Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Gnomon Dimensions

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

1) Is there a pattern to the lengths and widths? Now look at the length and width of the rectangle cut out of each gnomon. Can you see any patterns here?

Jamie noticed some patterns:

The odd gnomons are a square with a little square taken out of it. All the sides are fibonacci numbers. The even gnomons are rectangles where the sides are consecutive fibonacci numbers, and the cut out corner is another rectangle made from consecutive fibonacci numbers. The bigger fibonacci number is the length, and the short one is the width.

Rosie develops this idea:

Using the patterns spotted by Yana in Building Gnomons, I found that the dimensions of a Gnomon are dependant on whether it is an odd or even Gnomon. In my diagram I used $B$ instead of $G$ to label a gnomon.

So here $B(2n+1)$ is like $G_{2n+1}$ on the problem page, where it describes the number of the Gnomon. $F(n+1)$ means $F_{n+1}$ giving the $n+1 th$ fibonacci number, where the $2n+1$ refers to the number of the Gnomon.

So we can see there is a pattern, that the odd Gnomons are built around a square, if the Gnomon has number $2n+1$, then the gnomon is a sqaure of length and width $F_{n+3}$, with square of length $F_{n+1}$. For example if the Gnomon is size $9=2n+1=2\times 4 +1$. So the edge lengths are $F_{4+3}=F_7=13$, and the small square has edge length $F_{4+1}=F_5=5$.
So the area of the $9th$ Gnomon is $13\times 13 - 5\times 5 = 169 - 25 = 144$ which is the $12th$ fibonacci number.

For the even Gnomons, if the Gnomon is number $2n$, then the length and width are $F_{n+3}$ and $F_{n+2}$, and the small rectangle is $F_{n+1}$ by $F_n$. For example, if we take Gnomon number $8=2n=2\times 4$. So the area of the big rectangle is
$F_{n+3}\times F_{n+2} = F_7 \times F_6 = 13 \times 8 = 104$.
And the area of the little rectangle is
$F_{n+1}\times F_{n} = F_5 \times F_4 =5 \times 3 = 15$
So the area of the $8th$ Gnomon is $104-15=89$ which is the $11th$ fibonacci number.



2) The groups of gnomons with area 3, 8 and 21, and the gnomons with area 5, 13 and 34. Can you explain why I want to divide these into two separate groups? Can you give a convincing argument why all the gnomons fit into one of these two groups?

The first group are the areas of the odd Gnomons, those which are the square gnomons with square cut outs. The second group are the areas of the even Gnomons, which are based on rectangles.
Making these groups are useful because then they are divided into the groups in which they can be drawn.
All Gnomons will fit in one of these two groups, as all are odd or even.



You may also like

Bike Shop

If I walk to the bike shop, but then cycle back, what is my average speed?

Searching for Mean(ing)

If you have a large supply of 3kg and 8kg weights, how many of each would you need for the average (mean) of the weights to be 6kg?

Building Gnomons

Build gnomons that are related to the Fibonacci sequence and try to explain why this is possible.

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo