Rectangles

Revision as of 15:05, 19 February 2008

Rectangles are rather an interesting shape, no?

Mostly no, it is true. But they are rather fundamental to most art, architecture, and sense of proportion.

For example, the Golden Ratio...

<math>\varphi = \frac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{2}\approx 1.618\,033\,988\dots\,</math>

...is often claimed to be the most pleasing rectangle to the human eye, with it's proportions to be found everywhere both in nature and human achievement (esp classic architechture)

Now I wonder how that varies significantly from other similar proportions (say, pi/2) when it really comes down to it...

<math>\frac{\pi}{4} \approx 1.570\,796\dots</math>

So, have any studies ever been done to actually poll people on their most favourable-to-the-eye rectangle?