the number system for purely mathematical concepts—
perfect numbers, primes,
and series including the eponymous Fibonacci
series.
Finally Fibonacci described
numeric and geometric approximations
and irrational numbers such as the square root
of two.
Exchange
The young Leonardo Pisano Bigollo
was introduced to the Hindu-Arabic number system
in Béjaïa, North Africa,
where his father directed a customs house.
Businessmen in this case,
exchanging both goods and ideas,
had been more open than the academics.
Subsequently, on business, Leonardo traveled
to Egypt, Syria, Greece, Sicily, and Provence
and learned from the leading Arab mathematicians.
Fibonacci sequence
One and one is two; one and two is three;
two and three is five and so forth;
add the last two numbers to get the next
to construct the Fibonacci sequence,
describing how breeding rabbits increase
and how leaves are arranged on a stem.
Plus, the ratio of any two successive Fibonacci
numbers
approximates the golden number, phi,
applicable to art, architecture,
theories of beauty, or stock market analysis.
Given a simple relation, a sequence
of simple additions, a pattern emerges.
Fibonacci contributed to Europe’s adoption of
arithmetical methods using the modern numeral system, as opposed
to using counting boards (like the abacus) with Roman numerals.
Fibonacci contributed to Europe’s adoption of arithmetical methods using the modern numeral system, as opposed to using counting boards (like the abacus) with Roman numerals.
See also in The book of science:
Readings on wikipedia: