Naturally Fibonacci
Heath E. Capello
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
University of Mississippi
April 2006
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Reproducing Rabbits
1.
2.
3.
4.
There is one immature
breeding pair to start
Pairs of rabbits begin
breeding when they
are two months old
Upon reaching sexual
maturity, each pair of
rabbits gives birth to
exactly one pair each
month
No rabbits die
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Reproducing Rabbits

Biologically, what is
wrong with this model?
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Spiraling Squares
2
3
1 1
1
1
1
2
3
1 1
2
1
2
1
1
5
3
1
8
5
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Adding a curve

Adding a quarter of a
circle to each square of
the spiral
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
The same curve,
biologically speaking
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Pinecones
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Cauliflower
Number
of red
spirals: 5
Number
of blue
spirals: 8
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Romanesco –
a broccoli/cauliflower cross
Number of blue spirals: 21
Number of red spirals: 13
NSF North Mississippi GK-8
Source

This PowerPoint is an adaptation of Dr. Ron
Knott’s website. Lots of resources,
explanations, and further activities can be
found on his page. The address is
<http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R
.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat.html>.
NSF North Mississippi GK-8