How Fibonacci Can Help Us Convert Between Miles and Kilometers | Mathematics - Medium

This interesting math trick arises from an interesting empirical observation and the Fibonacci sequence by Krishnan  published in Cantor’s Paradise.

Image Source: https://mathigon.org/course/sequences/fibonacci

 First, we should define the relationship between miles(mi) and kilometers(km):

1 mi = 1.60934 km and 1 km = 0.621371 mi

Now, if this number looks familiar, it is because these numbers are extremely close to the golden ratio.

By noticing the golden ratio is close to the conversion factors of miles and kilometers, we can rewrite the relationship between miles and kilometers as an approximation:

Concluding Remarks

By no metric, is this considered serious math. It is just an interesting trick that came from closer observation. However, I would like to point out that this is an example of how beauty emerges from the randomness of the universe. No one thought of the golden ratio or the Fibonacci Sequence when coming up with miles and kilometers, yet this connection exists.

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Source: Medium