by, Jo Carol Hebert

The ‘Fibonacci Sequence’ is a study of patterns.

A Pattern is “an order that repeats itself”. 

Examples of Patterns

Cat, Dog, Cat, Dog, Cat, Dog, Cat . . . What word comes next? (Dog).  

What is the pattern? Add the word Dog after each Cat word.

0, 2, 4, 6, 8 . . . What comes next? (10).  

What is the pattern? Add 2 to the last number.

This is also called a ‘sequence’. Patterns are fun!

The ‘Fibonacci Pattern’ Secret

Here is the pattern:  0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 . . . What comes next? (34).  

Can you figure out the pattern? (pause here for you to think about it . . . ).

It’s easy when you know the secret code.  

The first number in the pattern is 0. The second number in the pattern is 1. 

Each number in the sequence is equal to the sum of the two numbers right before it. 

0 + 1 = 1

1 + 1 = 2

1 + 2 = 3

2 + 3

3 + 5 = 8

5 + 8 = 13

8 + 13 = 21

13 + 21 = 34

21 + 34 = (55) . . .

And, so on, forever………………………………………………………………………………

Did You Know Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci?

• Was a math genius from Italy.  Educated in North Africa.
• Was born in 1170 – that’s the year “one thousand, one hundred and seventy” – 850 years ago . Think of the days of ‘Kings, Queens, Castles, and Knights. Died in 1250.
• We are in the year 2020 – that’s the “year two thousand and twenty”.
• He wrote a book on this math pattern around the year 1202.
• He figured out the math pattern while observing the reproduction of rabbits.
• The ‘Fibonacci Pattern’ appears in nature: in cells, flower petals, wheat, honeycomb, pine cones, and pineapples – to name a few.
• The pattern was known in India.
• Fibonacci introduced the pattern to the European continent.
• The Fibonacci Sequence is still used today.

Happy Fibonacci Day!

Now, you know what the Fibonacci Sequence is all about! 

(in case anyone asks you).