Activity 7: The "Golden Ratio"

In the last Activity you looked at 'perfect' rectangles which are known as 'Golden Rectangles'.







Make a list of those rectangular shapes that you think might approximate to the Golden Rectangle shape.

If you have an encyclopaedia with pictures of Greek buildings in them see if you can pick out Golden Rectangles there.

Drawing a Golden Rectangle:

Draw a rectangle 34cm by 21cm on a piece of paper and cut it out. This will give an approximate Golden Rectangle.

You can use this to make another Golden Rectangle.



Fold over one corner of the rectangle to the other side in order to make a square. Cut off this square.

If you look at the rectangle that is left you will discover that you have made another Golden Rectangle.

You can check this by working out the golden ratio to two decimal places using your calculator.