Golden Ratio, the Phi, and Its Geometrical
Substantiation
A study on the Golden Ratio, Dynamic Rectangles and Equation of Phi
Md. Akhtaruzzaman
1*
and Amir A. Shafie
2
Dept. of Mechatronics Engineering
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
53100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
akhter900@yahoo.com
1
; aashafie@iium.edu.my
2
Sharif M. Raihan
3
and M. K. Hasan
4
Dept. of Electrical and Communication Engineering
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
53100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
drraihan@iium.edu.my
3
; hasankamrul@msn.com
4
Tanveer Ahsan
5
and M. S. Alam
6
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC)
154/A College Road, Chittagong-4203, Bangladesh
tanveer.ahsan@gmail.com
5
; alam_cse@yahoo.com
6
Md. Bahlul Haider
7
Department of Computer Science
University of Western Ontario
Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
mhaider5@uwo.ca
7
Abstract— Golden ratio is often denoted by the Greek letter,
usually in lower case, Phi (φ) which is an irrational mathematical
constant, approximately 1.6180339887. Because of its unique and
interesting properties, many mathematicians as well as
renaissance artists and architects studied, documented and
employed golden section proportions in remarkable works of
sculpture, painting and architecture. Robot sizing especially for
the Humanoid Robot, Phi is considered as the key to achieve the
human friendly look. The ratio also plays an enigmatic role in the
geometry and mathematics. The basic concept of golden ratio and
its relation with the geometry are represented and described in
this paper. The paper also explains about the structure and
construction strategies of various dynamic rectangles by
establishing some relations and dependencies with each other.
The main contribution of the paper is to study about the
validation and substantiation of the Equation of Phi based on
classical geometric relations. The technique can be considered as
an interesting strategy to prove the Equation of Phi.
Keywords- Golden Ratio; Golden Section; Golden Mean;
Golden Spiral; Equation of Phi; Dynamic rectangle.
I. INTRODUCTION
The golden section proportions are found in natural world
through human proportions and the growth patterns of many
living plants, animals, and insects and also in the universe [1]
[5]. Basically golden ratio is always considered as the most
pleasing proportion to human eyes and many work has been
done, also going on where the ratio concept are analyzed.
Human detection, human face detection and recognition,
emotion detection, beauty detection of an image, biological
inspired robot structure design, locomotion analysis of human
and animals are some of the fields where the golden section
proportion are being used [5].
The interrelation between proportion and good looks has
made a lot of discussion in science because of the accidental
occurrence of the shapes in various designs of objects like
books, paintings, edifices and so on. The designs are
approximated by a rectangle shaped such that the ratio of its
length and height is equal to the Golden Ratio, φ = (1+5
1/2
)/2 =
1.6180339887 (approx.). The ‘φ’ also called the divine
proportion, golden section, golden cut, golden ratio, golden
mean etc. which is the result of dividing a segment into two
segments (A+B) such that A/B=(A+B)/A=1.6180339887
(approx.) [1] [2] [4] [5] [6].
II. GOLDEN RATIO AND ITS CHRONICLE
The natural proportioning system provides the foundation
of the work of many artists and designers. The proportion
known as the Golden Mean has always existed in mathematics
and in the physical universe and it has been of interest to
mathematicians, physicists, philosophers, architects, artists and
even musicians since antiquity. According to the great German
mathematician Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571 -
November 15, 1630), geometry has two great treasures,
theorem of Pythagoras and the division of a line into extreme
and mean ratio [2]. In the early days of the 19
th
century it was
suggested that the Greek letter ‘φ’ (Phi), the initial letters of
Phidias’s name, should be adopted to designate the golden ratio
[2]. In the medieval age and during the Renaissance, the
ubiquity of ‘φ’ in mathematics aroused the involvement of
many mathematicians. It is unknown exactly when the idea was
first discovered and applied by mankind. The presence of both
Pi and Phi in the design of the Pyramids represents that the
Egyptians were aware of the ratio. The Greeks based the design
of the Parthenon (example of Doric architecture, the main
temple of the goddess Athena built more than 400 years BC)
on this proportion. Phidias, a Greek sculptor and
mathematician (490 - 430 BC), studied Phi and applied it to the
design of sculptures for the Parthenon [2]. Plato (427 - 347
BC), in his views on natural science and cosmology presented
2011 IEEE Student Conference on Research and Development (SCOReD)
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