Numeracy Learning objective To recognise and explain a

Numeracy Learning objective: To recognise and explain a number pattern.

Maths is exciting!!!!! Many of our ancestors have been investigating mathematical theories for millions of years? It links to the world around us? It is not something that someone has just ‘made up’?

Have you ever wondered how many spirals a sunflower centre has?

Well, it is all to do with a number sequence which was discovered over 8000 years ago by an Italian mathematician called Leonardo Fibonacci.

He discovered this number sequence 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 What are the next numbers in this sequence? Can you work out the rule for this number sequence? How can we record our findings?

The next numbers are 34 55 89 144 233 377 610 987 1597 So what is the rule? You add the last two numbers together to get the next number! This number sequence is called Fibonacci numbers.

Ok, so how does this link to sunflowers and nature? On many plants, the number of petals is a Fibonacci number and the seed distribution on sunflowers has a Fibonacci spiral effect. http: //www. maths. surrey. ac. uk/ho stedsites/R. Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat. ht ml#plants

Activity: Put a line under any number in the sequence. Add up all the numbers above the line. What do you notice? The total of all the line is one less than the second number below the line. Is this true every time? How can we record our results?

Steps to success Remember to: • Work co-operatively with your partner; • Read the problem carefully; • Think of a logical way to calculate your answers; • Ask for help if unsure

Challenge: Take any three numbers in the sequence. Multiply the middle number by itself. Then multiply the first and the third numbers together. Try this a few times. Tip: Use a calculator to help you! Do the answers have something in common? Are there any numbers that do not fit this rule?

Fibonacci’s number pattern can also be seen elsewhere in nature: • with the rabbit population • with snail shells • with the bones in your fingers • with pine cones • with the stars in the solar system

If you have time tonight Google Fibonacci and see where else his number sequence appears.