The 4th Fibonacci Number

The 4th Fibonacci number is 3. Index 4 is the first term that is not 1 or 2, and one of only four Fibonacci numbers that are also triangular. It follows from the rule the whole sequence runs on: add the two terms before it, so F(4) = F(3) + F(2) = 2 + 1 = 3. Divided by the term before it, 3 ÷ 2 come...

BY POSITION

WORTH TRYING

F(4)

3

RATIO TO F(3)

1.500000

1 digit · previous 2 · next 5 · φ is 1.618034, so this is off by 1.2e-1

Digits

1

Lucas L(n)

7

Sum of F(1)…F(n)

7

Ratio to previous

1.500000000

Exact in a double?

yes

Index n

4

AROUND F(4)

n

F(n)

DIGITS

1

1

1

2

1

1

3

2

1

4

3

1

5

5

1

6

8

1

7

13

2

STEPS

1

Every term is the sum of the two before it, starting from F(0) = 0 and F(1) = 1

2

F(4) = F(3) + F(2) = 2 + 1

3

1 digit, small enough to hold exactly in ordinary arithmetic

4

F(4) = 3

GOLDEN SPIRAL

SQUARE 1 OF 10 — SIDE 1RECTANGLE 1 × 1each square’s side is the next Fibonacci numberthe rectangle is always F(k) × F(k+1)

The squares build the sequence. Each new square takes the whole long side of what is already there, so its side is the sum of the two before it — which is the Fibonacci rule stated in geometry rather than arithmetic. The rectangle is always F(k) by F(k+1), and the quarter arcs join end to end into the spiral. It approaches the golden spiral without ever being one: this is built from circular arcs, and the true golden spiral is a smooth logarithmic curve. Square 4 is picked out in gold.

THE RATIO CLOSING ON φ

n = 3
2.00000000
n = 5
1.66666667
n = 8
1.61538462
n = 12
1.61797753
n = 20
1.61803396
n = 40
1.61803399

Bar length is the distance from φ = 1.618033989, so shorter is closer. The ratio alternates above and below it and the error falls by roughly a factor of φ² each step, which is why n = 40 already matches φ to the last digit a double can hold.

Exact, not floating point. F(78) is the last term that fits exactly in ordinary double arithmetic; F(79) is 14,472,334,024,676,221, which is past the limit. Everything here is computed with exact big integers, so F(500) is right to the final digit rather than rounded. Indices run to 1,000.

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HOW TO USE

  1. 1

    The answer is already here: F(4) = 3. This page opens with index 4 loaded, so nothing needs typing.

  2. 2

    The STEPS panel shows where it comes from: F(3) + F(2) = 2 + 1 = 3.

  3. 3

    The six tiles carry the derived quantities — digit count, the Lucas number, the running total, the ratio to the previous term, and whether the value still fits exactly in ordinary computer arithmetic.

  4. 4

    Change the index to carry on, or switch to IS IT ONE? to test whether some other number appears in the sequence at all.

THE FORMULAS

The ruleF(n) = F(n−1) + F(n−2)
The seedsF(0) = 0, F(1) = 1
Golden ratioφ = (1 + √5) ÷ 2
Binet's formulaF(n) = (φⁿ − ψⁿ) ÷ √5
Ratio limitF(n) ÷ F(n−1) → φ
Sum of the first nF(1) + … + F(n) = F(n+2) − 1
Sum of squaresF(1)² + … + F(n)² = F(n)·F(n+1)
Cassini identityF(n)² − F(n−1)F(n+1) = (−1)ⁿ⁻¹
Greatest common divisorgcd(F(m), F(n)) = F(gcd(m,n))
Lucas numbersL(n) = F(n−1) + F(n+1)
Fibonacci test5N² ± 4 is a perfect square
Zeckendorfa unique sum of non-consecutive terms

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Last updated: July 29, 2026 · Formula verified · Exact big-integer arithmetic, so terms past F(78) are right to the final digit · Eagle-eyed accuracy for every calculation.