
2.14. Fechner’s Experiments. The “psychological experiments by Fechner”, one of the authors of the main psychophysical law, got a wide notoriety in that period. "Fechner’s experiments” were directed on revelation of feeling of beauty and harmony for adult people. To evaluate aesthetic feelings the 10 white rectangles with the ratio of sides from 1:1 (the square) up to 2:5 were presented to all the participants of “Fechner’s experiments” (228 men and 119 women). The "golden" rectangle with the side ratio 21:34 was one of them.

Fig. 16. Fechner’s rectangles
By means of
comparison it was necessary to put in order the compared rectangles by
selecting one of the rectangles, which is most preferable since aesthetical
point of view. The experiments appeared by highly favorable for the
"golden" rectangle 21:34.
In 1958 the English scientists
repeated «Fechner’s experiments». These experiments again appeared by rather
favorable for the “golden” rectangle. The majority of participants (35%)
immediately indicated the "golden" rectangle with the side ratio: 21:34.
The rectangles with the ratios 2:3 and 13:23 (adjacent to the “golden”
rectangle) also were estimated rather highly (20% - fir the former case and 19
% - for the latter one). All remaining rectangles got no more than 10%.
The same experiments made in
children's audience gave other results. It was made from here the conclusion
that, apparently, the feeling of the beautiful in its most thin and steep
parties is generic only for mature persons.
«Fechner’s experiments» explain why we prefer often the shape of
“golden” rectangle in the rectangular everyday household items (books,
matchboxes, etc.). Gary Meisner attracts our attention in his remarkable web site (http://goldennumber.net/stocks.htm) that the USA credit cards are in the shape of the
“golden” rectangle.
.
Fig.
17. Credit card
Thus, the science
of the 19th century returned again to search of the answer to those
"eternal" problems, which were put forward still by the Ancient
Greeks. There was ripened the belief that the “universal law” of a number and
rhythm expressing its structural and functional parties prevails in the
Universe. In this connection the interest in the “golden section” is awaked
again in mathematics of the 19th century.
2.15. Lucas numbers. Above we introduced into being Fibonacci
numbers given by the recursive formula of (7) at the initial conditions of
(8). Note the values of integers generated
by the recursive formula of (7) depend on the initial conditions. In
addition to Fibonacci numbers there exist
so called Lucas numbers Ln
1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29, 47, … generated by the same recursive formula
Ln =
Ln-1 + Ln-2 (9)
at the other initial conditions:
L1 = 1;
L2 = 3 (10)
The
Fn - and Ln - sequences defined for
the discrete values of n in the range
of -¥
to +¥ are given in Table 1.
Table 1
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|
n |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
Fn |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
13 |
21 |
34 |
55 |
|
F-n |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
2 |
-3 |
5 |
-8 |
13 |
-21 |
34 |
-55 |
|
Ln |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
18 |
29 |
47 |
76 |
123 |
|
L-n |
2 |
-1 |
3 |
-4 |
7 |
-11 |
18 |
-29 |
47 |
-76 |
123 |
The terms of the Fn - and Ln - sequences have some wonderful mathematical
properties. For example, for the odd n
= 2k+1 the terms of the Fn and F-n sequences coincide, i.e. F2k+1 = F-2k-1 and for the even n =
2k they are opposite by sign, that
is, F2k = -F-2k. As for Lucas numbers Ln, it is the contrary,
i.e. L2k = L-2k; L2k+1 = -L-2k-1.
It
is easy to determine that Ln
and Fn are connected each
to other by the following relations:
Ln =
Fn-1 + Fn+1; Ln
= Fn + 2Fn-1; Ln
+ Fn = 2Fn+1.
But who is the author
of Lucas numbers? In the 19th century the interest in Fibonacci
numbers and golden section in mathematics increases. The scientific works of
the French mathematician Lucas are especially noticeable in this respect. In
[4] we can find the brief Lucas biography.
“François-Édouard-Anatole
Lucas (4.4.1842 – 8.10.1891) is the French mathematician, professor. He was
born in Àmjen. He
worked in the lyceum of Lunle-Gran in Paris. The major works of Lucas fall into
number theory and indeterminate analysis.
In 1878 Lucas gave the criterion for definition of the primarity of
Mersenn’s numbers of the kind Ìð = 2ð – 1. Applying his method Lucas established,
that the number of Ì127 = 2127 – 1 is the prime one. During
75 years this number was the greatest prime number known for science. Also he
found the 12th perfect number and formulated a number of interesting
mathematical problems. Lucas believed that with the help of machines or other
devises the addition is more convenient to perform in the binary number system,
than in the decimal one".
Let
us give some explanations to Lucas’ scientific outcomes. It is well known that
the prime numbers are called such numbers, which have not other divisors except
for themselves and the unit of 1, namely: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, …. Still Pythagoreans proved that a number of
the prime numbers is infinite (the proof of this statement is contained in the
“Euclidean Elements"). The analysis of the prime numbers and finding out
of their distribution in natural number series is rather difficult problem of
number theory. Therefore scientific outcome obtained by Lucas in the field of
the prime numbers, doubtlessly, belonged to category of outstanding
mathematical achievements.
From
the historical point of view it is interesting that Lucas already in the 19th century, that is, long before originating
modern computers, paid attention on technical advantage of the binary number
system, that is, he almost for one century anticipated “John von Neumann Principles” underlying
modern electronic computers.
But for our Museum
most relevant is the fact that that just Lucas attracted attention to
remarkable numeric sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, …, which was called
by him Fibonacci
numbers in
honor of the author of this sequence, Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci, who introduced
them in the 13th century.
Also Lucas
introduced a concept of the generalized Fibonacci numbers, which are computed
according to the following recurrent formula:
Gn = Gn-1 + Gn-2, (11)
but for the different initial terms G1 and G2. For example, the sequence of numbers 3,
8, 11, 19, 30, 49, … falls into the class of the generalized Fibonacci numbers.
After Lucas the mathematical
works on Fibonacci numbers, according to saying of one mathematician, “begun to
propagate as Fibonacci’s rabbits" - and just in that there is a historical Lucas’
contribution to Fibonacci number theory!
2.16. Binet’s formulas. First mathematical connection between the golden ratio
and Fibonacci & Lucas numbers was established in the 19th
century by the well-known French mathematician Binet.
We have the
following information about the French mathematician Jacques Philippe Marie
Binet, the 19th century enthusiast of Fibonacci numbers.

Jacques Philippe Marie
Binet (1776-1856)
He was born on February
2, 1776 in Renje and died on May 12, 1856 in Paris. Binet graduated from the
Polytechnic School in Paris and after its graduation in 1806 he worked at the
Bridges and Roads Department of the French government. He became a teacher of the Polytechnic
school in 1807 and in one year became assistant-professor of the applied analysis and
descriptive geometry. Binet studied
foundation of matrix theory and his works in this field were continued then by
other researchers. He discovered in 1812 the rule of matrix multiplication and
already this discovery glorified his name more than other his works. Except for
mathematics Binet worked and in other areas. He published many articles on
mechanics, mathematics and astronomy. In mathematics Binet introduced the notion
of the "beta function"; also he considered the linear difference
equations with alternating coefficients and established some metric properties
of conjugate diameters and so on. Among different honors obtained by Binet even
at his life it is necessary to mention that he was selected to the Parisian
Academy of Sciences in 1843.
But the following
fact is the most interesting for our Museum. Binet studied the linear recursive
equations whose partial case is Fibonacci recursive formula (7). Apparently, just
this fascination resulted him in the famous Binet’s formulas connected
Fibonacci and Lucas numbers to the golden ratio. Let us remind that Binet’s
formulas in mathematics are well known as the following group of the formulas:
|
|
(12) |
|
|
(13) |
where Ln è Fn
are
Lucas and Fibonacci numbers respectively,
is the golden ratio. What mean the formulas (12), (13)? The
formula (12) means that the n-th
Lucas number Ln
can be
presented or as the sum of the golden proportion degrees tn+ t-n for the even values of n=2k
or as their difference tn - t-n if n=2k+1. The formula (13) asserts
that for representation of the n-th
Fibonacci number Fn it is necessary
to make the same, that is, to compute the sum tn+ t-n for the odd values of n=2k+1 or their
difference tn - t-n for the case n=2k and then to
divide this sum or difference by the irrational number of
.
It is necessary to note that Binet’s
formulas (12), (13) can be attributed to a class of the outstanding
mathematical formulas joined two wonderful mathematical notions introduced in
the ancient mathematics, namely, integer numbers and irrational numbers. Really, the
left-hand parts of the formulas (12), (13) are always Lucas or Fibonacci
numbers, that is, integer numbers, while the right-hand parts of the formulas
(12), (13) are always some combinations of the irrational numbers tn , t-n and
. For example, it is impossible to imagine that Fibonacci
number F7 = 13 can be represented as the following:

but this
surprising formula is only a partial case of the general formula (13).
Also
note that Lucas’ and Binet’s researches in Fibonacci field became by the launch
pad for the group of the American 20th century mathematicians
organized in 1963 the Fibonacci Association and begun to issue “The Fibonacci
Quarterly” since 1963.
2.17. The regular icosahedron as the main geometric figure of mathematics. Among the five "Platonic Solids" the regular icosahedron and dodecahedron (Fig. 8) take a special place. In Plato’s cosmology the regular icosahedron symbolizes water, and dodecahedron does harmony of the Universe. These two "Platonic Solids" are connected directly to "pentagram" and through it to the golden ratio. Dodecahedron and regular icosahedron form the basis of so-called "icosaedral-dodecahedral doctrine” running through all history of human culture, starting since Pythagoras, Plato, Euclid, Kepler and up to now.
And probably, it is impossible to
consider accidental that this doctrine got unexpected development in the works
of the outstanding German mathematician Felix Klein.

Felix Klein
(1849-1925)
Felix Klein was born
in 1849 and died in 1925. He graduated from the University Bonn. Since 1875 he
worked as a Professor of the Higher Technical School in Munich, since 1880 as a
Professor of the University of Leipzig. In 1886 he moved to Gettingen where he
headed the Mathematical Institute of the University of Gettingen; during the
first quarter of the 20th century this Mathematical Institute was
recognized as the World mathematical center. The main Klein’s works were
dedicated to Non-Euclidean geometry, theory of continuous groups, theory of
algebraic equations, theory of elliptic functions, etc. His ideas in the field
of geometry was stated by Klein in the work "Comparative consideration of
new geometrical researches” (1872) known under the title "Erlanger Program".
According to Klein, every geometry is an invariant theory
for a special group transformation. Dilating or narrowing down this group it is
possible to pass from one type of geometry to other. The Euclidean geometry is the science
about the
metric
group invariants, projective geometry about the projective group invariants,
etc. A classification of
group transformations gives us the classification of geometries.
Klein’s research concerns also upon regular polyhedrons. His book "The Lectures about a regular icosahedron and solution of the 5th degree equations" published in 1884 is dedicated to this problem. Though the book is dedicated to the solution of the 5-th degree algebraic equations, but the main idea of the book is much deeper and is dedicated to a role of the Platonic Solids, in particular of the regular icosahedron, in development of mathematical sciences.
According to Klein, the tissue of mathematics runs up widely and
freely by sheets of the different theories. But there are mathematical objects,
in which some sheets converge. Their geometry binds the sheets and allows
enveloping a general mathematical sense of the miscellaneous theories. The
regular icosahedron, in Klein’s opinion, is just similar mathematical object. Klein
treats the regular icosahedron as the mathematical object, from which the
branches of the five mathematical theories appear, namely geometry, Galois’
theory, group theory, invariants theory and differential equations.
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Thus, the main Klein’s idea is extremely simple:
"Every unique geometrical object is connected somehow or other to properties of the regular icosahedron".
In what is a significance of Klein’s ideas since the point of view of the harmony theory? First of all we can see that the regular icosahedron, one of the “Platonic Solids”, is selected as the geometric object integrating the "main sheets" of mathematics. But the regular dodecahedron is based on the golden section! It follows from here that just the golden section is the main geometrical proportion, which, following to Klein, can join all branches of mathematics.
Klein’s contemporaries could not understand and access properly revolutionary significance of Klein’s "icosahedral" idea. Its significance was accessed properly equally in 100 years, that is, only in 1984 when the Israel scientist Dan Shechtman published the article verifying an existence of special alloys (called quasi-crystals) having so-called "icosaedral” symmetry, that is, the 5-th order symmetry, which is strictly forbidden in the classic crystallography.
Thus, still in the 19th century the ingenious Klein’s intuition resulted him in the thought that one of the most ancient geometrical figures, the regular icosahedron, is the main geometrical figure of science, in particular, mathematics. Thereby Klein inhaled in the 19th century a new life in development of the "icosaedral-dodecahedral” doctrine about the Universe structure; this doctrine was developed by the great scientists and philosophers namely Plato who constructed his cosmology on the basis of the regular polyhedrons, Euclid who devoted his "Elements" to presentation of the “Platonic Solids” theory, Johannes Kepler who used the "Platonic Solids" in his rather original geometrical model of the Solar system, and many others.
This hall consists of two exhibitions:
(1) The Golden Section in Nature, and
(2) The Golden Section and Man.
In the former exhibition, numerous applications of the golden section (pentagonal symmetry, golden spirals, and Fibonacci numbers, for example) are given. In the latter, examples of painting and sculpture are used to illustrate the golden section as a formula of a beauty.
3.1. The "golden"
spirals and "pentagonal" symmetry in the alive Nature. The "golden" spirals are widespread widely in the
biological world. For example, animal horns grow only from one end. This growth is realized on the equiangular spiral. It was
proved that among different kinds of spirals showing in horns of rams, goats,
antelopes and other horned animals the "golden" spirals meet most
often.

Fig. 18. The
“golden” spirals in animal horns and plants
The spirals widely
show themselves in the alive nature. The plant tendrils are became twisted by
spirals, the growth of tissues in tree's trunks is realized by spiral there,
the sunflower seeds are arranged on the spirals, the helical motions are
watched at growth of the roots and sprouts. Apparently, in it the heredity of
planet organization shows, and it is necessary to search for its roots on the
cell-like and molecular level.
A majority of shells have spiral shape.
Fig. 19. The
“golden” spirals in shells
Studying
construction of shells, scientists paid attention to expediency of the shapes
and surfaces of shells: the internal surface is smooth, the outside one is
fluted. The mollusk body is inside shell and the internal surface of shells
should be smooth. The outside edges of the shell augment a rigidity of shells
and, thus, increase its strength. The shell forms astonish by their perfection
and profitability of means spent on its creation. The spiral's idea in shells
is expressed n the perfect geometrical form, in surprising beautiful,
"sharpened" design.
For
some mollusks a number of parts reshaping conical shells corresponds to
Fibonacci numbers. So, the shell of foraminifer has 13 parts, a number of
chambers of the shell of nautilus is equal to 34, the shell of gigantic
tridacne is collected in 5 folds. These and many others examples show that
shell constructions of many fossil and modern mollusks prefer Fibonacci
numbers: 5, 8, 13, 21, 34.
In the
alive nature the forms based on the "pentagonal" symmetry (marine
asters, marine hedgehogs, flowers) are widespread widely. The flowers of water
lily, wild rose, hawthorn, small nail, pear, apple, strawberry and many other
flowers are five-petal. The flower of the Chinese rose with the brightly
expressed "pentagonal" symmetry is shown below.

Fig. 20.
Pentagonal symmetry in flowers
However the marine
asters own not only the "pentagonal" symmetry. In the Pacific Ocean
there are the marine asters with 8 and 13 rays. The marine aster
"sunflower" has 33 rays, and "fiery" aster has 55 rays.
Thus, for many marine asters a number of rays corresponds to Fibonacci numbers
or close to them numbers.
An availability of
five fingers on human hand or bone's embryos on the organs of a man and many
animals are additional testimony of the pentagonal form and the golden section
spreading in morphology of the biological world.
3.2. Omnipresent phyllotaxis. All in the Nature
is subordinated to the stringent mathematical laws. It appears, that the
arrangement of leafs on stems of plants also has a stringent mathematical
nature and this phenomenon is called "phyllotaxis" in botanic. An
essence of phyllotaxis consists in screw arrangement of leafs on plant stems
(branches on trees, petals in racemes etc.). In the
phyllotaxis phenomenon the more complicated concepts of symmetry, in
particular, the concept of the "screw axis of symmetry", are
used. Let us consider, for example,
arrangement of leafs on the plant stem (Fig. 21). We can see that leafs are at
different altitudes of the stem along the screw curve winded around of its
stem. To pass from the underlying leaf to the next one it is necessary mentally
to turn the leaf on some angle around of the vertical axis and then to raise it
on a definite distance up. In it there exists an essence of "screw”
symmetry.

Fig. 21. A "screw” symmetry.
And now let us
consider characteristic "screw axes" arisen on plant stems (Fig.22).
In Fig.22-à the stem of plant with the symmetry screw axis of the third
order is shown. Let us observe the line of leaf-arrangement in this figure. To
pass from the leaf of 1 to the leaf of 2, it is necessary to turn the leaf of 1
around of the stem axis on 120° counter-clockwise (if to look from below) and
then to move the leaf of 1 along the stem in vertical direction so long as it
will be combined with the leaf of 2. Repeating similar operation we can pass
from the leaf of 2 to the leaf of 3 and so on. It is necessary to attract
attention to the fact that the leaf of 4 lies above of the leaf of 1 (as though
repeats it, but its level is higher). Note that moving from the leaf of 1 to
the leaf of 4 we made turn triply on the angle 120°, i.e. we executed the full
revolution around of the stem axis (120° ´ 3 = 360°).

Fig. 22. The screw stem axis of
symmetry.
Botanists are
called the turn angle of the screw axis as the "leaf divergence
angle". The vertical straight line connecting two leafs arranged one the
stem one above another is named the "ortho-line". The line
segment 1-4 of the "ortho-line" corresponds to the full translation
of the screw axis. As we will see further a number of the revolutions around of
the stem axis for transition from the lower leaf to the upper one arranged
exactly above lower (on the "ortho-line") can be equal not only 1,
but also 2, 3 and so on. This number of the revolutions is called the "leaf
cycle". In botanic it is custom to characterize the screw
leaf-arrangement with the help of some fraction; the numerator of the fraction
is equal to the "leaf cycle" and the denominator to a number of leafs
in this "leaf cycle". In the case considered above we have the screw
axis of the kind of 1/3.
Fig.22-b
demonstrates the "pentagonal" symmetry screw axis with the "leaf
cycle" of 2 (for transition from the leaf of 1 to the leaf of 6 it is
necessary to make two full revolutions). The fraction describing the given axis
is expressed by 2/5; the leaf divergence angle is equal to 144° (360° : 5 =
72°; 72° ´ 2 =
144°). Note that there are also more intricate axes, for example, of the kind
of 3/8, 5/13 etc.
There is a
question: what can be numbers a and b describing the screw axis
of the kind of a/b? And here a Nature presents us the next
surprise by the way of the so-called "Law of phyllotaxis".
Botanists assert that the fractions describing the plant screw axes form the
stringent mathematical sequence consisting of the adjacent Fibonacci numbers
ratios, that is:
|
1/2, 1/3, 2/5, 3/8, 5/13, 8/21, 13/34, ... . |
(14) |
Let us remind that the Fibonacci series is the
following number sequence:
|
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, ... . |
(15) |
Comparing (14) and (15) it is easy to see that the
fractions in the sequence of (14) will be derivate by the Fibonacci numbers
taken through one number.
Botanists
established that the phyllotaxis fraction from the sequence of (14) are
characteristic for different plants. For example, the fraction of 1/2 is
peculiar to cereals, birch, grapes; 1/3 to sedge, tulip, alder; 2/5 to pear,
currants, plum; 3/8 to cabbage, radish, flax; 5/13 to spruce, jasmine etc.
What is the "physical" cause underlying the "Phyllotaxis Law"? The answer is very simple. It appears that just at such arrangement of leafs on the plant stem the maximum of the solar energy inflow to the plant is reached. Taking into consideration this remark you will be not surprised also with the fact that practically all racemes and densely packaged botanic structures (pine and cedar cones, pineapples, cactuses, heads of sunflowers and many others) also strictly follow to Fibonacci numbers regularity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fig. 23. Phyllotaxis structures.
3.3.
The Golden Section and a Man. A
human body and all its parts are subordinated to the principle of the golden
proportion. Let us consider some examples.
Proportion of the human body
It is well known that a harmonic human body is divided by the navel into the golden section (Fig. 24-a). Human bodies having proportions distinguished from the golden proportion (Fig.24-b) look formlessly.

(a) (b)
Fig.
24. Harmony (a) and disharmony (b) of human body
It is proved that our hand creates a golden section in
relation to your arm, as the ratio of our forearm to our hand is also 1.618,
the golden ratio.


Fig.
26. Human index finger
Fig.
27. Proportions of human face
Note that Figures
25, 26, 27 are taken from the WEB site by Gary Meisner [8] being one of the best
sites on the golden section. Analyzing Fig. 27 Gary Meisner wrote:
“The golden proportion defines the dimensions of the human profile. The blue line defines a perfect square of the pupils and
outside corners of the mouth. The golden section of these four blue lines defines the nose, the tip of the nose, the
inside of the nostrils, the two rises of the upper lip and the inner points of
the ear. The blue line also defines the
distance from the upper lip to the bottom of the chin. The yellow line, a golden section of the blue line, defines the width of the nose, the
distance between the eyes and eye brows and the distance from the pupils to the
tip of the nose. The green line, a golden
section of the yellow line defines the width
of the eye, the distance at the pupil from the eye lash to the eye brow and the
distance between the nostrils. he magenta
line, a golden section of the green line, defines the distance from the upper
lip to the bottom of the nose and several dimensions of the eye”.
3.4. Human heartbeat. Human heart is
beaten uniformly (about 60 impacts in one minute in the rest state). The heart as the cylinder
piston compresses and then pushes out the blood and drives it on the body. The blood pressure changes
during the cardiac performance. It reaches of the greatest value in the left heart ventricle at the moment of
its compression (systole). In the arteries during the heart ventricular systole
the blood pressure reaches the maximum value equalling to 115-125 mm of the
mercury column. At the moment of the cardiac muscle debilitation (diastole) the pressure
decreases until 70-80 mm of the mercury column. The ratio of the maximum
(systolic) pressure to the minimum (diastolic) pressure is equal, on the
average, to 1.6, that is, it is very close to the golden proportion. Whether is this
coincidence random or it reflects some objective regularity of the cardiac
activity harmonic organization?
The heart is beaten
continuously from man's birth up to his died. And its activity should be optimal
and be subordinated to the self-organization laws of biological systems. And as
the golden proportion is one of criteria of self-organizing systems naturally
one may suspect that the cardiac performance is subordinated to the golden
section law. One may judge about the heart activity by using the
electrocardiogram, the curve reflecting different cycles of the cardiac
performance.

Fig. 28. The human
cardiogram
One may select on
the cardiogram two segments of different duration corresponding to systolic (t1)
and diastolic (t2) heart activity. It is proved [9] there
exists the optimal ("golden") palpitation frequency for a man and for
other mammals; here the durations of systole, diastole and full cardiac cycle (T)
are in the golden proportion, that is, T : t2 = t2
: t1. So, for example, for men the "golden"
frequency is equal to 63 heart impacts in one minute, for dogs - 94 that
corresponds to actual palpitation frequency in the rest state.
This hall includes the brightest examples of the golden section in music and visual art. Let us consider the most interesting of them.
4.1. The
proportional scheme of the Golden Section in
architecture. The book "Proportionality in the
Architecture" published by the Russian architect Prof. Grimm in 1935 is
well known in theory of architecture.

Prof. Grimm’s book
“Proportionality in Architecture” (1935)
The purpose of the book is formulated in the
"Introduction" as the following:
"In view of an exceptional
significance of the golden section as such proportional division, which
establishes a continuous connection between the whole and its parts, and gives
the constant ratio between them, which cannot be achieved by any other
division, the scheme based on it advances to the first place and is adopted by
us hereinafter as at check of the proportionality of historical monuments and
modern facilities ... Taking into consideration this general significance of
the golden section in all developments of architectural thought, it is
necessary to recognize the proportionality theory based on the division of the
whole into proportional parts adequate to the terms of the "golden"
geometrical progression as the basis of architectural proportionality in
general".
Prof. Grimm considers the golden section of the line segment AB by the point C into two unequal parts and names the large part CA the major, and the smaller part AC the minor. Behind
Luca Pacioli after careful
exploration of the golden section Grimm establishes a number of “exceptional”
geometric properties of the golden section and made the following conclusion:
“In general it is necessary to recognize the extremely outstanding
property of the golden section, which cannot be reached by arithmetic mean
proportions, especially by other divisions of the whole".
Grimm confirms his
idealized surveys in the field of the "golden" proportional scheme by
the architectural examples from the art of classics (Parthenon, Jupiter's
temple in Tunis), monuments of the Byzantium art, the Italian Renaissance (Sun
Pietro in Montorio in Rome, Calleoni monument, Sun Peter's cathedral in Rome).

Fig. 29. Sun Pietro in Montorio in Rome
(Bramante).
On the first view
the architecture of Baroque essentially differs from the architecture of the
Classics and the Italian Renaissance and it would be possible to expect an
absence of the golden section in these monuments. By analyzing of the Smolny
cathedral in St.-Petersburg, which is one of the conventional monuments of this
style, Grimm concludes "that an isolation from the general scheme of
the golden section in its proportions is not observed ... It is impossible to
see of any conscientiously brought dissonances of proportionality, except of
the well known withdrawal from the norms of classics; in any case it is
indisputable and an availability of the golden section in partitioning of the
basic masses of the cathedral".

Fig. 30. Smolny
cathedral in St.-Petersburg and the campanile of the Christmas Christly church
in Yaroslavl (Russia)
Proportional
achievements of the Russian architects, in Grimm's opinion, are based on their
intuition and on their architectural-art searches. Nevertheless, in the best
monuments we meet repeated application of the golden ratio. As an example of
such architectural monument Grimm considers the campanile of the Christmas
Christly church in Yaroslavl, in which "as
well as in other old Russian monuments, a rather essential coordination with
the golden section in the main their masses is seen".
4.2. Chopin’s etudes in lighting of the Golden Section. Any musical composition has a temporary duration and is divided into separate parts by some “aesthetic stakes”, which facilitate our perception of the piece. The Russian musicologist Sabaneev in his article [10] shows that the separate time intervals of the musical pieces connected by the “culmination event” are, as a rule, in the ratio of the golden section. In Sabaneev’s opinion, the quantity and frequency of the golden section usage in musical composition depends on the genius of the composer. Those musical pieces distinguished by the most frequent use of the golden section come from the most brilliant composers, that is, the intuition of the form and ordering, as it is necessary to expect, is strongest for the first class of geniuses.
According to Sabaneev’s observations, the greatest number of musical pieces based on the golden section are observed in works of Arensky (95%), Beethoven (97%), Gaidn (97%), Mozart (91%), Scriabin (90%), Chopin (92%), Schubert (91%). Chopin’s etudes were studied by Sabaneev in detail. He found that 154 exhibited the golden section. In some cases the construction of the musical piece combined symmetry and the golden section simultaneously; in these cases the piece was divided in some symmetrical way, and the golden section was observed in each. For example, many of Beethoven’s compositions are divided into two symmetrical parts, and the golden section is observed in each part.
4.3. The Golden Section in painting. Exploring the compositional structures of paintings, the masterpieces of world art, critics have observed that the golden section is widely used in landscape painting (Shishkin’s painting).

Fig. 31. The Golden Section in Shishkin’s painting “The Ship Grove” and
Konstantin
Vasil’ev’s painting "Near to the
window"
Phyllotaxis lattices
In the world of botany, Fibonacci numbers and the golden section may be seen in “phylotaxis” or growth patterns of plants. For example, cactus areoles (concentrations of thorns) are placed in spirals, and the numbers of left-hand and right-hand spirals are the consecutive Fibonacci numbers 21 and 34. Cactus’ areoles can be presented on a plane as the following raster lattice having 21 lines with right-hand slope and 34 lines with left-hand slope (Fig. 32).

The Austrian scientist Paturi, the author of the remarkable book
“The Plants as Ingenious Engineers of Nature” [11], found the use of raster
lattices in the paintings of the great Renaissance artists; in particular, in
Titian’s painting “Vakch and Ariadna”.
He wrote: “In all times the artists, consciously or unconsciously, studied to
comprehend the laws of aesthetic perception by watching nature. The artists
were enchanted always by the simple and simultaneously rational geometry of the
biological growth forms.”
5. Modern Fibonacci Mathematics
and Computer Science
This hall of the Museum contains exhibitions very important since scientific point of view. The demands on higher standard of mathematical knowledge and is intended for scientists and mathematicians. But we try to state this material maximum popularly.
5.1. “Ardor of chilling numbers”. Why just Fibonacci numbers were selected by Nature, Science and Art to be measure of harmony and beauty? Answering this question is hiding in their wonderful mathematical properties. Let us consider some of them.
In the table below the Fibonacci numbers with the odd indexes are colored by yellow and with the even indexes by blue. We can see that all the yellow numbers in the lower rows of the table coincide and all the blue numbers are opposite by sign. It is impossible to imagine that this regularity is true for all the values of the indexes n from +¥ until -¥. This mathematical fact causes feeling of rhythm and incomprehensible harmony.
|
n |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
Fn |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
13 |
21 |
34 |
55 |
|
F-n |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
2 |
-3 |
5 |
-8 |
13 |
-21 |
34 |
-55 |
Let us consider the ratios of the two adjacent Fibonacci numbers being mathematical basis of the “Phyllotaxis Low”:
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1/1, 2/1, 3/2, 5/3, 8/5, 13/8, 21/13, 34/21, 55/34, … (16)
It is well known this numerical sequence
strives in limitation to the golden ratio
. However, an approach of the sequence (16) to the golden
ratio has rhythmic, pulsed character because all the yellow/blue ratios in (16) always are more then t and all the blue/yellow ratios are less
then t. Deviations of the ratios (16) from t decrease as n increases
and strive to 0. However, the ratios (16) cannot be the same as t because the ratios (16) are rational numbers and t is an irrational one.
Let us take from the table the Fibonacci number of 5 and then let us
calculate its square, that is, 52 = 25. Now we take the product of the two adjacent
Fibonacci numbers 3 and
8 encircled the
Fibonacci number of 5,
that is, 3´8 = 24.
Then we can record:
52
- 3´8 = 1.
And now we will do the same
mathematical operations for the next Fibonacci number of 8, that is, at first we
square it (82=
64), after that we calculate the product of the two adjacent to 8 Fibonacci numbers of 5 and 13 (5´13 = 65) and then we
subtract number of 82
= 64 from the number of 65:
82 -
5´13 = –1.
Note
the obtained difference is equal to (-1).
Further we have:
132
- 8´21 = 1;
212
- 13´34 = – 1 and so on.
We can see, that the square of some
Fibonacci number Fn always differs from the product of the
two adjacent Fibonacci numbers Fn-1 and
Fn+1 encircled it by 1 and the sign
of this 1 depends on the index n
of the Fibonacci number Fn . If the index n is even then the number of 1 undertakes with minus, and if odd, with
plus. The indicated property of the Fibonacci numbers can be expressed by the
following mathematical formula:
. (17)
This wonderful formula evokes a
reverent thrill if we imagine that this fact is valid for any value of n (we remind that n can be some integer in limits
since -¥ up to +¥), and
gives genuine aesthetic enjoying because the alternation of + 1 and -1 in the
expression of (17) at successive oversight of all the Fibonacci numbers
produces no realized feeling of a rhythm and harmony.
5.2. Hyperbolic Fibonacci and Lucas functions. As is well known a number of irrational numbers is limitless. However, some of them occupy a special place in the history of mathematics, moreover in the history of material and spiritual culture. Their importance consists of the fact that they express some relations having universal character and appearing in the most unexpected applications. The p-number and Euler’s number of e are the most important from them. The p-number expressing a ratio of the circle length to its diameter entered mathematics in the ancient period along with trigonometry, in particular spherical trigonometry considered as the applied mathematical theory intended for calculation of the planet coordinates on the «celestial spheres» («the cult of sphere»). The e-number entered mathematics much later than the p- number. Its discovery was immediately connected to the discovery of Natural Logarithms. As is well known the e-number expresses a number of the important geometric properties of the hyperbola.
The p- and e-numbers “generate”
a variety of the fundamental functions called the “elementary functions”. The p-number “generates” the trigonometric
functions sin x and cos x , the e-number “generates” the exponential
function ex, the logarithmic
function logex and the hyperbolic functions namely the hyperbolic sine and the hyperbolic cosine:
;
. (18)
The trigonometric functions sin x and cos x are connected one to other with the following wonderful formula:
sin2x + cos2x = 1 (19)
well-known for everyone studied trigonometry.
Also it is well-known that the hyperbolic functions (18) are connected one to other with the following formula:
ch2x - sh2x = 1 (20)
As is well known the hyperbolic functions (18) play a fundamental role in development of mathematics and physics. When the famous Russian 19th century geometer Nikolay Lobatchevsky elaborated a new geometry, Lobatchevsky’s geometry, he used just the hyperbolic functions (18) for simulation of geometric relations of new geometry. And when the famous German 20th century mathematician Herman Minkovsky gave geometric interpretation of Einstein’s theory of relativity he introduced a four-dimensional space with hyperbolic metric based on (18).
Recently a new class of the hyperbolic functions,
so-called hyperbolic Fibonacci and Lucas
functions, was introduced into being [20]. Let
us write Binet's formulas for Fibonacci numbers and Lucas numbers in the
following form:
|
|
(21) |
|
|
|
(22) |
|
where k = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3, ... .
Comparing the formulas
of (21), (22) to the hyperbolic functions of (18) we can see surprising
similarity between them. This fact was a basis for introduction of the
Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions described in [20]. With this in mind
let us replace the discrete variable k in the formulas of (21), (22) by
the continues variable x and introduce the following definitions for
Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions:
Fibonacci hyperbolic sine and cosine
|
|
(23) |
Lucas hyperbolic sine and cosine
|
|
(24) |
Note that for the discrete values x = k
the Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions are coincident with the Fibonacci
and Lucas numbers because
|
sFk = F2k; cFx = F2k+1; sLx
= L2k+1; cLx = L2k. |
(25) |
Of what importance
have new classes of the hyperbolic functions for general science and
mathematics, in particular? Let us begin from the theory of Fibonacci numbers.
Until now the theory of Fibonacci numbers develops as discrete theory because Fibonacci
numbers are a part of natural numbers and belong to the discrete set. But the
Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions are "continues" mathematical
objects and we can apply methods of "continues" mathematics (in
particular, differentiation and integration) to explore these functions. But
every mathematical identity for the Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions
has a "Fibonacci" interpretation using (25) and every identity for
Fibonacci and Lucas numbers can be interpreted as some identity for the
Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions.
As example let us find “hyperbolic” interpretation of the identity (17). We can write the formula (17) as a pair of the two formulas for the even (n=2k) and odd (n=2k+1) values of the discrete variable n:
; (26)
. (27)
Let us consider now the formulas (26), (27) since the hyperbolic Fibonacci functions point of view. Using (25) we can write the formulas (26), (27) as the following:
; (28)
, (29)
where k=0, ±1, ±2, ±3, … .
However, the formulas (28), (29) are a partial case of the following
general formulas taken by us without proof:
. (30)
. (31)
Thus, we have found a new class of the hyperbolic functions given with (23) and (24) having remarkable properties given with (30) and (31). These functions keep all properties of the classical hyperbolic functions (18) however, their main attribute is the fact that for discrete values of x=k (k=0, ±1, ±2, ±3, …) the Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions (23) and (24) coincide with Fibonacci and Lucas numbers. Now let us imagine that Lobatchevsky and Minkovsky did know the functions (23) and (24) and use them in their geometric theories. But then they could conclude that the geometric space has Fibonacci’s property. It looks like the Ukrainian architect Oleg Bodnar has realized this idea by means of development of the new phyllotaxis theory based on the Fibonacci and Lucas hyperbolic functions [24].
5.3. Fibonacci numbers in Pascal Triangle. In our
daily life we use widely the mathematics branch called combinatorial
analysis. This one studies so-called finite sets. The set consisting
of n elements is called n-element one. However we can chose k
elements from n-element set. Each k-element part of the n-element
set is called combination from given n elements by k. One of the
problems of combinatorial analysis is to find a number of combinations of n
elements by k. Usually this number is marked as
and called binomial
coefficients.
There exists a special method
calculating binomial coefficients. This one is called Pascal’s method; it is reduced to construction of special numerical
table called Pascal Triangle. We can see that the top row (the 0-row) of Pascal triangle
consists of 1's and all diagonal binomial coefficients are equal to 1. Each
binomial coefficient inside Pascal triangle are calculated according to Pascal’s rule:
.
Pascal Triangle
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
1 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
21 |
28 |
36 |
|
|
|
1 |
4 |
10 |
20 |
35 |
56 |
84 |
||
|
|
1 |
5 |
15 |
35 |
70 |
126 |
|||
|
|
1 |
6 |
21 |
56 |
126 |
||||
|
|
1 |
7 |
28 |
84 |
|||||
|
|
1 |
8 |
36 |
||||||
|
|
1 |
9 |
|||||||
|
|
1 |
||||||||
|
1 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
32 |
64 |
128 |
256 |
512 |
If now we sum up all
the binomial coefficients of the n-th column we get the binary number 2n
, that is, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ... .
Let us shift now
each row of Pascal triangle in one column to the right about the preceding row.
As the result of such transformation we get the following number array called
the 1-Pascal triangle:
1-Pascal triangle
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
21 |
28 |
36 |
|||
|
|
1 |
4 |
10 |
20 |
35 |
56 |
|||||
|
|
1 |
5 |
15 |
35 |
|||||||
|
|
1 |
6 |
|||||||||
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
13 |
21 |
34 |
55 |
89 |
144 |
It is easy to prove that the sum of the binomial
coefficients in the n-th column of the 1-Pascal triangle is equal to
Fibonacci number Fn+1.
If we shift each
row of the initial Pascal Triangle in the p columns to the right about
the preceding row (p = 0, 1, 2, 3, ... ), we get number array called the
p-Pascal triangle. Summing up binomial coefficients by columns we get
so-called p-Fibonacci numbers given
by the following recursive formula:
Fp(n) = Fp(n-1) + Fp(n-p-1) with n>p+1; (32)
Fp(1) = Fp(2) = ... = Fp(p+1) = 1. (33)
Note that the recursive formula of (32), (33)
generates infinite number of numerical sequences because each p (p=0,
1, 2, 3, …) generates own numerical sequence. In particular, p=0 generates the binary numbers: 1, 2,
4, 8, 16, …; p=1 generates Fibonacci
numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … ; p=2
generates 2-Fibonacci numbers: 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 19, 26, … and so on.
5.2. Generalization of the Golden Section. Let us subdivide
the line segment AB by the point C according to the following
ratio:
(34)
where p = 0, 1, 2, 3, ... .

Fig. 33. The Golden p-Sections
(p = 0, 1, 2, 3, ...).
It is easy to prove that for the given p the problem (34) is reduced to the
solution of the following algebraic equation:
xp+1 = xp
+ 1. (35)
Note that the proportion of (34) is reduced to the “dichotomy”
for the case of p = 0 (Fig.33-a) and to the classical golden section for
p =1 (Fig. 33-b). Taking into consideration this unexpected fact the
subdivision of the line segment AB by the point C in the ratio of
(34) is called the golden p-section but the real roots tp of the equation of (35) are called golden p-ratios
or golden p-proportions. The following property of the golden p-ratios
emerges from the algebraic equation of (35):
(36)
Note that for p
= 0 we have tp = 2 and the
identity of (36) is reduced to the following trivial identity for binary
numbers:
2n = 2n-1 + 2n-1.
For p = 1 we have tp = t =
and the identity of
(35) is reduced to the following well- known identity for the classical golden
ratio:
![]()
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It is
proved that the ratio of the two adjacent p-Fibonacci
numbers Fp(n)/Fp(n-1) strives to the golden p-ratio
tp for the case n®¥! It
means that the golden p-ratios tp form a special class of irrational numbers expressing
some deep mathematical correlations of Pascal Triangle.
Thus, as result of this consideration we get a
number of small mathematical discoveries:
5.3. Applications of the p-Fibonacci numbers and the Golden p-ratios. The above introduced generalized Fibonacci numbers, the p-Fibonacci numbers, and generalized golden proportions, the golden p-proportion