UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES VISAYAS TACLOBAN COLLEGE

Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Mathematics, Culture and Society (MATH 10)

Second Semester AY 2020-2021

“MATHEMATICS AS THE SCIENCE OF PATTERN”

We have been learning mathematics for as long as we have been in school, starting with
learning how to count, to add and subtract then proceed to conquer the most complex equations
in calculus. With this much exposure, you would expect one to develop a kind of fondness to this
science but no, mathematics has become more of a terror with his big numbers being more
intimidating as ever. When asked why we learn it, a common student may provide an answer in
the lines of, “because school says so.” But it may be different for someone who realizes the
beauty of the patterns behind this science. Such patterns occur in nature more naturally than most
people can possibly realize and as such, allows it to provide vast uses and applications in the
fields of architecture, engineering, and countless other sciences.

Let us begin with one of the most interesting number patterns in mathematics with
Pascal’s Triangle, named after 17th Century French Mathematician, Blaise Pascal.

Although, at first glance, this may seem as just numbers stacked into a triangle, the
Pascal’s Triangle offers more applications by utilizing these number sequences into binomial
expansion, probabilities and various geometric applications as it continues on, infinitely. Take
for example the diagonals of the triangles going in. The outermost diagonals are just stacks of 1s
and the second pair of diagonals are the counting numbers. For the third pair of diagonals (1, 3,
6, … 45), we have what’s called as the triangular numbers because taking these numbers into a
stack creates equilateral triangles. That is just a few of the applications of this number pattern.
Another wonder of the Pascal’s Triangle is what we call the Fibonacci Numbers which
can be generated by adding the diagonals going down.
 The Fibonacci Numbers, in the simplest sense, a number sequence wherein a number is
the sum of the two numbers preceding it, starting with 1 and 0. These numbers also possess
countless applications and appear in nature quite frequently, such as in leaves, branches, and
flowers.
The Fibonacci Numbers also has a special relation to what we call the Golden Ratio, a
number which has caused quite a fascination in mathematicians. The value of the Golden ratio is
1.61803398874989484820... and it continues on with no pattern because it is, in fact, an
irrational number. This value can be taken from the number sequence by getting the quotient of
two consecutive values. As we proceed with larger numbers, it is evidently coming closer to the
actual value of the Golden Ratio.

Patterns are also present in nature and in real objects in the form of Symmetry. Though it
is largely evident in the field of arts and design, symmetry is present in Pascal’s Triangle, the
Fibonacci’s Number, the Golden Ratio, and various other applications of mathematics and
sciences. Take for instance a starfish. Its structure allows any cut through the center point to
divide it into symmetrical, mirroring halves, and in the case of a starfish with five axes of
symmetry in its arms, five cuts gives us ten mirroring structures. This type of symmetry is the
Reflective Symmetry.
 Another kind of symmetry is the Radial Symmetry which is a type of rotational
symmetry. Objects with this type of symmetry has its point uniformly situated around its central
element.

Another type of symmetry is the Translational Symmetry which is observable in the

alignment of leaves at the branches of plants. An object is said to be translationally symmetric if
it can be drawn in its entirety by taking a portion of the figure and shifting it along an axis, and in
some cases, translation occurs in multiple directions.
 Frieze patterns are another type of symmetry observable in nature and these are
characterized by strips combining that of the three aforementioned symmetries. These are
commonly observable in architecture and in decorative art.

Mathematics as the science of patterns, it has countless applications and is evidently

observable in nature and in the real setting. More than learning how to compute for values and
finding x, hopefully more will realize that mathematics is teaching us more than just that.
Beneath those computations and complex equations, it is teaching us to learn how to think and to
put theory into practice for real life applications, from which, hopefully, we will benefit.
References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMriWTvPXHI
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350823
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https://www.teachervision.com/mathematics/symmetry-in-nature

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