INFORMATIC COMPUTER INSTITUTE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR, INC.

1
-

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

PREPARED BY:

MARC RUSSEL N. PADILLA, LPT

INSTRUCTOR

APPROVED BY:

ALBERTO N. CONDOLON
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR

2
MATHEMATICS IN MODERN WORLD

MODULE 1

3
 MODULE 1

What is Mathematics?

“We have developed a formal system of thought for recognizing, classifying, and exploring patterns called
mathematics.” (Stewart, p.1)

As we all know that most of us have a skewed relationship with math: we hate it for it is so difficult for us to
understand and solve a certain mathematical problem or love it for its consistency, but usually we don’t have
a sense of the whole picture of it. Well in fact, mathematics is an art.

Mathematics – is the art of patterns and connections embedded in nature and in our environment.

We can use the following concept map in defining Mathematics.

Study of
patterns

Art Language
Mathematics
Is a/an …

Set of problem Process of

– solving tools thinking

Where is Mathematics?

We can see mathematics everywhere in this world though we sometimes ignore its presence. Everybody
enjoys nature however, not everyone is interested in exploring more intensely the mathematical idea in it.

For us to see Mathematics, we have to observe and notice hints and clues: In nature, in our daily routine, in
our work, in people and communities, and in events.

4
 The Fibonacci Numbers

Fibonacci numbers – is an integer in the infinite sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 … of which the first two terms are
1 and 1 and each succeeding term is the sum of the two immediately preceding. The numbers are named after
Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa or Leonardo Pisano.

Golden Mean – is a special number found by dividing a line into two parts so that the longer part divided by
the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the loner part.
It is often symbolized using phi ¿), it is after the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.
a a+b
In an equation form, it looks like this: =
b a

Fractals – is a rough or fragmented shape that can be subdivided in parts, each of which is (at least
approximately) a reduced size copy of the whole. (B. Mandelbrot)

Stewart (1995)– said that “life itself is a process of symmetry creation”. The universe creates and replicates
these patterns.
The symmetry may be broken on one thing but part of it is still there and creates a pattern which makes
nature more beautiful and more fascinating.

Some examples of a fractals are: the tale of a peacock and the branches of the trees.

What is Mathematics For?

The proof of mathematics existence in nature and in our world implies that it is significant to human.

Some importance of mathematics

 Mathematics helps us unravel the puzzles of nature
 Organizes patterns and regularities as well as irregularities
 Enables us to make to make predictions
 Helps us control weather and epidemics
 Provides tools for calculations
 Provides new questions to think about

What is Mathematics About?

Well mathematics is all about:

 Numbers, symbols,, notations
 Operations, equations, and functions
 Processes and “thingification” (The fact or process of turning something into a thing; reification.
Proof – a story rather than a sequence of statement

5
 How is Mathematics Done?

Mathematics is done by curiosity, with a penchant for seeking patterns and generalities, with the desire to
know the truth, with trial and error, without fear of facing more questions and problems to solve.

Who uses Mathematics?

 Mathematicians (pure and applied)

 Scientists (natural and social)
 Everyone in this world uses Mathematics.
But different people use different Math at different times, for different purposes using different tools, with
different attitudes.

Why is Mathematics Important to Know/Learn?

All of us agrees that learning math can be difficult, but some people believe math is important and some
people believe math is not important (Bianco, 2015). Math is important for many reasons and few of these
reasons are the following: Math puts order in disorder, Math makes us better persons, and Math makes a
world a better place to live in.

We all know that as children grow, they need to learn patience. Patience is precisely what math teaches us. It
also teaches us curiosity; for example, why is this rule used here? Why would that number be negative? Why
is that equation set up like that? These are the questions that they will learn to ask if they are taught math.

Math can help us understand better the world around us. The concepts in Math can help us better understand
physical phenomena. It gives us a way to understand patterns, to quantify relationships, and to predict the
future. It helps us understand the world – and we use the world to understand math. The world is
interconnected. Everyday math shows these connections and possibilities. Also, the perfection of math is
visible within living structures in the world, but we can also use its accuracy and inherent wisdom to improve
our own lives.

6
NAME: SCORE:

YEAR&SECTION: DATE:

ACTIVITY 1

Take a picture of a plant, a tree, a building, or an object in your surroundings and discuss how mathematics is
embedded in your chosen object

ACTIVITY 1

Write an essay discussing the following ideas:

 What knew ideas in mathematics have you learned or change you previous beliefs about mathematics?
 What is most useful in mathematics for humankind?

7
MATHEMATICS IN MODERN WORLD

MODULE 2

8
 MODULE 2

Mathematics of Language and Symbols

“The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics” (Galileo Galilei)

 Language is important to understand and express one’s ideas, feelings or opinion. Language serves as
the transmitter of information and knowledge. It helps us to construct social identity.
Misunderstanding of one’s language leads to confusion and misconceptions.

 Mathematics has its own language. It was designed so we can write about things (i.e.. numbers, sets,
functions, etc.) and can do something (i.e.. add, subtract, multiply, divide, etc.) on those things. And
just like human language, mathematics language consists of structural rules governing the use of
symbols representing mathematical objects.

Definition of Language

Language – is a systematic way of communicating with other people by the use of sounds or conventional
symbols. It is a system of words used in a particular discipline.

Importance of Language

Language was invented to communicate ideas to others (to transmit information), to understand the
expressed ideas, to acquire knowledge or information and to construct social identity.

Components of the Language of Mathematics

1. Discreteness – conveys that language consists of minimal units.

2. Grammar – tells that language consists of rules and patterns to arrange units.
3. Productivity – shows that language create totally novel statements that could be understood.
4. Displacement – reveals that language can convey imaginary, distant, past, present, and future
statements.

The Vocabulary of Mathematics

The language of mathematics has an abundant vocabulary of specialist and technical terms and also uses
symbols instead of words which are essential to the power of modern mathematics.

Some of the symbols commonly used in mathematics are the following:

 The 10 digits: 0, 1, 2,…9
 Symbols for operations and sets: +, -, x, ÷, ∩, ∪, ⊂ , ⊃,etc.
 Symbols that “stand in” for values: x, y, …
 Special symbols: π ,=,< ,≤ , …
 Logic symbols: ˄ ,˅ , ϵ , 𝝨, etc.
 Set notations: N, Z, R, Q, C, etc.

9
Often (but not always) letters are used in a mathematical statement. And these letters have special uses:

Examples What they usually mean

Start of the alphabet: A, b, c, … Constants (fixed values)

From I to N : I, j, k, l, m, n Positive integers (for

counting)
End of the alphabet: … x, y, z Variables (unknowns)

Characteristics of the Mathematics Language

 Precise – able to make very fine distinctions or definitions.

 Concise – able to say things briefly.
 Powerful – able to express complex thoughts with relative ease.

10
NAME: SCORE:

YEAR&SECTION: DATE:

ACTIVITY 2

A. Translate each sentence using mathematical symbols

1. X is multiple of 5
2. X belongs to both sets A and B
3. The square of the sum of x and y is not more than 20
4. The sum of two consecutive numbers is 31
5. X is an odd number

B. Translate each of the following phrases into a mathematical expression. Use as

few variables as possible:

1. The sum of a number and 10

2. The product of two numbers
3. Five more than three times a number
4. Twice a number
5. The square of the sum of 5 and a number

11
MATHEMATICS IN MODERN WORLD

MODULE 3&4

12
 MODULE 3

Problem Solving and Reasoning

Every day in our life, whether we’re a student, parent, an ordinary person, a businessperson, or the president
of a country, we always face so many problems that need solving. For example, you want to buy your favorite
pair of shoes but you don’t have enough money, or you want to travel from one place to another by taking the
shortest distance, if possible. Whether the problem is big or small, we all set objectives for ourselves, face
hardships, and make every effort to overcome them. There is a common and essential way to answer
problems, and that is through problem solving.

So, to begin the discussion, let us first define a problem.

The word problemmay have different meaning depending on context. In English, problemis defined as – any
question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty or a question proposed for solution or discussion.
In Business, they also defineproblemas – a perceived gap between the existing state and the desired state, or
deviation from norm, a standard or status quo.
And in Mathematics we define problem as – a statement requiring a solution usually by means of a
mathematical operation or geometric construction.

Those are the three different meaning of problem in different context. And our focus here will be problems in
Mathematics. Just like for instance the Old McDonald problem:
“Old McDonald has 56 chickens and carabaos in the farm.
All in all, there are 152 feet. How many chickens and
carabaos are in his farm?”

What is Problem – Solving

Before we will proceed to the detailed discussion of problem – solving, we have to understand first these
three words: “method”, “answer”, and “solution”.

 Method – is the ways or techniques used to get an answer which will

usually involve one or more problem strategies.
 Answer – is a number, quantity or some other entity that the problem is
asking for.
 Solution– is the whole process of solving a problem, including the
method of obtaining an answer and the answer itself.

We can summarize the discussion above by this very simple equation which can be applied in problem solving:
Method + Answer = Solution

Problem – solving – is a process – an ongoing activity in which we take what we know to discover what we
don’t know.

3 Basic functions of problem – solving

1. Seeking information
2. Generating new knowledge
3. Making decisions

In addition problem – solving is the ability to identify and solve problems by applying appropriate skills
systematically.

13
 4 Steps in problem – solving

1. Understand the problem

2. Device a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Look back

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning – is a process that uses our knowledge in making a general inference about unfamiliar
occurrences based on observation and patterns. It is using specific examples to make a general rule.

EXAMPLES:
1. Use inductive reasoning to find the next two terms.
a. 5, 50, 500, 5000, ______, ______
b. a, 6, c, 12, e, 18, ______, _______

Solutions:
a. Looking at the terms given in the sequence, notice that the succeeding terms are multiplied by the
power of 10. Hence we can deduce that the next term will also be a product of a power of 10. Since
we are looking for the 4th and 5th terms, then we multiply the 4th rem by 10 and 5th term by 10.
So, the next two terms in the sequence are 50000 and 500000.
b. By examining the terms given in the sequence, observe that letters and numbers are alternate. The
letters are those that are in the odd position in the alphabet while the numbers are multiples of 6.
Thus, the next two terms in the sequence are the letter is g and the number is 24 (6x4).

Counterexample – is an example that contradicts the assumption and shows that the statement is false.

EXAMPLES:
1. Every number that is a multiple of 10 is divisible by 4.
Solution:
All we need to do first is, we have to list some numbers that are multiples of 10. So we have; 100, 110,
120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200

Next, we check if all numbers in the list are divisible by 4.

100 ÷ 4 = 25 120 ÷ 4 = 30 110 ÷ 4 = 27.5
Since, the quotient of 110 and 4 is 27.5, which is not a whole number, so we say that 110 is not
divisible by 4. And with this example, we have shown that not all multiples of 10 is divisible by 4. So we
can call 110 as a counterexample.

2. All prime numbers are odd.

Solution:
First, we list some prime numbers. Then we’ll have 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, etc. among the given prime
numbers one of them is not odd. It is the even number 2. Now, 2 is considered as counterexample
because the statement “All prime numbers are odd” is proven false.
Deductive reasoning – is the process by which conclusions are made based on previously known facts
or by employing general assumptions, procedures, or principles. It is applying a general rule to specific
examples.
- It is also the way of showing that certain statements follow logically from agreed – upon
assumptions and proven facts and there is a need to justify every step with a reason.

14
 EXAMPLES:
1. Use deductive reasoning to show that when a number is multiplied by 10, the product is decreased
by 8, the difference is divided by 2, and 4 is added to quotient, then the number is five times the
original number.
Solution:
Let x be the original number. Then,
A number is multiplied by 10: 10x
The product is decreased by 8: 10x – 8
10 x−8
The difference is divided by 2: = 5x – 4
2
4 is added to quotient: 5x – 4 + 4 = 5x
Since from the original number, x, we got 5x, the statement therefore is proven.

2. Solve for x in the equation 3(x + 4) – 2x = 20. Justify your answer.

Solution:

Statement Justification
3(x + 4) – 2x = 20 Given
3x + 12 – 2x = 20 Distributive property
3x – 2x + 12 = 20 Commutative property
X – 12 = 20 Closure property
X = 20 – 12 Transposition
X=8 Closure property

Note: Deductive reasoning is commonly used in Geometry

particularly in proving geometric statements.

15
NAME: SCORE:

YEAR&SECTION: DATE:

ACTIVITY 3

A. Use inductive reasoning to guess the next three terms in the given sequences. Show your solutions.

1. 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, _____, _____, _____

2. 105, 95, 85, 75, 65, _____, _____, _____

3. 18, 20.5, 23, 25.5, 28, ______, _____, _____

4. 32, 3.2, 0.32, 0.032, _____, _____, _____

5. 2, 5, 13, 26, 34, 57, _____, _____, _____

B. Solve for x in the equations given:

Note: Justify your answers.
1. 4(x + 3) – 3x = 15

2. 5( 2x + 4) – 2x = 20

16