# What is the connection and the difference between the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence?

The Golden Ratio, i.e.

$\varphi = \frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$

and Fibonacci sequence, i.e.

$F_n=F_{n-1}+F_{n-2}$ with the initial conditions $F_0=0$ and $F_1=1$

are clearly connected, but not perfectly so, and I'm seeking to understand this. I've been trying to read up a bit to understand the similarities and differences between these 2.

A Live Science article, for instance, says:

Around 1200, mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci discovered the unique properties of the Fibonacci sequence. This sequence ties directly into the Golden ratio because if you take any two successive Fibonacci numbers, their ratio is very close to the Golden ratio. As the numbers get higher, the ratio becomes even closer to 1.618. For example, the ratio of 3 to 5 is 1.666. But the ratio of 13 to 21 is 1.625. Getting even higher, the ratio of 144 to 233 is 1.618. These numbers are all successive numbers in the Fibonacci sequence.

Or, as another source put it:

The quotient of any Fibonacci number and it's predecessor approaches Phi, represented as ϕ (1.618), the Golden ratio.

Based on these descriptions, it sounds like the the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Ratio converge asymptotically but are not identical (especially with the initial ratios). I would like to understand this a little bit better.

Asides from Live Science and Google, I did some preliminary research on Mathematics SE and Cross Validated. The closest question I could find was an unanswered one which primarily focused on the relationship between Arctangents and the Fibonacci sequence.

• youtube.com/watch?v=dTWKKvlZB08 might help. – user451844 Sep 1 '17 at 15:43
• @RoddyMacPhee Thanks, I will watch it right now. – Hack-R Sep 1 '17 at 15:43
• The ratio of two successive Fibonacci numbers is not equal to $\phi$, but it gets closer and closer to $\phi$ when $n\rightarrow \infty$. That's what "the ratio converges asymptotically to $\phi$" means. In order to help you "understand this a little bit better", maybe we would need to know your mathematical background a bit better. Ever worked on sequences ? – Evargalo Sep 1 '17 at 15:45
• @Evargalo You're correct. For the record that was me who said that they converge asymptotically (not a source), so I'll take it as a good sign that I got that right ;) What I'm wanting to understand is why they converge asymptotically. Good question about my background, I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to put it in the question - I'm a Machine Learning and stats guy, but not a pure math guy. I'm asking this question in part due to the use of the Golden Ratio in an algorithm. – Hack-R Sep 1 '17 at 15:47
• it sounds like the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Ratio converge asymptotically ... The Golden Ratio is a fixed number. It doesn't "converge" because it's constant and never changes. May be just a nitpick, but the better way to word it would be "the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers converges asymptotically to the Golden Ratio". – dxiv Sep 1 '17 at 20:14

If we set $\varphi = \frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$ and $\bar{\varphi}=\frac{1-\sqrt{5}}{2}$, then the Binet formula for Fibonacci numbers says:
$F_n=\frac{\varphi^n-(\bar\varphi)^{ n}}{\sqrt{5}}$.
Because $\mid \bar\varphi \mid < 1$, the term $(\bar\varphi)^n$ decays fairly quickly toward $0$. This points to why successive ratios of Fibonacci numbers get close to $\varphi$.
• In particular, $F_n$ is the nearest integer to $\varphi^n/\sqrt 5$ for $n\in\mathbb N$. – Especially Lime Sep 1 '17 at 16:05