Chapter 1

Nature of Mathematics

This chapter covers on the importance of mathematics, what it is and how it is

represented and used. It discusses the patterns and numbers in nature and the world. It
describes also the relationship of the Fibonacci Sequence and golden ratio.
COURSE OUTCOME: Exhibit appreciation on how mathematics play in nature and in nature-
inspired human creations
LEARNING OUTCOME(S):
 Explain the nature of mathematics, what it is, how it is expressed, represented and
used.
 Identify the patterns in nature and regularities in the world.
 Show appreciation of the beauty, importance and practical uses of mathematics
through reflection journal

TIME FRAME: 3 hours

LESSON 1.1 IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS

In its early forms, math helped us quantify time, make measurements, and take records.
Rudimentary math was especially useful during the development of agriculture when
surpluses in food allowed trade. Math satisfied the need to keep accurate records and
perform basic calculations. Symbols for representing quantities ranged from everyday
objects, to geometric shapes. As mathematical techniques evolved, so did our perspective
on this new system. Ancient Greeks believed that numbers were both living entities and
universal principles; numbers were active agents in nature. Plato pioneered the study of the
ontology of mathematical objects, and Aristotle studied logic and issues related to infinity.
Philosophers quickly realized that numbers and their operations were very useful in
describing our world. The profound convergence of diverse aspects of mathematics, and
existent theories in physics, caused many leading minds to ponder the dilemma of invention
versus discovery.

Mathematics describes the real world of atoms and acorns, stars and stairs, with remarkable
precision. So is mathematics invented by humans just like chisels and hammers and pieces
of music? Or is mathematics discovered—always out there, somewhere, like mysterious
islands waiting to be found?

Modern life demands the requirement to have good mathematical knowledge. Mathematics
is important for life and supports all-round personal development. We can find
mathematical application in the nature, technology, architecture, machinery, building,
industry, banking sector, research, and cartography and in many more. There are very
interesting applications in genetics and in using mathematics in the nature. Statistical
methods are used in preventing catastrophes brought by bad weather.

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Math makes a huge effect on all of our lives and we regularly use mathematics every day,
from measuring distances and weights to reading timetables, estimating how much money
we spent while shopping and interpreting percentages in newspapers. It helps us do
everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Math helps us complete these tasks
without completely messing up on doing it. You need math for cooking because you need to
measure things such as cups of flour, etc. Many of these skills are taught at primary school
level.

WORKSHEET 1

NAME: SCORE:
SECTION CODE OR CLASS SCHEDULE: DATE:

1. Why is mathematics important to you as a student in the university?

____________

2. How can you apply mathematics in your future profession?

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LESSON 1.2 PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

A hike in the woods or a walk along the road to our houses reveals an endless variety of
forms. Nature abounds in spectral colors and intricate shapes - the rainbow mosaic of a
butterfly's wing; the delicate curlicue of a vine tendril; the undulating ripples of the
raindrops. But these miraculous creations not only delight the imagination, they also
challenge our understanding. How do these patterns develop? What sorts of rules and
guidelines, shape the patterns in the world around us?

butterfly's wing vine tendril ripples of the raindrops

https://www.flickr.com https://www.tumblr.com
https://www.masterfile.com

Some patterns are molded with a strict regularity. The cells of a honeycomb repeat their
hexagonal symmetry. The honeybee is a skilled and tireless artisan with an innate ability to
measure the width and to gauge the thickness of the honeycomb it builds. The regularity of
the honeycomb attests to the honey bee's remarkable architectural abilities.

The nautilus is another meticulous craftsman, who designs its shell in a shape called a
logarithmic or equiangular spiral. This precise curve develops naturally as the shell increases
in size but does not change its shape. The process of self-similar growth yields a logarithmic
spiral. We find the same spiral in the path traced by a moth drawn towards a light.

honeycomb nautilus shell moth drawn towards the

light
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Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form found in the natural world. These patterns
recur in different contexts and can sometimes be modelled mathematically. Natural
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patterns include symmetries, trees, spirals, meanders, waves, foams, tessellations, cracks
and stripes. Early Greek philosophers studied pattern, with Plato, Pythagoras and
Empedocles attempting to explain order in nature. The modern understanding of visible
patterns developed gradually over time.

As a practical matter, mathematics is a science of pattern and order. Its domain is not
molecules or cells, but numbers, chance, form, algorithms, and change. As a science of
abstract objects, mathematics relies on logic rather than on observation as its standard of
truth, yet employs observation, simulation, and even experimentation as means of
discovering truth.

Let's take a look at some of the different types of patterns to help you appreciate them as
well.

Symmetry is when different sides of something are alike. These reflections may be mirror
images with only two sides like the two sides of our bodies, they may be symmetrical on
several sides like the inside of an apple sliced in half, or they might be symmetrical on all
sides like the different face of a cube.

We understand symmetry quite well in living organisms because it is a function of their

environment. In order to balance, we need to have symmetrical body structure so we don't
fall over from imbalanced weight.

What we don't understand very well is symmetry in non-living things. Snowflakes have six-
fold symmetry but it is unclear why this occurs. Crystals like diamond are likewise
constructed with mathematical regularity. A chemist could readily explain how positively
and negatively charged sodium and chloride ions arrange themselves neatly in a crystal
lattice, resulting in salt crystals with a perfect cubic structure, and while beautiful it is still
somewhat of a mystery.

face of Dr. Gellor Snowflake diamond

Alphaeus images https://www.quora.com
https://www.bishopsjewelry.com

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Fractals are the 'never-ending' patterns that repeat indefinitely as the pattern is iterated on
an infinitely smaller scale. Infinite iteration is not possible in nature so all 'fractal' patterns
are only approximate We see this type of pattern in trees, rivers, mountains, shells, clouds,
leaves, lightning, and more.
Ferns are a common example of a self-similar
set, meaning that their pattern can be
mathematically generated and reproduced at
any magnification or reduction. The
mathematical formula that describes ferns,
named after Michael Barnsley. In other words,
random numbers generated over and over
using Barnsley's Fern formula ultimately
produce a unique fern-shaped object
https://www.fibrex.co.uk

This variant form of cauliflower is the

ultimate fractal vegetable. Its pattern is a
natural representation of the Fibonacci or
golden spiral, a logarithmic spiral where
every quarter turn is farther from the origin
by a factor of phi, the golden ratio.

https://www.flickr.com

Spirals are another common pattern in nature that we see more often in living things. Think
of the horns of a sheep, the shell of a nautilus, and the placement of leaves around a stem.
A special type of spiral, the logarithmic spiral, is one that gets smaller as it goes. We see this
pattern in galaxies, hurricanes, and some seashells

The Galaxy hurricane Yolanda (Nov. 2013)

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LESSON 1.3 THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers:

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. The number 2 is found
by adding the two numbers before it (1+1). 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it
(1+2), and 5 is (2+3), and so on

When we make squares with those widths, we get a nice spiral:

Do you see how the squares fit neatly together? For example 5 and 8 make 13, 8 and 13
make 21, and so on.

A nautilus is a cephalopod mollusk with a spiral

shell and numerous short tentacles around its
mouth.
A nautilus shell is grown in a Fibonacci spiral.
The spiral occurs as the shell grows outwards
and tries to maintain its proportional shape.

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Other Amazing Examples of the Fibonacci sequence in Nature

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Sunflowers boast radial symmetry of the Fibonacci sequence. This is not uncommon since
many plants produce leaves, petals and seeds in the Fibonacci sequence. Sunflowers and
other plants abide by mathematical rules for efficiency. In simple terms, sunflowers can
pack in the maximum number of seeds if each seed is separated by an irrational-numbered
angle.

Here are the three most natural ways to find spirals in

this pattern. Note that the black pattern is identical in all
the images on this page. Only the colored lines indicating
the selected spirals are different. The 1st set of lines show
34 spirals of seeds.

Choosing another slope, these set of lines And choosing a very shallow slope, these
show 55 spirals of seeds. set of lines show 21 spirals of seeds

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LESSON 1.4 THE GOLDEN RATIO

1. The Golden Ratio 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
longer part. It is often symbolized using phi, after the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.
In an equation form, it looks like this:

Each section of your index

finger, from the tip to the base
of the wrist, is larger than the
preceding one by about the
Fibonacci ratio of 1.618, also
fitting the Fibonacci numbers
2, 3, 5 and 8.

By this scale, your fingernail is 1 unit in length. Curiously enough, you also have 2 hands,
each with 5 digits, and your 8 fingers are each comprised of 3 sections. All Fibonacci
numbers!

Here are other ways of expressing the same basic relationship in its connection to the
golden ratio and golden spiral

Engr. Lynn M. Remo

https://www.goldennumber.net

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