Math's Uniting Powers

"A yupana (Quechua for "counting tool") is a calculator that was used by the Incas. Researchers believe that calculations were based on Fibonacci numbers to minimize the number of necessary grains per field.^[1]"


The Fibonacci Sequence is really an elegant pattern building upon itself by adding a given number to it's preceding number in the sequence. The sequence can begin with any number but generally beginning with 0, 1, 1. 0+1=1, 1+1=2, 2+1=3, 3+2=5, 5+3=8 and so on and so forth creating the pattern 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...

BEAUTIFUL FIBONACCI VIDEO -----> The Fibonacci Sequence

 It is amazing to me how math is the undisputed universal language, tying together different cultures, periods in history that are hundreds, even thousands of years apart, varying levels of technological sophistication and advancements, as well as the enduring quest of humankind for understanding of the order of things. To think that the Fibonacci sequence is found naturally occurring in places such as the makeup of nautilus shells and  petal organization of flowers, and was recognized and mastered by humans is, to me, a testament to the importance of mathematics and it's influence of the world both around us and in us.

Photo and quote found on Wikipedia from http://www.quipus.it/english/Andean%20Calculators.pdf Holder of the copyright grants permission for use by anyone as it is released into public domain.

Video found on YouTube

Photo on file from Wikipedia Commons.