INVESTIGATING FIBONACCI

NUMBERS
Fibonacci was an Italian mathematician who lived 800 years ago.
He is still known today for the Fibonacci sequence of numbers that
he came up with.

The sequence is based on a basic question which Fibonacci asked

himself. The question he pondered was:

Suppose a newly-born pair of rabbits, one male, one female, are put
in a field. Rabbits are able to mate at the age of one month so that
at the end of its second month a female can produce another pair of
rabbits. Suppose that our rabbits never die and that the female
always produces one new pair (one male, one female) every
month from the second month on.

1. At the end of the first month, they mate, but there is still one
only 1 pair.
2. At the end of the second month the female produces a new
pair, so now there are 2 pairs of rabbits in the field.
3. At the end of the third month, the original female produces a
second pair, making 3 pairs in all in the field.
4. At the end of the fourth month, the original female has
produced yet another new pair, the female born two months
ago produces her first pair also, making 5 pairs.

The question you have to answer:

How many pairs of rabbits will there be in one year
1) Draw a flow diagram (like below) to show the increase
in rabbits during the first 6 months.
2) Look for a pattern in the numbers and continue the sequence to find out
how many rabbits there would be at the end of the year.

Finding Patterns within The Fibonacci Sequence

3) Write down three consecutive numbers from the

Fibonacci sequence (eg. 13, 21, 34). Take the middle
number of the three numbers you have written down and
square it (13²). How does this squared number relate to the
other two numbers (13, 21) that you wrote down?

When you think you have the answer test it on three other
consecutive numbers in the sequence. Write an
explanation of the relationship and show examples to
prove you are correct.

4) Write down 4 consecutive Fibonacci numbers. What

pattern can you find that links the first and last numbers
with the middle two numbers.
Write an explanation of this pattern and show examples
justify your opinion.

5) Find your own pattern within the Fibonacci numbers.

Clearly describe the pattern you find and show examples to
prove the pattern continues throughout the Fibonacci
sequence.
 Investigating Fibonacci Numbers
“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and

learn how to handle them, and pretty soon

you have a dozen.”

Report Guidelines…..

Title/Heading (10% on presentation)

Introduction/Aim (10%)
(background information)

Prediction (10%)
(How many rabbits after one year?)

Flow Diagram (20%)

Neat pictogram showing sequenced
increase in the number of rabbits.

Conclusion to question (20%)

How many rabbits after one year?
How was your prediction?

Find a pattern questions (30%)

Clearly display your working out and write
clear explanations of the patterns you find.

Time-management:

By the end of the double maths lesson, on Thursday 4th May, you should have
answered the key question about how many rabbits there would be after one
 year and have a clear understanding of the Fibonacci sequence. The completed
write up of the investigation and answers to the questions is due to Mr Pressley
on Tuesday 9th May.
Please stop me at break times on Friday or Monday if you require any
assistance with the investigation.

The skills that you can demonstrate through this investigation are:

• Calculate square numbers

• Extend a number sequence
• Display initiative and work independently
• Develop problem solving skills
• Practise report writing.
• Use the 4 operations to solve problems.

Seek assistance and advice at any time!

Well done boys!!

Investigating Fibonacci Numbers

Title/Heading
(Presentation)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Introduction/Aim
(background information)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Prediction
(How many rabbits will there be after one year?))
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Flow Diagram
(neatly and accurately presented)
1 5 1 1 20
0 5
Conclusion to the Question
(Write the Fibonacci sequence for one year,
Comment on your prediction)
1 5 1 1 2
0 5 0
Find a pattern Questions
(Clear working out shown for each question,
Clear written explanation of the pattern found)
1 5 1 1 2 2 30
0 5 0 5