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I have linked a picture of 20 rectangles. Pick one, and I will tell you the one you likely picked. Read the description.

Some of you might know what I'm up to. If you do, don't spoil it for others. In the link below, is a picture with 20 numbered rectangles. What I want you to do is choose the one that you find the most visually pleasing--i.e. which rectangle you feel is the most satisfying to your eye, and which you find the most "perfect." Don't tell me what it is. Just tell me what you had in mind, and I will tell you the number of the rectangle. If you're like 90% of people, you probably picked a very particular rectangle, or one of the ones very similar to it. This isn't a mathematical trick... not really. Not in the same way as the guessing your number games. In fact, the only numbers here are the numbers on the rectangles to make for ease of reference. But there's a very amazing and elegant explanation to why 90% of people choose this particular rectangle. Here's the image: http://i.imgur.com/P7koQvg.jpg

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inthebelljar

what if no particular rectangle seems more visually appealing than the rest..? they all seem like perfectly fine rectangles...

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

Just pick one. Even if it's only slightly more appealing.

inthebelljar

no one rectangle is slightly more appealing to me. if i pick one randomly it won't be based on my finding it more perfect than others.. so why is 11 the one most people pick?

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

Do you want the layman explanation, the normal explanation, or the in-depth explanation. Was the one you picked either 12 or 17, perhaps?

inthebelljar

any or all explanations would do. though it seems that no one on here actually picked 11.. i didn't pick any one, even though the rectangles are different, there's not one that appeals to me above all others..

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

Similar tests, when run large scale, shows that a statistically significant amount of people would choose rectangles with proportions that of or similar to the one shown in rectangle 11.

There are several books explaining why.

I'll give you the layman explanation. If that intrigues you, then I'll give you the normal explanation. If you still want to know more, I'll give you the full explanation.

Basically, rectangle 11 is what's known as the Golden Rectangle, because it has the Golden proportioned sides, or about 1:1.61803... The reason why this rectangle is so appealing to most is because this particular proportion is seen everywhere in nature. It's the most natural proportion mathematics has ever discovered, and it's so prevalent, that two thousand years ago, it was dubbed "sacred geometry" because of how its perfection appeared to be proof of "intelligent design" (though that's quite BS--it's proof of how mathematical nature is, though).

Want a slightly more, in depth explanation?

inthebelljar

interesting. i don't want to force you to type all of this out.. unless you want to.. but i am curious about the normal explanation..

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

EP ate my long answer and I'm too pissed of about that to type it up again.
Just google "Golden Ratio" and you'll see why :P

inthebelljar

sorry about all that typing gone to waste. and thanks, i will read up on it for sure...