[neatcoder]

When we go from 2 pairs of rabbits to 3 pairs of rabbits, we see a brother and sister rabbit mating to produce a pair of offsprings. This does not sound realistic and could also be disturbing to kids.

But for some reason, I have seen this example cited in many places. Why is this example so popular despite the implication of siblings mating while going from 2 to 3? Surely, we can come up with better illustrations if we try!

[jonsen]

Would you rather they showed mating between parents and offspring? I think it’s quite normal for animal flocks to start off from a single pair.

[Grue3]

Because the growth of a population of rabbits is the exact problem Fibonacci studied to come up with his sequence! It has historical appeal.