This is what I have researched about Leonardo Fibonacci over the past 2 months.
Leonardo Fibonacci (1170-1250), was an Italian mathematician. By me, he is considered to be the most talented mathematician ever.
Fibonacci is best known for the number series named after him. The Fibonacci numbers are 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on. In this series, each term is the sum of the two preceding terms. The first two terms are 0 and 1.
I was somewhat surprised when I learned that he had not discovered it, but instead that he used it as an example in his book Liber Abaci (Book of Calculation). In one of his travels he learned the Hindu-Arabic numeral system that we use today and realized it was simpler and easier to understand than the Roman numerals used in his time. His book spread this new system in Europe. These are two reasons why I admire him.
Leonardo Fibonacci was born in 1170 and was the son of a rich Italian merchant, Guglielmo Fibonacci. Guglielmo managed a trading post in Bugia, near the east port of Bejaia, Algeria. When Leonardo became a young boy he traveled with his father to help him trade.
Fibonacci then traveled the Mediterranean to learn from the best Arab mathematicians at that time. Then, at age 30, he returned. Two years later, he published what he learned in his own book Liber Abaci.
After his book became popular, Fibonacci became an amicable guest of Emperor Frederick III, who enjoyed math and science. Then, in 1240 Fibonacci was honored by Pisa by being granted a salary.
In his book Liber Abaci, Fibonacci introduced the “Method of the Indians” to Europe. Today that method is called Arabic numerals. In his book he showed the practical importance of the new number system by using lattice math and Egyptian fractions. The book was well liked in the educated part of Europe.