Cynthia Lanius

Golden Rectangles All Around
Golden Ratio 1.61803
Golden Ratio Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Find golden rectangles.
  • Build golden rectangles.
  • Confirm the ratio using algebra.

    • Which things around you are made in the golden ratio?

    Measure the following with a centimeter measuring tape or stick. (Round measurements to the nearest .5 cm.) Then rank the items from closest (1) to the golden ratio to least close (4).

    Rank
    Item Measured Length(cm) Width(cm) Ratio(L:W)
    TV screen
    Calculator
    Math Textbook
    Notebook paper
    $1 Bill

    Find an item that has a ratio even closer to the golden ratio. List its dimensions and ratio below.

    Item Measured Length(cm) Width(cm) Ratio(L:W)

    Challenge Problem

    Take an 8 1/2 X 11 inch sheet of paper. Measure and make a golden rectangle by making one straight cut. Give the dimensions of all possible golden rectangles you could cut from this sheet of paper.

    On the Web

    Golden Ratio Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Find golden rectangles.
  • Build golden rectangles.
  • Confirm the ratio using algebra.

    • Geometry Online
    Email any comments to lanius@math.rice.edu

    Copyright 1998-2008 Cynthia Lanius

    URL http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/Geom/around.html