1.1 Patterns and Numbers in Nature and The World

1.
1 Patterns and Numbers in

Nature and the World
Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form

found in the natural world. These patterns recur in
different contexts and can sometimes be modeled
mathematically.
Studying patterns help students in identifying

relationships and finding logical connections to form
generalizations and make predictions.
Symmetries
Meanders Stripes
Spirals
Natural Waves
Patterns
Trees Foams
Tessellations Cracks
LET’S TAKE A GLIMPSE AT THIS PATTERN:
?
What do you think will be the next in the sequence?
 It should be noticed that the pattern is made up of

two colors of arrows-black and white. This pattern
started with one white arrow and one black arrow,
then followed by another one white arrow and two
black arrows. As you can see on the last pattern
there is another one white arrow, logically, there
should be three black arrows to follow after the last
one white arrow.
Types of Symmetry
Types of Pattern Bilateral – also known as line, in which
a figure is folded into half and shows left and
right portions exactly the same. It is evident in
1. Symmetry most animals including human.
indicates that you Three-Fold - has three numbers of sides

or faces that are symmetrical.
can draw an
imaginary line Four-Fold - has four numbers of sides or
faces that are symmetrical.
across an object
which results its Five-Fold - has five numbers of sides or
parts as mirror faces that are symmetrical.
images of each
Six-Fold - has six numbers of sides or
other. faces that are symmetrical.
Rotational -happens when you rotate a

figure but has the same appearance as the
original position.
Figure 1. Symmetry
Angle of Rotation is the smallest angle that a figure can be

rotated while preserving the original formation.
To compute for the angle of rotation, we use the formula:
Angle of Rotation=
For example, it can be observed that some of

the flowers have five petals, indicating that there
is a five-fold symmetry. To determine the angle
of rotation, we simply divide by 5 to get
.
According to researchers,
2. Stripes there are three variables
that affect the orientation
are mostly
of stripes:
exhibited in the
The substance
external that amplifies the
density
appearances of
animals. These The substance
seemingly that changes on
the parameters
random designs involved in stripe
formation
are believed to
The physical
be governed by change in the
direction of the
mathematical origin of the
stripe
equations.
Figure 2. Stripes
3. Trees
All the branches 4. Meanders
of a tree at every requires the
stage of its height mathematical
properties
when put
of topological
together are mixing and dense
equal in thickness periodic orbits.
to the trunk
[below them].
Figure 3. Trees
Figure 4. Meanders
5. Waves
are disturbances that carry energy as they
move.
Mechanical Waves
• propagate through a medium – air or
water, making it oscillates as they pass by.
Wind Waves
• are sea surface waves that create the
characteristic chaotic pattern of any large
body of water, though their statistical
behavior can be predicted with wind wave
models.
Figure 5. Waves
6. Foam
is a mass of bubbles; foams of
different materials occur in nature.
Foams composed of soap Plateau's laws further
films obey Plateau's laws, require films to be
which require three soap smooth and
films to meet at each edge continuous, and to
at 120 and four soap have a
edges to meet at each constant average
vertex at curvature at every
the tetrahedral angle of point.
about 109.5 .
Figure 6. Foams
8. Cracks
are linear
openings that
7. Tessellations
form in
are patterns materials to
formed by relieve stress.
repeating tiles
all over a flat The pattern of
surface. cracks indicates
whether the
material is
elastic or not.
Figure 7. Tessellations
Figure 8. Cracks
9. Spirals
are common in plants and in some
animals.
Phyllotaxis spirals
Multiple spirals can be generated
run both mathematically
clockwise and from Fibonacci
ratios
counterclockwise
Figure 9. Spirals

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1.

1 Patterns and Numbers in

Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form

Studying patterns help students in identifying

 It should be noticed that the pattern is made up of

indicates that you Three-Fold - has three numbers of sides

Rotational -happens when you rotate a

Angle of Rotation is the smallest angle that a figure can be

To compute for the angle of rotation, we use the formula:

For example, it can be observed that some of

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