2012

Carrie Meserole
Statistic 1510
5/11/2012
The Golden Ratio- Research project


1 The Golden Ratio Research Project

Abstract
The goal of this paper and analysis is to obtain data that will support or refute the
hypotheses that the Golden Ratio is a core element in the creation of all nature in general. The
human body was the subject in this analysis; measuring from the height/ navel to foot, the navel
to foot/ shoulder to the top of the head, navel to knee/ knee to foot, and length of face/ width of
face. TC-Stats was used to construct graphical displays, and summary statistics tables in order to
assist me in determining if the Golden Ratio is a core element in the creation of all nature in
general. After determining the data sets were not normally distributed I chose to use the
Kruskal-Wallis technique to determine if there was any difference. The technique concluded
that there was no evidence to support the Golden Ratio is a core element in the creation of all
nature in general.
Introduction
The research conducted in this research paper consists of obtaining measurements from
random people located in my town Bakersfield, Ca. The reason for this study is to demonstrate
that the idea that nature is constructed with the Golden Ratio as a core element is not true or is
true. The Golden Ratio is a value known as Phi or 1.6180 and many believe that the proportion
is found in architecture, nature, and the human body.
Method
In order to obtain the information need I handed out surveys to my family and friends.
On the survey it stated the purpose of colleting the measurements and that it was for a statistical
research project. In order to insure proper input I handed out the surveys and explained how to
do the measurements correctly. I had everyone complete their own measurements. This also
helped to ensure that all of the measurements were done the same way. I also posted an event on
Facebook.com. I explained that I am doing a research project for my statistics class at Taft
College. I explained how to do the measurements and this again helped to also ensure that they

2 The Golden Ratio Research Project

were done the same way. I then took a random sample of 35 of the 50 people to ensure that the
sample is representative of the population.
While conducting this experiment I wanted to find out if the Golden Ratio is a core element in
the creation of all nature in general. In order to find the answer, I used the Kruskal-Wallis
technique. The Kruskal-Wallis technique is used when you have multiple sets of data which are
not normally distributed and you want to determine if one set of data is different from the others.
While the Kruskal-Wall does not tell us which measurement is different, it does tell me if there is
a difference giving us the ability to reference back to the median of each measurement to
conclude which measurement is different from the others.

Participants
The participants were 27 females and 23 males.
Of the participants there were 31 adults and 19
children. I explained to the participants that this
was a statistical research project for my statistics
class at Taft College and it was to prove that the
Golden Ratio does appear in everyone.


Results
Before conducting this experiment my hypothesis was that nature is constructed with the Golden
Ratio as a core element. Using the Kruskal- Wallace technique with an alpha level of .05 I
found significant evidence (P-Value= 1.152E-35 which is approximate 0) that we are to reject
our null hypothesis.

3 The Golden Ratio Research Project

Figure 1- Box and whisker plot-



Figure 2- Summary Statistics




- Hgt/N-foot Height/ Navel to foot
- N-F/ S-head- Navel to foot/ Shoulder to top of the head
- N-K/ K-F- Navel to knee/ knee to foot
- L-Face/ W-face- Length of face/ Width of face

4 The Golden Ratio Research Project

Figure 3- Histogram



The navel to knee/ knee to foot histogram is skewed right somewhat. 78% of the population
that is represented in this data is between 1.0000-1.2500 which does not meet the Golden
Ratio of 1.618. There is nobody that even represents the Golden Ratio for this
measurement. The length of face/ width of face there is 34% that meet the Golden Ratio,
which means this measurement does not meet the Golden Ratio as well. This histogram is
bell shaped symmetric.

5 The Golden Ratio Research Project






The navel to foot and shoulder to the top of the head histogram is skewed left. This
proves for this measurement that the nature is constructed with the Golden Ratio as a
core element in fact is not true. Now, the height/navel-foot there is 84% that do in
fact fulfill the Golden Ratio of 1.618. This histogram is skewed right.

6 The Golden Ratio Research Project

Figure 4- Age Histograms









Figure 5- Summary Statistics

The age histogram represents the different ages that I surveyed. The ages that were measured
from my research project ranged from 1 years old to 61 years old. The average age is 25.34







7 The Golden Ratio Research Project

Figure 6- Norm Plot

Height/ Navel to foot Navel - foot/ Shoulder top head


Navel-Knee/ Knee-Foot Length of face/Width of face
Normal plots were used to determine whether to use the ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis
technique. If the data is normal you use ANOVA, if it is not normal you would use the Kruskal-
Wallis. As you can see, all of the norm plots have some abnormalities.


8 The Golden Ratio Research Project


Conclusion
In concluding and looking the 50 people measured from a source of 4 different
measurements the Golden Ratio does not exists. Many of the variables that I initially felt would
have represented the Golden Ratio of 1.618 did not. While using the Kruskal-Wallace technique
with the alpha level of .05, I found a significant evidence that the p-value is 1.152E-35 which is
approximately 0, and that it would reject the null hypothesis (Ho:01 =02 =03 =0n) and Ho: At
least one +.

There were a few limitations when dealing with this data set. The sample size could have
been bigger; a bigger sample size would have made the data more reliable and given more
statistical significance.











9 The Golden Ratio Research Project




Appendix
Please fill out this survey with the appropriate data for each member of your family. Please give all
measurements in the number of inches. Make sure that you do not include your name when returning
this survey. All data will be used in a statistical report for my college statistics class. If you have any
questions, comments or concerns please just ask.

1. Male or Female
2. Age-
3. Height-
4. Shoulder line to the top of the head-
5. Navel to foot-
6. Navel to the top of the head-
7. Navel to the knee-
8. Knee to the end of the foot-
9. Width of face-
10. Length of face-










10 The Golden Ratio Research Project




Raw Data
F/M AGE HIEGHT
NAVEL-
FOOT
SHOULDER-
TOP HEAD
NAVEL-
TOP
HEAD
NAVEL
-
KNEE
KNEE-
FOOT
LENGTH
FACE
WIDTH
FACE
HIEGHT
/
NAVEL-
FOOT
NAVEL-
FOOT /
SHOULDER-
TOP HEAD
NAVEL -
KNEE /
KNEE-
FOOT
LENGTH
FACE /
WIDTH
FACE
F 26 66.25 37 11 26.5 21 18 7.75 4.5 1.7905 3.3636 1.1667 1.7222
M 32 69 41 12 29 23 18 7 6 1.6829 3.4167 1.2778 1.1667
F 52 65 37 11 29 19 16 9 4.75 1.7568 3.3636 1.1875 1.8947
M 7 48.5 28 9 20.5 14 13.5 7 4.75 1.7321 3.1111 1.037 1.4737
M 8 56 34 10 22 17.5 17 8 6 1.6471 3.4 1.0294 1.3333
M 32 69 42 10.5 27 22 19 8 6 1.6429 4 1.1579 1.3333
F 27 65 39.5 11.5 26.5 22 19 8 5.75 1.6456 3.4348 1.1579 1.3913
M 32 74.5 44.5 11 29.5 23 22 5.5 6.5 1.6742 4.0455 1.0455 1.1818
F 59 63.5 38.5 11.5 25 19.5 20.5 7.75 5.5 1.6494 3.3478 0.9512 1.4091
M 60 64.5 39 10 25.5 20 18.5 9 5.5 1.6538 3.9 1.0811 1.6364
M 60 73.75 46 11.5 32 22.5 23.5 9.5 7.5 1.6033 4 0.9574 1.2667
M 31 71.75 44.5 10.5 27.5 23 21 9.5 7.5 1.6124 4.2381 1.0952 1.2667
F 30 63.5 38.5 9.5 24 20.5 19 9.5 5.5 1.6494 4.0526 1.0789 1.7273
F 7 48.5 29 10 19.5 16 13.5 6.5 5 1.6724 2.9 1.1852 1.3
F 53 61 35 9.5 27 17.5 19 8 6 1.7429 3.6842 0.9211 1.3333
F 27 66.5 40 9.5 26.5 20 19.5 8 5.5 1.6625 4.2105 1.0256 1.4545
F 28 62 35.5 10 25 20 19.5 7 4.5 1.7465 3.55 1.0256 1.5556
M 32 73 44 11 29 23 19.5 9.5 7 1.6591 4 1.1795 1.3571
F 30 63 39.5 9 26 21 17 8.5 6 1.5949 4.3889 1.2353 1.4167
M 7 48.5 30 8.5 19 15 14.5 6 4.5 1.6167 3.5294 1.0345 1.3333
M 9 55 33.5 10.5 21.5 19 16.5 8 5 1.6418 3.1905 1.1515 1.6
M 9 56.5 35 8.75 21.5 34.5 17 6.75 4.75 1.6143 4 2.0294 1.4211
F 11 57 35.5 9 20.5 19 16 7 5.5 1.6056 3.9444 1.1875 1.2727
F 7 52.5 31 9 21 18 14 7 5 1.6935 3.4444 1.2857 1.4
M 3 36.5 20.5 8 17 11 10 6 4 1.7805 2.5625 1.1 1.5
F 28 62 34 10.5 23 20 16 9 4.5 1.8235 3.2381 1.25 2
M 40 67.5 31 11 27 21 21 8.5 6 2.1774 2.8182 1 1.4167
F 28 62 38 11.5 26 18 18 8 6 1.6316 3.3043 1 1.3333
M 6 47 28 9 20 14.5 16 8 4.5 1.6786 3.1111 0.9062 1.7778
F 59 63 39 11 26 19 19 8 5 1.6154 3.5455 1 1.6
M 33 70.5 43.5 11 26 22 21.5 9.5 5.5 1.6207 3.9545 1.0233 1.7273
F 30 64.5 39.5 11.5 26 21 19.5 8.5 5.5 1.6329 3.4348 1.0769 1.5455
F 5 47 27 8 18.5 13 13 7.5 5 1.7407 3.375 1 1.5
NAVEL-
FOOT /
SHOULDER-
TOP HEAD
NAVEL -
KNEE /
KNEE-
FOOT
LENGTH
FACE /
WIDTH
FACE

11 The Golden Ratio Research Project

F 5 44.5 26.5 8 18.5 15 12.5 7 4.5 1.6792 3.3125 1.2 1.5556
M 8 54.5 32.5 10.5 22 18.5 16 7.5 5 1.6769 3.0952 1.1562 1.5
M 34 69 42 11 29 23 20 9 5 1.6429 3.8182 1.15 1.8
M 41 70.5 42.5 28 23 20 20 9 5.25 1.6588 1.5179 1 1.7143
M 35 67.5 41 11 25 18 21.5 8 6 1.6463 3.7273 0.8372 1.3333
F 1 31.5 17.5 7 15 9.5 8 6.5 4 1.8 2.5 1.1875 1.625
M 1 30.75 17 7 14.75 9 8 6.75 4.25 1.8088 2.4286 1.125 1.5882
F 6 44.5 26.5 7.75 18.5 14 13 6.5 4.5 1.6792 3.4194 1.0769 1.4444
F 27 62.5 38 10.5 26 21 17 7.5 5.25 1.6447 3.619 1.2353 1.4286
F 8 50 31.5 9 20 16 14.5 6 4.5 1.5873 3.5 1.1034 1.3333
F 34 64.5 38.5 11 25.5 20.5 19 8 5 1.6753 3.5 1.0789 1.6
F 60 64.5 39 9 28 19.5 19 8 5.5 1.6538 4.3333 1.0263 1.4545
M 8 57.5 35 10.5 23.5 18 15.5 7.5 5 1.6429 3.3333 1.1613 1.5
F 8 25 32 9.5 20 17 15 6.5 4.75 0.7812 3.3684 1.1333 1.3684
F 10 57.5 34.5 10 22.5 17 17 7 5 1.6667 3.45 1 1.4
M 34 71 44 11.5 27 22.5 23 8 6.5 1.6136 3.8261 0.9783 1.2308
M 39 68 39.5 11 28.5 19 20 8 6 1.7215 3.5909 0.95 1.3333
3.3636 1.1667 1.7222
3.4167 1.2778 1.1667
3.3636 1.1875 1.8947
There will also be raw data turned in at the time of the final.
3.1111 1.037 1.4737

3.4 1.0294 1.3333

4 1.1579 1.3333
3.4348 1.1579 1.3913
4.0455 1.0455 0.9615
3.3478 0.9512 1.4091













3.9 1.0811 1.6364

12 The Golden Ratio Research Project






Bibliography

1. http://qt--
server.taftcollege.edu/podcasts/stat1510/youtube/Golden_Ratio_Human_Body.mp4

2. http://qt-server.taftcollege.edu/podcasts/stat1510/youtube/The_Golden_Mean.mp4

3. Bourne. M, What has mathematics got to do with beauty? Actually, a lot. Physical
attraction depends on ratio. Intmath.com July 24,2011
<http://www.intmath.com/numbers/math-of-beauty.php>

4. Unknown. The Human Body. GOLDENNUMBER.NET. 3/2/12. 2011.
<http://www.goldennumber.net/body.htm>

5. Filipovic, D. The Golden Section and the human body. Golden Section. Radoslav Jovanovic.
January 2003< http://milan.milanovic.org/math/english/golden/golden2.html>


4 0.9574 1.2667
4.2381 1.0952 1.2667
4.0526 1.0789 1.7273
2.9 1.1852 1.3
3.6842 0.9211 1.3333
4.2105 1.0256 1.4545
3.55 1.0256 1.5556
4 1.1795 1.3571
4.3889 1.2353 1.4167
3.5294 1.0345 1.3333
3.1905 1.1515 1.6
4 2.0294 1.4211
3.9444 1.1875 1.2727
3.4444 1.2857 1.4
2.5625 1.1 1.5
3.2381 1.25 2
2.8182 1 1.4167
3.3043 1 1.3333
3.1111 0.9062 1.7778

13 The Golden Ratio Research Project

3.5455 1 1.6
3.9545 1.0233 1.7273
3.4348 1.0769 1.5455
3.375 1 1.5
3.3125 1.2 1.5556
3.0952 1.1562 1.5
3.8182 1.15 1.8
1.5179 1 1.7143
3.7273 0.8372 1.3333
2.5 1.1875 1.625
2.4286 1.125 1.5882
3.4194 1.0769 1.4444
3.619 1.2353 1.4286
3.5 1.1034 1.3333
3.5 1.0789 1.6
4.3333 1.0263 1.4545
3.3333 1.1613 1.5
3.3684 1.1333 1.3684
3.45 1 1.4
3.8261 0.9783 1.2308
3.5909 0.95 1.3333