Is there really a mathematical formula for a beautiful face? | BBC Ideas – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary
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Interactive Transcript & Highlights for Dictation
1.The golden ratio is a mathematical that can explain everything from tornadoes to the Mona Lisa, the pyramids to sunflowers and seashells, and why some people are much more attractive than others - at least according to thousands of TikTok posts and a bunch of entrepreneurial cosmetic surgeons
2.So how did we come to consider this obscure formula to be both the secret of life and the ultimate standard of beauty
3.Way back in 1202, Leonardo of Pisa, also known as Fibonacci, wrote a book in which he introduced Europe to the Arabic numerals we use today
4.But buried in chapter 12, there was a sequence of numbers by the ancient Hindu poet Pingala
5.It goes something like this
💡 Tap the highlighted words to see definitions and examples
Key Vocabulary (CEFR B2)
fechner's
A2A A2-level word commonly used in this context.
Example:
"Remember Gustav Fechner's study?"
phenomenon
A2A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof.
Example:
"The golden ratio is a mathematical phenomenon"
discovered
A2To find or learn something for the first time.
Example:
"discovered by the ancient Hindu poet Pingala."
progression
B2The act of moving from one thing to another.
Example:
"Fibonacci explained this progression"
proportion
B2A quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or number.
Example:
"of exactly the same proportions."
associations
B1The act of associating.
Example:
"Associations between the golden ratio"
godkewitsch
B1A B1-level word commonly used in this context.
Example:
"when University of Toronto professor Michael Godkewitsch"
concluded
A2To end; to come to an end.
Example:
"concluded the reported preference for the golden rectangle"
perpetuating
B1To make perpetual; to preserve from extinction or oblivion.
Example:
"perpetuating not only unrealistic beauty standards but bad maths, too."
regardless
A2Having no regard; heedless; careless.
Example:
"Regardless of the golden ratio,"
| Word | CEFR | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| fechner's | A2 | A A2-level word commonly used in this context. |
| phenomenon | A2 | A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof. |
| discovered | A2 | To find or learn something for the first time. |
| progression | B2 | The act of moving from one thing to another. |
| proportion | B2 | A quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or number. |
| associations | B1 | The act of associating. |
| godkewitsch | B1 | A B1-level word commonly used in this context. |
| concluded | A2 | To end; to come to an end. |
| perpetuating | B1 | To make perpetual; to preserve from extinction or oblivion. |
| regardless | A2 | Having no regard; heedless; careless. |
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