The Golden Ratio

The concept of the "GOLDEN RATIO" (also referred to as: "THE DIVINE PROPORTION", "THE GOLDEN MEAN", or "THE GOLDEN SECTION") goes back 2400 years. For our purposes it usually applies to the length vs the width of a rectangle.

The value in question is: 1.618 (usually referred to by the Greek letter phi).

There is a lot of math and history behind this concept. The proportions of the Parthenon and Egyptian pyramids are linked to the "GOLDEN RATIO".

In the crafts, one often finds this ratio applied to table tops: length vs width; the height of a chair seat vs the height of the back. A lot of the literature maintains that the human eye finds this ratio particularly pleasing.

One can purchase rules that have scales which allow one to find the golden ratio based on either the long side or the short side with out having to do the math.

BLACKSMITH APPLICATION: When making something that incorporates a rectangle in the design, consider using "THE GOLDEN RATIO" to determine the length vs the width of the rectangle.

-- AlbinDrzewianowski - 11 Apr 2009