CODE 694 │ MATH 1013│ MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

WEEK 1: PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

Today's lesson focuses on the beauty of mathematics and how it shapes the world. around us. To start
with, watch Cristobal Vila's video clip, "Nature in Numbers" at http://vimeo.com/9953368
In this video clip, basic patterns and regular features of nature are highlighted and illustrated in
mathematical terms. It can also be an effective way of introducing patterns and numbers in nature.
One of the things about Mathematics that we love the most as shown in the video clip is its ability to
reveal hidden beautiful patterns in our everyday life, the nature around us. These patterns can be sequential,
spatial, temporal, and even linguistic. There are connections between things that don't seem connected, but
can be observed with the intellect of math. We can therefore say that mathematics is the science of patterns.

So how do these patterns develop? What sorts of rules and guidelines, shape the patterns in the world around
us?
The topic that will be discussed for this week provides an overview of the growing body of evidence that
mathematics is embedded in nature and in our environment. The following shall be the flow of the discussion:

 What is Mathematics?
 Where is Mathematics?
 What is Mathematics for?
 What is Mathematics all about? How is Mathematics done?
 Who uses Mathematics??

What is Mathematics
Mathematics, developed by human mind and culture, is a formal system of thought for recognizing,
classifying, and exploiting patterns. (Jan Stewart)
Mathematics is perceived as a study of numbers, symbols, and equations, an art of geometric shapes and
patterns, a universal language, a tool in decision-making and problem solving, and a way of life to be exact and
precise.

There is an organized pattern to explain such phenomena and this is through mathematics. It explains not only
the regularities but also the regularities and complexities in our world. It simplifies complex things by
organizing patterns It shows that there is a line that connects everyone to one another and to nature.
Indeed, mathematics is a study of patterns, an art, a language, a set of problem-solving tools, and process of
thinking

Where is Mathematics
Mathematics is in every people's daily task or activity. It is in nature, arts, music, medicine, and in other
disciplines. It is in our communities. Mathematics is everywhere. Moreover, there is always a substantial
interconnection and relationship between mathematics, the world, and the universe.
Here are examples of some of these patterns and you may be able to spot a few the next time you go for a
walk:

Mathematics reveals hidden patterns that help us understand the world around us. Now much more than
arithmetic and geometry, mathematics today is a diverse discipline that deals with data, measurements, and
observations from science; with inference, deduction, and proof; and with mathematical models of natural
phenomena, of human behavior, and of social systems.
What is Mathematics for
Mathematics is extremely useful in making conclusions and/or prediction of the events of the world. It is used
to describe the natural order and occurrences of the universe.
In addition, it is used to organize patterns and regularities as well as irregularities, to help us control weather
and epidemics, to provide tools for calculations, and to provide new questions to think about.

What is Mathematics all about

Mathematics is about numbers, symbols, equations, operations, functions, calculations, abstractions,
and devising proofs.
Here are a few examples of math in nature, but there are many other examples as well.

The Fibonacci Sequence

Named for the famous mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa or
Leonardo Pisano., this number sequence is a simple, yet profound pattern. Based on Fibonacci's rabbit
problem, this sequence begins with the numbers 1 and 1, and then each subsequent number is found by
adding the two previous numbers. Therefore, after 1 and 1, the next number is 2 (1+1). The next number is 3
(1-2) and then 5 (2-3) and so on.
What's remarkable is that the numbers in the sequence are often seen in nature.

The Rabbit Problem

A Fibonacci number 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 40 term is the sum of the two CAVA immediately
preceding
The original problem that Fibonacci investigated in the year 1202
was about how fast rabbits could breed i in ideal circumstances.

The Golden Ratio

The golden ratio, often represented by the Greek letter phi (p), is directly linked to a numerical pattern
known as the Fibonacci sequence, which is a list composed of numbers that are the sum of the previous two
numbers in the sequence.
When a Fibonacci number is divided by the Fibonacci number that came before it, it approaches the
golden ratio, which is an irrational number that starts out as 1.6180339887... and, once again, goes on forever
 The golden ratio 1.618034 is also called the golden section or the golden mean or just called the golden
number. It is often represented by a Greek letter phi.
The Golden Ratio

The figure on the left is a spiral drawn in the squares, a quarter of a circle in
each square. The spiral is not a true mathematical spiral (since it is not made
up of fragments which are parts of circles and does not go on getting smaller
and smaller) but it is a good approximation to a kind of spiral that does
appear often in the nature. Such spirals are seen in the shape of shells of
snails and sea shells and in the arrangement of seeds on flowering plants
too.

How is Mathematics done

Mathematics is done with curiosity, with a penchant for seeking patterns and generalities, with a desire
to know the truth, with trial and error, and without fear of facing more questions and problems to solve.
(Vistru-Yu)
Who uses Mathematics?
Mathematicians (pure and applied), scientists (natural and social), and practically, everyone uses different
mathematics at different times, for different purposes, using different tools, with different attitudes (Vistru-Yu)

Why is Mathematics important to know / learn?

Mathematics puts order in disorder. It helps us become better persons and helps make the world a
better place to live in. (Vistru-Yu)

If you are looking for more information about the mathematics behind pattens, here's a list of patterns
you see in nature around you:
Nest built by bees

It is made by beeswax and is composed of cells in the shape of

hexagon, sometimes pentagon or heptagon. The
mathematician, Thomas Hales proved the honeycomb
conjecture in 1999. Mathematicians tried to prove this
conjecture for centuries.

Snowflakes

A feathery snow crystal which nucleated from dust particles

suspended in the atmosphere. Molecules in ice crystals join to
form hexagonal structure which is then repeated as the crystal
accumulates more crystals and grow in size

Tiger stripes
The stripes on a tiger are, in general, evenly spaced and
perpendicular to the spine. The stripes help in camouflage. They
allow the tiger to blend with its environment

Hyena's spots
The spots on hyenas are shaped and distributed in a pattern
that helps also with camouflage.

Flower's petals

The number of petals of a flower is observed to follow the

following pattern 3,5,8,13 which are numbers found in
Fibonacci sequence

Weather patterns

Weather is observed to repeat a pattern for days, weeks, or

months after which a new weather sets in. This sequence of
weather patterns produces a cycle, such as dry monsoon seasons, summer autumn-winter-spring seasons,
habagat amihan wind patterns etc.

Human populations
The demographic distribution of people in human populations is observed to follow a pattern. Poor
nations display a pyramid shaped demography with the young occupying a prominently large section of the
population. But as a nation progresses economically, the base thins out in favor of the older segments of the
population.

WEEK 2: THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

INTRODUCTION
Language facilitates communication by understanding and conveying information and
intended meaning.
In Mathematics, the language for communication makes use of symbols and words
which should be understood and spoken by every learning individual. It is primarily designed
to facilitate the process of deduction by utilizing its elements (symbols) and making use of
rules and syntax to arrange the symbols into meaningful statements. (Quintos, R. T. et. Al.,
2019)
In understanding the mathematical symbols, CONTEXT (specific topic being studied or
considered) and CONVENTION (where the particular symbols will make sense or have
particular meaning) will have to be taken into account. (Quintos, R. T. et. Al., 2019)
Characteristics of Mathematical Language
 It is non temporal.
 It has no emotional content.
 It is concise and precise.
It is non-temporal.
It has no past, present and future. There is no conjugation of words in Mathematics in the that English
has a conjugation of verbs.
It has no emotional content.
Math language carries no emotional content. It has no equivalent words for joy, happiness, despair, or
sadness. It also does not speak about values in the manner that people speak about human values in
society.
It precise and concise.
 Math language is precise and concise. It is exact and accurate in its statements as a consequence, it has
no need for unnecessary words. This is not always helpful to students, because being novice in Math
they need a little more elaboration, more exploration and more explanation from their teachers.

MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION
A mathematical expression is a group of characters or symbols representing a quantity and/or expression.

An algebraic expression is a mathematical expression which contains numbers, variables represented by

letters and operations that indicate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Table: Words and Phrases that Imply Mathematical Operations