Celebrating Pi Day with the shiniest of numbers!

For this year's celebrations of Pi Day on March 14th we bring you the shiniest of numbers! The golden ratio, $ϕ$ , has fascinated mathematicians for centuries. It arises from the Fibonnacci sequence! It appears in nature! And could it be the key to beauty? Or is that just a mathematical myth? Our favourite fact, and the real reason we chose it to celebrate Pi Day is that, like the number $π$ , the golden ratio is an irrational number. But not just that, the golden ratio is the most irrational number there is – definitely something worth celebrating!

Happy Pi Day everyone!

Maths in a minute: The golden ratio — We're very pleased to give you a very quick introduction to this very famous number!

The life and numbers of Fibonacci — Find out how the golden ratio arises from rabbits and how it appears nature.

Maths in a minute: Continued fractions — A quick explanation of why the golden ratio is the most irrational number of them all!

Myths of maths: The golden ratio — The golden ratio has many amazing properties. But is it really a secret of nature and the epitome of beauty? Find out in this article and video from Chris Budd's lecture at Gresham College.

Metallic numbers: Beyond the golden ratio — You've heard of the golden ratio but have you heard of the silver ratio? And all its other cousins called the metallic numbers? Read this article to meet the family!

The fingernail problem and metallic numbers — A beautiful geometric problem opens the door to the world of metallic numbers.