Teaching Recurrent Sequences in Brazil Using Historical Facts and Graphical Illustrations

Abstract

The present work presents a proposal for study and investigation, in the context of the teaching of Mathematics, through the history of linear and recurrent 2nd order sequences, indicated by: Fibonacci, Lucas, Pell, Jacobsthal, Leonardo, Oresme, Mersenne, Padovan, Perrin and Narayana. Undoubtedly, starting from the Fibonacci sequence, representing the most popular in the referred scenario of numerical sequences, it was possible to notice the emergence of other sequences. In some cases, being derived from Fibonacci, in others, changing the order of the sequence, we thus have the historical study, with the use of mathematical rigor. Besides, their respective recurrence formulas and characteristic equations are checked, observing their roots and the relationship with the number of gold, silver, bronze and others. The results indicated represent an example of international research cooperation involving researchers from Brazil and Portugal.