The golden ratio whose symbol is the Greek letter phi (Φ) is an irrational number that can be found in subjects such as geometry, art, and architecture. Φ is also known as the golden mean, the golden section, and the divine proportion.
Φ is approximately equal to 1.618 with the first few numbers being 1.61803398874989484820.
Origins
The origin of this number comes from 500 B.C. and the study of the Pythagorean geometry of a pentagon.
Applications
The ancient Greeks discovered that rectangles that used the golden ratio as its proportions were the most aesthetically pleasing. These rectangles are called golden rectangles. Many Renaissance paintings are golden rectangles.
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