An Arithmetic Sequence is made by adding some value each time.
Examples: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 2, ... !his sequence has a di""erence o" 3 bet#een each number. !he $attern is continued by addin% 3 to the last number each time. 3, &, 13, 1&, 23, 2&, 33, 3&, ... !his sequence has a di""erence o" bet#een each number. !he $attern is continued by addin% to the last number each time. !he value added each time is called the 'common di""erence' (hat is the common di""erence in this e)am$le* 19, 27, 3, 43, ... Ans#er+ !he common di""erence is 8 !he common di""erence could also be ne%ative, li,e this+ 2, 23, 21, 19, 17, 1, ... !his common di""erence is -2 !he $attern is continued by subtracting 2 each time.
Geometric Sequences A -eometric Sequence is made by multiplying by some value each time. Examples: 2, 4, &, 16, 32, 64, 12&, 26, ... !his sequence has a "actor o" 2 bet#een each number. !he $attern is continued by multi$lyin% the last number by 2 each time. 3, 9, 27, &1, 243, 729, 21&7, ... !his sequence has a "actor o" 3 bet#een each number. !he $attern is continued by multi$lyin% the last number by 3 each time.
Special Sequences Triangular Numbers 1, 3, 6, 10, 1, 21, 2&, 36, 4, ... !his sequence is %enerated "rom a $attern o" dots #hich "orm a trian%le. .y addin% another ro# o" dots and countin% all the dots #e can "ind the ne)t number o" the sequence. Square Numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 2, 36, 49, 64, &1, ... !he ne)t number is made by squarin% #here it is in the $attern. !he second number is 2 squared /2 2 or 2021 !he seventh number is 7 squared /7 2 or 7071 etc ube Numbers 1, &, 27, 64, 12, 216, 343, 12, 729, ... !he ne)t number is made by cubin% #here it is in the $attern. !he second number is 2 cubed /2 3 or 202021 !he seventh number is 7 cubed /7 3 or 707071 etc !ibonacci Numbers 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, , &, 13, 21, 34, ... !he ne)t number is "ound by addin% the t#o numbers be"ore it to%ether. !he 2 is "ound by addin% the t#o numbers in "ront o" it /1211 !he 21 is "ound by addin% the t#o numbers in "ront o" it /&2131 !he ne)t number in the sequence above #ould be /212341 !ibonacci Sequence The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ... The next number is found b addin! u" the t#o numbers before it. The 2 is found b addin! the t#o numbers before it $1%1& Simi'ar', the 3 is (ust $1%2&, )nd the 5 is (ust $2%3&, and so on* +xam"'e: the next number in the sequence abo,e #ou'd be $21%34& - 55 .t is that sim"'e* /ere is a 'on!er 'ist: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 80, 144, 233, 311, 210, 081, 1501, 2584, 4181, 2125, 10042, 11111, 28251, 42328, 15025, 121303, 102418, 311811, ... Can you figure out the next few numbers? The Rule The Fibonacci Sequence can be #ritten as a 34u'e3 $see Sequences and Series&: The 4u'e is xn = xn-1 + xn-2 #here: xn is term number 3n3 xn-1 is the "re,ious term $n51& xn-2 is the term before that $n52& The terms are numbered form 0 on#ards 'i6e this: n = 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 xn - 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 80 144 233 311 ...
Golden Ratio )nd here is a sur"rise. .f ou ta6e an t#o successi,e !one after the other" Fibonacci 7umbers, their ratio is ,er c'ose to the 8o'den 4atio 33 #hich is a""roximate' 1.618034... .n fact, the bi!!er the "air of Fibonacci 7umbers, the c'oser the a""roximation. 9et us tr a fe#: A B B / A 2 3 1.5 3 5 1.222222222... 5 8 1.2 8 13 1.225 ... ... ... 144 233 1.218055552... 233 311 1.218025151... ... ... ... 7ote: this a'so #or6s if ou "ic6 t#o ando! #ho'e numbers to be!in the sequence, such as 102 and 12 $ou #ou'd !et the sequence 192# 16# 208# 224# 432# 656# 1088# 1744# 2832# 4576# 7408# 11984# 19392# 31376# &: A B B / A 1"2 16 0.08333333... 12 208 13 208 224 1.01202308... 224 432 1.02851143... ... ... ... 1408 11084 1.21111058... 11084 10302 1.21815154... ... ... ... .t ta6es 'on!er to !et !ood ,a'ues, but it sho#s ou that it is not (ust the Fibonacci Sequence that can do this* #$in% The Golden Ratio to &al'ulate (i)ona''i *u!)e$ )nd e,en more sur"risin! is this formu'a for ca'cu'atin! an Fibonacci 7umber usin! the 8o'den 4atio: )ma:in!' the ans#er a'#as comes out as a #ho'e number, exact' equa' to the addition of the "re,ious t#o terms. +xam"'e: ;hen . used a ca'cu'ator on this $on' enterin! the 8o'den 4atio to 2 decima' "'aces& . !ot the ans#er 8.00000033. ) more accurate ca'cu'ation #ou'd be c'oser to 8. Tr it for ourse'f*
Te!$ Belo+ ,eo The sequence can be extended bac6#ards* 9i6e this: n = $6 $5 $4 $3 $2 $1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 xn - ... 58 5 53 2 51 1 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 ... !%ro&e to yourse'f that a((ing the )re&ious two terms together sti'' wor*s+" .n fact the sequence be'o# :ero has the same numbers as the sequence abo,e :ero, exce"t the fo''o# a %5%5 ... "attern. .t can be #ritten 'i6e this: x<n - $<1& n%1 xn ;hich sas that term 35n3 is equa' to $<1& n%1 times term 3n3, and the ,a'ue $<1& n%1 neat' ma6es the correct 1,51,1,51,... "attern. Nature" The Golden #atio" and !ibonacci too $$$ 3lants %ro# ne# cells in s$irals, such as this $attern o" seeds in the beauti"ul sun"lo#er. !he s$iral ha$$ens naturally because each ne# cell is "ormed a"ter a turn. "New cell, then turn, then another cell, then turn, ..."
%o& !ar to Turn' So, i" you #ere a $lant, ho# much o" a turn #ould you have in bet#een ne# cells* 4" you don5t turn at all, you #ould have a strai%ht line. .ut that is a very $oor desi%n ... you #ant somethin% round that #ill hold to%ether #ith no gaps.
(hy not try to )ind the best *alue )or yoursel)' !ry di""erent values, li,e 0.7, 0.9, 3.1416, 0.62 etc, 6emember, you are tryin% to ma,e a $attern #ith no %a$s "rom start to end7 /.y the #ay, it doesn5t matter about the #hole number $art, li,e +$ or ,$ because they are "ull revolutions that $oint you bac, in the same direction.1
!his animation needs 8lash 3layer. See belo# "or ho# this animation #or,s9 (hat -id .ou Get' 4" you %ot somethin% that ends li,e /$0+8 /or 0.3&2, #hich is 1:0.61&1 then "Congratulations, you are a successful member of the plant kingdom!" !hat is because the -olden 6atio /+$0+8/1...1 is the best solution to this $roblem, and the Sun"lo#er ,no#s it. !ry it ... it should loo, li,e this. (hy' .ecasue i" you choose any number that is a sim$le "raction /e)am$le+ 0.7 is 3;4, and 0.9 is 19;20, etc1, then you #ill eventually %et a $attern o" lines stac,in% u$, and hence lots o" %a$s. .ut the -olden 6atio /its symbol is the -ree, letter 3hi, sho#n at le"t1 is an e)$ert at not being any )raction. 4t is an 4rrational <umber /meanin% you cannot #rite it as a sim$le "raction1, but more than that ... it is as "ar as you can %et "rom bein% near any "raction. 2ust being irrational is not enough 3i /1$+3+,420,3...1, #hich is also irrational. =n"ortunately it has a decimal very close to 1;7 /> 0.142&7...1, so it ends u$ #ith 7 arms. e /2$5+828$$$1 also irrational, does not #or, either because its decimal is close to ;7 /0.7142&...1, so it also ends u$ #ith 7 arms. So" %o& -oes the Golden #atio (or6' ?ne o" the s$ecial $ro$erties o" the -olden 6atio is that it can be de"ined in terms o" itsel", li,e this+ (In numbers: .!"#$... % & '.!"#$...(
!hat can be e)$anded into this "raction that %oes on "or ever /called a "continued fraction"1+ So, it neatly sli$s in bet#een sim$le "ractions. !ibonacci Numbers !here is a s$ecial relationshi$ bet#een the -olden @ean and 8ibonacci <umbers (#, , , ), $, *, ", $, ), ... etc, each number is the sum of the two numbers before it(. 4" you ta,e any t#o successive (one after the other( 8ibonacci <umbers, their ratio is very close to the -olden 6atio+ A 7 7 8 A 2 3 1. 3 1.666666666... & 1.6 & 13 1.62 13 21 1.613&461... ... ... ... 144 233 1.61&06... 233 377 1.61&0271... ... ... ... So, Aust li,e you naturally %et seven arms i" you use 0.142&7 /1;71, you tend to %et 8ibonacci <umbers #hen you use the -olden @ean. !ry countin% the s$iral arms : the 'le"t turnin%' s$irals, and then the 'ri%ht turnin%' s$irals ... #hat numbers did you %et*
Spiral 9ea) Gro&th !his interestin% behaviour is not Aust "ound in sun"lo#er seeds. Beaves, branches and $etals can %ro# in s$irals, too. (hy* So that ne# leaves don5t bloc, the sun "rom older leaves, or so that the ma)imum amount o" rain or de# %ets directed do#n to the roots. 4n "act, i" a $lant has s$irals, the rotation tends to be a "raction made #ith t#o successive 8ibonacci <umbers, "or e)am$le+ A hal" rotation is 1;2 /1 and 2 are 8ibonacci <umbers1 3; is also common /both 8ibonacci <umbers1, and ;& also /you %uessed it71 all %ettin% closer and closer to the -olden 6atio. And that is #hy 8ibonacci <umbers are very common in $lants. 1,2,3,,&,13,21,... etc occur in an amaCin% number o" $laces. Dere is a daisy #ith 21 $etals /but e)$ect a "e# more or less, because some may have dro$$ed o"" or be Aust %ro#in%1 Golden Angle So "ar #e have been tal,in% about 'turns' /"ull rotations1. !he equivalent o" 0.61&03... rotations is 222.4922... de%rees, or about 222.E. 4n the other direction it is about +15$,:, called the '-olden An%le'.
+o, ne,t time you are walking in the garden, look for the -olden .ngle, and count petals and lea/es to find 0ibonacci Numbers, and disco/er how cle/er the plants are ... ! Exercise (hy don5t you %o into the %arden or $ar, ri%ht no#, and start countin% leaves and $etals, and measurin% rotations to see #hat you "ind. Fou can #rite your results on this "orm+ ;lant Name or -escription:
-o the 9ea*es Gro& in Spirals' F ; < Gount a %rou$ o" Beaves+ Do# many leaves /a1 * Do# many "ull rotations /b1 * 6otation $er lea" /b;a1 + 6otation An%le /360 0 b;a1 +
Are There !lo&ers' F ; < Do# many $etals on 8lo#er 1+ 8lo#er 2+ 8lo#er 3+ /.ut remember, nature may "ollo# mathematical rules but the results aren5t al#ays $er"ect1 < Notes About the Animation Sun"lo#er seeds %ro# "rom the center out#ards, but on the animation 4 "ound it easier to dra# the youn%er seeds "irst and add on the older ones. !he animation should continue lon%er to be the same as the sun"lo#er : this #ould result in cloc,#ise s$irals and 34 countercloc,#ise s$irals /successive 8ibonacci <umbers1. 4 Aust didn5t #ant it to ta,e too lon%. !he s$irals are not $ro%rammed into it : they occur naturally as a result o" tryin% to $lace the seeds as close to each other as $ossible #hile ,ee$in% them at the correct rotation. Golden #atio The !o'den ratio !symbo' is the ,ree* 'etter -)hi- shown at 'eft" is a s"ecia' number a""roximate' equa' to 1.218 .t a""ears man times in !eometr, art, architecture and other areas. The -dea Behind -t .f ou di,ide a 'ine into t#o "arts so that: the 'on!er "art di,ided b the sma''er "art is also equal to the #ho'e 'en!th di,ided b the 'on!er "art then ou #i'' ha,e the !o'den ratio. Gue$$in% -t There is on' one ,a'ue that #ou'd ma6e a=b equa' to $a%b&=a. 9et us tr out some "ossibi'ities to see if #e can disco,er it: .et u$ t/ a=0 and )=31 $o a+)=102 1=3 - 2.333..., but 10=1 - 1.42"..., so that won.t wor*
.et u$ t/ a=6 and )=41 $o a+)=102 2=4 - 1.5, but 10=2 - 1.666..., /'oser but not there yet+
.et u$ t/ a=6.18 and )=3.821 $o a+)=102 2.18=3.82 - 1.6108..., and 10=2.18 - 1.6181..., getting &ery /'ose+ .n fact the ,a'ue is: 1.618033"8804"8"484820... $6ee"s !oin!, #ithout an "attern& The di!its (ust 6ee" on !oin!, #ith no "attern. .n fact the 8o'den 4atio is 6no#n to be an .rrationa' 7umber, and . #i'' te'' ou more about it 'ater. &al'ulatin% -t >ou can ca'cu'ate it ourse'f b startin! #ith an number and fo''o#in! these ste"s: )& di,ide 1 b our number $1=number& ?& add 1 @& that is our ne# number, start a!ain at ) ;ith a ca'cu'ator, (ust 6ee" "ressin! 31=x3, 3%3, 313, 3-3, around and around. . started #ith 2 and !ot this: *u!)e 1/*u!)e Add 1 2 1=2-0.5 0.5%1-1.5 1.5 1=1.5 - 0.222... 0.222... % 1 - 1.222... 1.222... 1=1.222... - 0.2 0.2 % 1 - 1.2 1.2 1=1.2 - 0.225 0.225 % 1 - 1.225 1.225 1=1.225 - 0.2154... 0.2154... % 1 - 1.2154... 1.2154... .t is !ettin! c'oser and c'oser* ?ut it #ou'd ta6e a 'on! time to !et there, ho#e,er there are better #as and it can be ca'cu'ated to thousands of decima' "'aces quite quic6'. 3a+in% -t /ere is one #a to dra# a rectan!'e #ith the 8o'den 4atio: Ara# a square $of si:e 313& B'ace a dot ha'f #a a'on! one side Ara# a 'ine from that "oint to an o""osite corner $it #i'' be C5=2 in 'en!th& Turn that 'ine so that it runs a'on! the squareDs side Then ou can extend the square to be a rectan!'e #ith the 8o'den 4atio. The (o!ula 9oo6in! at the rectan!'e #e (ust dre#, ou can see that there is a sim"'e formu'a for it. .f one side is 1, the other side #i'' be: The square root of 5 is a""roximate' 2.232028, so The 8o'den 4atio is a""roximate' $1%2.232028&=2 - 3.232028=2 - 1.218034. This is an eas #a to ca'cu'ate it #hen ou need it. Beaut/ Ean artists and architects be'ie,e the 8o'den 4atio ma6es the most "'easin! and beautifu' sha"e. This rectan!'e has been made usin! the 8o'den 4atio, 9oo6s 'i6e a t"ica' frame for a "aintin!, doesnDt itF Ean bui'din!s and #or6s of art inc'ude the 8o'den 4atio in them, such as the Barthenon in 8reece. (i)ona''i 4e5uen'e )nd here is a sur"rise. .f ou ta6e an t#o successi,e Fibonacci 7umbers, their ratio is ,er c'ose to the 8o'den 4atio. .n fact, the bi!!er the "air of Fibonacci 7umbers, the c'oser the a""roximation. 9et us tr a fe#: A B B/A 2 3 1.5 3 5 1.222222222... 5 8 1.2 8 13 1.225 ... ... ... 144 233 1.218055552... 233 311 1.218025151... ... ... ... This a'so #or6s if ou "ic6 t#o ando! #ho'e numbers to be!in the sequence, such as 102 and 12 $ou #ou'd !et the sequence 192# 16# 208# 224# 432# 656# 1088# 1744# 2832# 4576# 7408# 11984# 19392# 31376# &: A B B / A 1"2 16 0.08333333... 12 208 13 208 224 1.01202308... 224 432 1.02851143... ... ... ... 1408 11084 1.21111058... 11084 10302 1.21815154... ... ... ... The 6o$t -ational ... The 8o'den 4atio is the !o$t irrationa' number. /ere is #h ... Gne of the s"ecia' "ro"erties of the 8o'den 4atio is that it can be defined in terms of itse'f, 'i6e this: !0n numbers1 161803 = 1 2 13161803"
That can be ex"anded into this fraction that !oes on for e,er $ca''ed a -/ontinue( fra/tion-&: So, it neat' s'i"s in bet#een sim"'e fractions. ;hereas man other irrationa' numbers are reasonab' c'ose to rationa' numbers $for exam"'e Bi - 3.141502254... is "rett c'ose to 22=1 - 3.1428511...& 7the *a!e$ The 8o'den 4atio is a'so sometimes ca''ed the %olden $e'tion, %olden !ean, %olden nu!)e, di8ine 9o9otion, di8ine $e'tion and %olden 9o9otion. Sequences - !inding The #ule To find a missin! number in a Sequence, first ou must 6no# The Rule :ui'; 3e<inition o< 4e5uen'e Read Sequences and Series for a more in-depth discussion, but put simply: ) Sequence is a set of thin!s $usua'' numbers& that are in order. Each number in the sequence is called a term (or sometimes "element" or "member"): (indin% 6i$$in% *u!)e$ To find a missing number you need to first find The Rule behind the Sequence Sometimes it is !ust a matter of loo"ing at the numbers and seeing the pattern Example: 1, 4, 9, 16, ? #ns$er: they are Squares (% & '%, & & '(, ) & '*, ( & '%+, ) Rule: xn = n 2 Sequence: %, (, *, %+, 25, 36, 49, ... ,id you see ho$ $e $rote do$n the rule $ith "-" and "n" . x n means "term number n", so term ) $ould be $ritten x 3 #nd $e also used "n" in the formula, so the formula for term ) is ) & ' * This could be $ritten x3 - 3 2 - 0 /nce $e ha0e The Rule $e can use it find any term, for e-ample, the &1th term can be found by "plugging in" 25 $here0er n is x25 - 25 2 - 225 2o$ about another e-ample: Example: 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ? They are the sum of the t$o numbers before, that is ) 3 1 ' 4, 1 3 4 ' %) and so on (it is actually part of the 5ibonacci Sequence): Rule: xn = xn-1 + xn-2 Sequence: ), 1, 4, %), &%, 34, 55, 89, ... 6o$ $hat does x n-1 mean. 7ell that !ust means "the pre0ious term" because the term number (n) is % less (n-1) So, if n $as 6, then x n = x 6 (the +th term) and x n-1 = x 6-1 = x 5 (the 1th term) So, let8s apply the Rule to the +th term: x2 - x251 % x252 x2 - x5 % x4 7e already "no$ the (th term is %), and the 1th is &%, so the ans$er is: x2 - 21 % 13 - 34 9retty simple !ust put numbers instead of "n" 6an/ Rule$ /ne of the troubles $ith finding "the ne-t number" in a sequence is that mathematics is so po$erful you can often find more then one Rule that $or"s What ! the next num"er n the !e#uen$e 1, 2, 4, %, ? There are (at least) three solutions: Solution %: #dd %, then add &, ), (, So, %31'&, &32'(, (33':, :34'%%, etc Rule: xn = n&n-1'(2 + 1 Sequence: %, &, (, :, 11, 16, 22, ... (The rule loo"s a bit complicated, but it $or"s)
Solution ): #dd the three pre0ious numbers Rule: xn = xn-1 + xn-2 + xn-3 Sequence: %, &, (, :, 13, 24, 44, ... So, $e had three perfectly reasonable solutions, and they created totally different sequences 7hich is right. The* are all r+ht. #nd there $ill be other solutions 2ey, it may be a list of the $inner8s numbers so the ne-t number could be anything; 4i!9le$t Rule 7hen in doubt choose the !mple!t rule that ma"es sense, but also mention that there are other solutions (indin% 3i<<een'e$ Sometimes it helps to find the ,--eren$e! bet$een each number this can often re0eal an underlying pattern 2ere is a simple case: The differences are al$ays &, so $e can guess that "&n" is part of the ans$er <et us try 2n: n: 1 2 3 4 5 Term! &xn': : * %% %) %1 2n: & ( + 4 %= Wr.n+ "*: 1 1 1 1 1 The last ro$ sho$s that $e are al$ays $rong by 1, so !ust add 1 and $e are done: 4u'e: xn - 2n % 5 />, you could ha0e $or"ed out "&n31" by !ust playing around $ith the numbers a bit, but $e $ant a !*!temat$ $ay to do it, for $hen the sequences get more complicated 4e'ond 3i<<een'e$ ?n the sequence /1, 2, 4, %, 11, 16, 22, ...0 $e need to find the differences and then find the differences of th.!e (called second differences), li"e this: The !e$.n, ,--eren$e! in this case are % ;ith second differences ou mu'ti"' b 3n 2 = 23. ?n our case the difference is %, so let us try n 2 ( 2: n: 1 2 3 4 5 Term! &xn': 1 2 4 % 11
n 2 : % ( * %+ &1 n 2 ( 2: ).5 2 4.5 8 12.5 Wr.n+ "*: =1 = -=1 -% -%1 7e are close, but seem to be drifting by =1, so let us try: n 2 ( 2 - n(2 n 2 ( 2 - n(2: ) 1 3 6 1) Wr.n+ "*: % % % % % 7rong by % no$, so let us add %: n 2 ( 2 - n(2 + 1: 1 2 4 % 11 Wr.n+ "*: = = = = = The formula n & @ & - n@& 3 % can be simplified to n&n-1'(2 + 1 So, by "trial-and-error" $e $ere able to disco0er the rule Sequence: %, &, (, :, %%, %+, &&, 29, 3%, ... 7the T/9e$ o< 4e5uen'e$ #s $ell as the sequences mentioned on Sequences and Series: #rithmetic Sequences Aeometric Sequences 5ibonacci Sequence Triangular, etc Sequences ;ascal=s Triangle Gne of the most interestin! 7umber Batterns is Basca'Ds Trian!'e $named after 4'aise %as/a', a famous French Eathematician and Bhi'oso"her&. To )uild the tian%le1 $tat +ith =1= at the to91 then 'ontinue 9la'in% nu!)e$ )elo+ it in a tian%ula 9atten. >a'h nu!)e i$ ?u$t the t+o nu!)e$ a)o8e it added to%ethe @ex'e9t <o the ed%e$1 +hi'h ae all =1=A. $/ere . ha,e hi!h'i!hted that 1+3 = 4A
Batten$ Cithin the Tian%le
3ia%onal$ The first dia!ona' is, of course, (ust 313s, and the next dia!ona' has the @ountin! 7umbers $1,2,3, etc&. The third dia!ona' has the trian!u'ar numbers $The fourth dia!ona', not hi!h'i!hted, has the tetrahedra' numbers.& 7dd$ and >8en$ .f ou co'or the Gdd and +,en numbers, ou end u" #ith a "attern the same as the Sier"ins6i Trian!'e
DoiEontal 4u!$ ;hat do ou notice about the hori:onta' sumsF .s there a "atternF .snDt it ama:in!* .t doub'es each time $"o#ers of 2&. (i)ona''i 4e5uen'e Tr this: ma6e a "attern b !oin! u" and then a'on!, then add u" the squares $as i''ustrated& ... ou #i'' !et the Fibonacci Sequence. $The Fibonacci Sequence starts 31, 13 and then continues b addin! the t#o "re,ious numbers, for exam"'e 3%5-8, then 5%8-13, etc& 4/!!eti'al )nd the trian!'e is a'so smmetrica'. The numbers on the #$in% Ba$'alF$ Tian%le Dead$ and Tail$ Basca'Ds Trian!'e can sho# ou ho# man #as heads and tai's can combine. This can then sho# ou 3the odds3 $or "robabi'it& of an combination. For exam"'e, if ou toss a coin three times, there is on' one combination that #i'' !i,e ou three heads $///&, but there are three that #i'' !i,e t#o heads and one tai' $//T, /T/, T//&, a'so three that !i,e one head and t#o tai's $/TT, T/T, TT/& and one for a'' Tai's $TTT&. This is the "attern 31,3,3,13 in Basca'Ds Trian!'e. To$$e$ Bo$$i)le Re$ult$ @Gou9edA Ba$'alF$ Tian%le 1 / T 1, 1 2 // /T T/ TT 1, 2, 1 3 /// //T, /T/, T// /TT, T/T, TT/ TTT 1, 3, 3, 1 4 //// ///T, //T/, /T//, T/// //TT, /T/T, /TT/, T//T, T/T/, TT// /TTT, T/TT, TT/T, TTT/ TTTT 1, 4, 2, 4, 1 ... etc ... Chat i$ the 9o)a)ilit/ o< %ettin% exa'tl/ t+o head$ +ith 4 'oin to$$e$G There are 1%4%2%4%1 - 12 $or 2 4 -12& "ossib'e resu'ts, and 2 of them !i,e exact' t#o heads. So the "robabi'it is 2=12, or 31.5H &o!)ination$ The trian!'e a'so sho#s ou ho# man @ombinations of ob(ects are "ossib'e. +xam"'e, if ou ha,e 12 "oo' ba''s, ho# man different #as cou'd ou choose (ust 3 of them $i!norin! the order that ou se'ect them&F )ns#er: !o do#n to ro# 12 $the to" ro# is 0&, and then a'on! 3 "'aces and the ,a'ue there is our ans#er, 560. /ere is an extract at ro# 12: 1 14 91 364 ... 1 15 105 455 1365 ... 1 16 120 560 1820 4368 ... .n fact there is a formu'a from @ombinations for #or6in! out the ,a'ue at an "'ace in Basca'Ds trian!'e:
.t is common' ca''ed 3n choose 63 and #ritten @$n,6&. The 3*3 means 3factoria'3, for exam"'e 4* - 1I2I3I4 - 24& +xam"'e: 4o# 4, term 2 in Basca'Ds Trian!'e is 323. 9etDs see if the formu'a #or6s:
Bol/no!ial$ Basca'Ds Trian!'e can a'so sho# ou the coefficients in binomia' ex"ansion: Bo+e Bino!ial >x9an$ion Ba$'alF$ Tian%le 2 $x % 1& 2 - 1x 2 % 2x % 1 1, 2, 1 3 $x % 1& 3 - 1x 3 % 3x 2 % 3x % 1 1, 3, 3, 1 4 $x % 1& 4 - 1x 4 % 4x 3 % 6x 2 % 4x % 1 1, 4, 2, 4, 1 ... etc ... The (i$t 15 .ine$ For reference, . ha,e inc'uded ro# 0 to 14 of Basca'Ds Trian!'e 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 4 6 4 1 1 5 10 10 5 1 1 6 15 20 15 6 1 1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1 1 8 28 56 70 56 28 8 1 1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1 1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120 45 10 1 1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330 165 55 11 1 1 12 66 220 495 792 924 792 495 220 66 12 1 1 13 78 286 715 1287 1716 1716 1287 715 286 78 13 1 1 14 91 364 1001 2002 3003 3432 3003 2002 1001 364 91 14 1 The &hine$e Hne+ A)out -t This dra#in! is entit'ed 3The G'd Eethod @hart of the Se,en Eu'ti"'in! Squares3. Jie# Fu'' .ma!e .t is from the front of @hu Shi5@hiehDs boo6 35su 6uan 67 Chien- !%re/ious 8irror of the 9our :'ements", #ritten in A3 1303 $o,er 100 ears a!o*&, and in the boo6 it sas the trian!'e #as 6no#n about more than t#o centuries before that. The :uin'unx )n ama:in! 'itt'e machine created b Sir Francis 8a'ton is a Basca'Ds Trian!'e made out of "e!s. .t is ca''ed The Kuincunx. ?a''s are dro""ed onto the first "e! and then bounce do#n to the bottom of the trian!'e #here the co''ect in 'itt'e bins. )t first it 'oo6s com"'ete' random $and it is&, but then ou find the ba''s "i'e u" in a nice "attern: the 7orma' Aistribution.