Why is the Fibonacci sequence found in almost everything in nature? Science answers!

It has some features that can be observed in different parts of the world; for example, fractals occur in different places in leaf growth, river systems, among other environments. Another classic example is hexagonal objects found everywhere in nature, such as in beehives or the structure of ice crystals. But there is one mathematical feature that still confuses many people: Fibonacci sequence.

In the Fibonacci sequence, each number is the sum of the two numbers before it. So, if we make a sequence of 12 numbers from the beginning, the result will be: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 etc. Although it may seem like a random calculation, scientists explain that this sequence can be described by an actual mathematical equation, specifically Xn+2 = Xn+1 + Xn.

Conspiracy theory enthusiasts believe that the Fibonacci sequence is almost magical and view it as a kind of secret code found in nature. This vision even makes some sense. But there is nothing mysterious or supernatural about this, as many natural structures actually follow Fibonacci patterns..

Hundreds of years ago, scholars and philosophers in India identified this order while studying the rhythms of poetry; In fact, Fibonacci himself began to research the subject years later. Throughout history, humanity has realized that: It is possible to observe this order in the number of flower petals, tree branches, snail shells, spiral galaxies and many other places.

“Fibonacci introduced the sequence in the context of the problem of how many pairs of rabbits would be in an enclosed space if each pair produced a new pair every month, and pairs of rabbits produced another pair starting from the second month. “Ordinal numbers are found everywhere in nature, as in the spirals of sunflower heads and snail shells,” the encyclopedia Britannica explains.

What is the Fibonacci sequence?

The series was introduced by Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa, while he was searching for answers about rabbit breeding. In 1202 he published his findings in the book Liber Abaci. Although the series is associated with his name, Indian mathematicians knew this long ago.

In Fibonacci research He tried to figure out how many baby rabbits would be born when a male and a female were placed in a field. for one year under ideal conditions. Mathematician Dr. D., former professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. According to Ron Knott, the result of this experiment would be 144 rabbits, 72 alive and 72 pregnant.

Where exactly does this result come from? First, it is important to clarify that this is a mental experiment that does not involve actual rabbits; especially because this is not biologically possible. Each month, rabbits that reach reproductive maturity form new pairs, and this growth follows the pattern of the Fibonacci sequence..

In the first month, the first couple is in the pregnancy phase; At the end of the second month, a new pair of rabbits is born; At the end of the third month, another pair is born, making a total of three pairs. Starting from the fourth month, the numbers begin to increase rapidly, the first couple gives birth to another pair, and the couple born two months ago gives birth to their first offspring. At the end of one year, the total number of rabbits reaches 144.

It may seem confusing, but this order of rabbit births follows the Fibonacci rule. The number of rabbits in a month is the sum of those ready to breed in the previous month and those born two months ago.

Why?

The Fibonacci sequence is used by mathematicians and other scientists to describe numerical patterns and their properties. Some of these patterns occur naturally in the universe; for example shells grow at constant rates depending on the sequence. Moreover, scientists apply this rule to study spiral galaxies, whose rotations follow a similar logic.

THE The Fibonacci sequence may never be fully understood. But scientists know that for nature this model is an effective way to organize growth and optimally distribute resources. This means that the pattern is not created randomly but arises naturally in various evolutionary processes; This explains its frequent presence in flowers, plants and other natural phenomena.

Follow the latest developments in science at TecMundo. If you wish, take the opportunity to learn about the new law of nature discovered by scientists.