No 56

A Mathematical Limerick

Most limericks aspire to this rhythm or pattern of unstressed (u) and stressed (S) syllables. The combinations uS and uuS are called metrical feet. What is amazing is the occurence of the Fibonacci Numbers (see Amazing Number Facts No 38 and No 54) underlying the structure of the limerick:

1

2

3

5

8

13

21

34

1 limerick

2 short lines of 2 metrical feet

3 long lines of 3 metrical feet. 3 stressed syllables in a long line and 3 unstressed syllables in a short line

5 syllables in a short line and 5 unstressed syllables in a long line

8 syllables in a long line

13 stressed syllables in total

21 unstressed syllables in total

34 syllables in total
Who was Galois? Find out at Link 1 and Link 2 and Link 3. Read part of A Letter written by Galois and An Essay he wrote in prison.

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