Mathematical Beauty

By : Gail Murzello

Have you ever wondered about how the human face is structured? What is it about someone's face that makes them so good looking? Is beauty subjective? How is it related to mathematics?

Exploring what makes one ‘beautiful’

Method 1: The golden ratio

The human face is based on Phi and Golden Ratio proportions.

The human face abounds with examples of the Golden Ratio, also known as the Golden Section or Divine Proportion.

Objects or faces that are perceived to be beautiful often obey the golden ratio, which has a constant value of 1.618 - also known as Phi, or the Fibonacci number. It is a ratio to define symmetry in structures, including the human body.

This system was also commonly used in the early days when making greek paintings or sculptures. It was commonly seen as a criterion of perfection in most types of art and architecture. This particular way of measurement is also observed in nature, such as the patterns that can be seen in sunflowers, pine cones, seashells and other plants and animals.

To ensure this golden ratio, firstly, measure the length and width of the face. Secondly, divide the length by the width. The ideal result that you should obtain should roughly be 1.6. This means that a beautiful persons face should be one and a half times longer than it is wide.

Determining the structure and beauty of faces have several different sets of rules.

Method 2: Rule of thirds

The Rule of Thirds is basically a simplification of the Golden Rule. Here, the human face is horizontally divided into three parts, from the Trichion (hairline) to the Glabella line (eyebrows), the brow to the base of the nose, and the base of the nose to the chin.

The human face is considered pleasing if the space between the hairline and the eyebrows, eyebrows to the base of the nose and the base of the nose to the chin is almost equal.

Method 3: Rule of Fives

Similar to the Rules of Thirds, the face can also be vertically divided into five parts. The more proportionate the parts are, the more attractive ones face is deemed.

Generally, a small face with prominent facial features is more attractive. Meaning if the eyes , nose and lips occupy a larger proportion of the face, the more attractive the person looks.

The most beautiful of us all

Supermodel Bella Hadid has been declared the most beautiful woman in the world after she passed a science test that determines

what constitutes the 'perfect face.

The 25-year-old was found to be 94.35% 'accurate' to the Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi - a measure of physical perfection.Her eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips, chin, jaw and facial shape came closest to the ancient Greeks' idea of perfection.

The measurements were conducted by Dr Julian De Silva, an emminent facial cosmetic surgeon at London's famous Harley Street.

Scientists have since adapted the mathematical formula to explain what makes a person beautiful. Hadid, according to Silva, had the highest overall reading for her chin which, with a score of 99.7%, only 0.3% away from being perfect.