A mathematical pattern is an object or group of objects that possesses regularity or

repetition (which could be visual, arithmetic, etc.).

For example: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, …1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, … is a pattern made of numbers
(called a sequence), and this pattern is characterized by doubling (i.e., each term is
twice as large as the term before).

Finding and describing patterns is at the heart of mathematics and most of these
patterns can be observed in nature.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

This parable shows that it is only through sharing what each of us knows that true
understanding could possibly be reached.

- 6 blind men in India

o Smooth and solid like a wall (side of the elephant)
o Giant snake (trunk)
o Sharp and deadly as a spear (tusk)
o Giant cow (legs)
o Huge fan or a magic carpet (ears)
o Rope (tail)
- Raja – how can you be certain that you are right, each man only touched one
part perhaps if you put the parts together you will know the truth.

Nature in itself is interesting and amazing. There are visible regularities of form found in
the natural world. These are called patterns in nature.

Nature by Numbers:

Leonardo Bigollo Pisano - a thirteenth century Italian mathematician, also called

Fibonacci. So, it is known as Fibonacci Sequence, even although it had been
described much earlier by Indian mathematicians.
- This is an infinite sequence of natural numbers where the first value is 0, the next
is 1 and, from there, each amount is obtained by adding the previous two.
- The values of this sequence have been appearing in numerous applications, but
one of the most recognized is the Fibonacci Spiral, which has always been used
as an approximation to the Golden Spiral (a type of logarithmic spiral) because
it is easier to represent with help of a simple drawing compass.

- It introduces the concept of Golden Ratio by constructing a Golden Rectangle.

We start from a simple square to get that and use a classic method that requires
only a ruler and drawing compass.
 - This is a very special rectangle known since ancient times. It fulfills this ratio, also
known as the Golden Ratio or Divine Proportion: the ratio of the sum of the
quantities (a+b) to the larger quantity (a) is equal to the ratio of the larger
quantity (a) to the smaller one (b).

- The result of this ratio (ie the division of a by b) is an irrational number known as
Phi —not to be confused with Pi— and an approximate value of 1.61803399…
- The Golden Angle - he angular proportional relationship between two circular
segments:

Geometry and Patterns in Nature:

Geometry in Organisms – symmetry

- Animals can exhibit many different forms of symmetry. Some not at all (sea
sponge)
- Bilateral – one plane divides into 2 mirror images
- Radial – more than 2 planes divide into identical pieces
- Pentaradical – five planes divide the organism evenly
- Spherical – can be cut into two identical halves through any cut that runs
through its center.

- Fractals – ever repeating iterations of a single pattern.

Symmetry in Nature

Snowflakes – ice crystals that form from frozen cloud droplets

Spirals in Nature
Meanders in Nature

- Meanders are curving (curves) that wind or bend

Tessellations

Examples of Geometric Patterns:

1. Honeycombs - A honeycomb is a connected hexagonal wax cell constructed

by honeybees inside their nest to contain their larvae and stores honey and
pollen. Several explanations exist as to why honeycomb is composed of
hexagons. In geometry, the honeycomb conjecture states that a regular
hexagonal grid or honeycomb is the best way to divide a surface into regions of
equal area with the least total perimeter. This means that the hexagonal tiles
create partitions and at the same time minimizes the use of wax material for
these partitions.
2. Romanesco broccoli - Also known as Roman cauliflower. Notice the
appearance of the Romanesco form is like a fractal. A fractal has various
extremely irregular curves or shapes for which any suitably chosen part is similar
 in shape to a given larger or smaller part when magnified or reduced to the
same size.
3. Sunflowers - Scientists theorize that it’s a matter of efficiency. In simple terms,
sunflowers can pack in the maximum number of seeds if each seed is separated
by an irrational-numbered angle.
4. Nautilus shell

What are Patterns?

- Patterns are regular, repeated or recurring visual forms or designs.

Why study patterns?

- With the use of patterns, we can identify relationships of phenomena so that we

can generalize and make predictions.
- Patterns manifest some kind of structure and organization

Humans are capable of producing intricate and creative patterns and they use this
perspective to explain the structure behind the patterns that are found in nature.

- Examples: patterns in nature

o Symmetries found in trees
o Stripes in zebras
o Waves
o Cloud formations
- Symmetry - indicates that you can draw an imaginary line across an object and
the resulting parts are mirror images of each other.
- Different types of symmetry:
o Reflection or line symmetry means one half of the image is the mirror
image of the other half.
o Rotational symmetry means that when you rotate an object by a specified
measure of degrees, you can still get the appearance of the object in the
original position.
Allan Turing – the chemical basis of morphogenesis

- Reaction-diffusion system
- Morphogens – any two chemical substances that work together to stop and start
a reaction. Examples: hormones, proteins, and acids
- Interact > diffuse > decay

Hexagons – 120 degrees, more filling with fewer edges, created by surface tension

Circle – 90% filled, 10% empty

Fibonacci Numbers and Sequences

Fibonacci sequence - a special numerical pattern which can be used to model or

describe certain phenomena, in mathematics and science, arts and nature.

Some important discoveries and inventions often originated from a simple curiosity.

Fibonacci and the Golden Mean

- He came in to contact with Arabian Mathematics

- Liber Abacci “the Book of the Abacus”
- Approach the Fibonacci numbers Geometrically
- Fibonacci spiral -
- Euclid – great mathematician (#00 B.C.)
o First description of the golden section and he called it “division according
to the outer and middle proportions”.
- Golden section – a length is divided into two parts at such a way that the smaller
is to the larger part in the same proportion as the larger one is to the whole.
- Luca Pacioli - Italian mathematician and Franciscan monk, took an interest in
Euclid’s work
o Divine partition
- Johannes Keppler – 16th Century, discovered the relationship between the
Fibonacci numbers and the golden section.
o The relationship between a number and the Fibonacci sequence and the
previous number more and more closely approaches the rational number
Phi the longer the sequence is continued.
- Phi – describes the golden section (1.618...)
- Golden section – a proportion that is always perceived as especially beautiful
and harmonious.
o Rectangle
o Isosceles
o Triangle
o Sci – the golden angle, 137.5 degrees
- Pentagram – a regular five-pointed star which is formed by the diagonals of a
regular pentagon and considered to be a magic sign. Composition of 5 triangles
o Symbol of Venus (planet and goddess)
o Sign for the cycle of life
- Fibonacci and golden section in nature, phyllotaxis
o Sunflower – seed cases of the receptacle, 0.01%
o Outer area of the sunflower - 34 and 55 spirals, 55 and 89, 89 and 144
o 13 and 21 Fibonacci spirals
- Golden section can be found in art, architecture, and historical sites
- Luca Brasi – develop a uniform measuring tool,
o A person with a raised arm provides in the main points where space is
displaced, foot solar plexus, head, fingertips of the raised arm, 3 intervals
which result in a serious of golden section.
- Enro Lendvai – states that the golden section and the Fibonacci numbers
reappear in the work of the composer Bela Bartok.
- Benoit Mandelbrot – fractal and chaos theory
 o Fractals – something in between 2 to 3 dimensional. Example: Romanesco
a green variety of cauliflower.
o Mandelbrot set
- Ralph Nelson Elliott – analysis of the equity market “Elliott Wave Principle”
o Waves: 5 upward and 3 downward

Why do we learn mathematics?

- Calculation
- Application
- Inspiration

Math is the science of patterns, and we study it to learn to think critically and creatively
Golden Ratio

Some 2,500 years ago, in Ancient Greece, it was discovered that when a line is divided
into two parts in a ratio of 1: 1.618, it creates an appealing proportion. This ratio is known
as the golden ratio, the divine proportion or phi (named after Phidias, a Greek sculptor
and mathematician who used this ratio when designing sculptures).

Since the Renaissance period, artists like Botticelli and Leonardo Da Vinci have used
the golden ration in the sketching of their paintings, such as Monalisa or Birth of Venus.
During modern times, the golden ratio has been applied to facial beauty and adopted
as a guideline for aesthetic treatments.

We may be unaware of it but we subconsciously judge beauty by facial symmetry and

proportion. Cross-cultural research has shown that no matter the ethnicity, our
perception of beauty is based on the ratio proportions of 1.618. As the face comes
closer to this ratio, it is perceived as more beautiful. As an example, the ideal ratio of
the top of the head to the chin versus the width of the head should be 1.618.

This ratio is used to mark out the ideal proportions on a patient’s face and aesthetic
enhancements that ignore phi may make patients look worse.

• the distance from the top of the nose to the center of the lips should be 1.618
times the distance from the center of the lips to the chin
• The hairline to the upper eyelid should be 1.618 times the length of the top of the
upper eyebrow to the lower eyelid.
• the ideal ratio of upper to lower lip volume is 1:1.6 (the lower lip should have
slightly more volume than the upper lip

Divine Proportion
The appearance of rectangles created using the Golden ratio is based on the Divine
Proportion. It appears that a structure based on (or approximately based on) the
measurements of the Divine Proportion will look aesthetically pleasing.

Designers can use this understanding of proportion in an effort to make their work more
visually appealing.

Many designers do not consciously use Divine Proportion in their day-to-day work.

However, it may be that people who gravitate towards the art and design fields have
an intuitive understanding of this system of proportion and make use of it
unconsciously.

Not every individual has body dimensions in exact phi proportion but averages across
populations tend towards phi and phi proportions are perceived as being the most
natural or beautiful.

Application of Mathematics

We now understand mathematics from a different perspective. We may use this

perspective as a tool to create better understanding about the uses of mathematics
in the real world. Mathematics can be used as a tool for organizing information,
creating predictions, and to control by making decisions.

Organizing information is a very useful way to understand certain situational problems.

The process involves careful thinking about how each piece of information can be put
together to create a better understanding of the problem.

To be able to make sense of available information, we need mathematical tools to

help us make sound analysis and better decisions. Different strategies may be
employed to organize information such as creating an organized list, tables, charts, or
make use of any graphic organizer application. In this way, we can easily see patterns
and use these to better understand certain situations.

- Examples: Scientists can plot bird migration routes to help conserve endangered
animal populations.
- Social media analysts can crunch all online postings using software to gauge the
netizens’ sentiments on particular issues or personalities.

In the modern world as technology progresses, huge amounts of information are

generated, collected, stored, organized, and processed to yield valuable insights. This
has led to the development of the data industry to help businesses make sense of a
vast volume of information and use it as a tool to achieve growth and development.

Mathematics is about finding patterns (connection, structure), representing patterns

with language, making assumptions, doing cool stuff.
 - Changing perspective – learning something new
- Learned something from the inside

- Imagination is mathematics, empathy with others (understanding others’

perspective)
- Through mathematics the mind is more flexible

Big Data

- Data – the qualities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed

by a computer. All the facts and figures stored digitally
- Big data is a copious amount of data which is too large to be processed and
analyzed by traditional tools.
- Structured Data – data that is already stored in database, in an ordered manner.
Accounts for the 20% of the total existing data. Used in programming and
computer-related activities.
o Machines – sensors, weblogs, and financial systems
o Humans – upload by humans
- Unstructured Data – no clear format in storage. 80%.
o Machine-generated – satellite images, scientific data, radar data
o Human-generated – social media data, mobile data and website content
- Semi-structured Data – information that is not in a traditional database format as
structure data but contains some organizational properties which make it easier
to process.

Recognizing patterns in processed data provides insights for creating predictions. In

most real-world applications, identifying time series (series of data points indexed in
time order) patterns in data is the initial step in selecting a method to model these
patterns.

Creating forecast using the time series patterns is dependent on some factors such as
trend, cyclical, seasonal, and irregularity or random effects.

Data from observation can be used to find mathematical models to represent a

phenomenon. These models are used to generate analysis and interpretations so that
they can be used to make predictions.
Examples:

- Based on weather patterns meteorologists can make forecasts.

- Astronomers use patterns to predict the occurrence of meteor showers or
eclipses.

We have recognized the importance of identifying patterns to understand the world

around us. Now, we can use this to initiate control of a situation by making careful and
well-analyzed decisions.

Decision making is the process of making choices by identifying decisions, gathering

information, assessing alternatives, selecting the best alternative, taking action, and
evaluating the results.

Using mathematics, man is also able to exert control over himself and the effects of
nature.