MATHEMATICS IN THE

MODERN WORLD
Patterns and Numbers in Nature and in the World

Pattern – is the repetition or alternation of one or more components to create a visual unit.
It is an arrangement of lines or shapes in which the same shape is repeated at regular
intervals over a surface.
 regular
 recurring forms or design
Examples
Examples
Patterns and Numbers in Nature and in the World

Types of Patterns
A. Symmetry
Symmetry indicates that you can draw an imaginary line across an object and the resulting
parts are mirror images of each other.

Bilateral symmetry is a symmetry in which the left and right sides of an object can be divided
into approximately mirror image of each other along the midline. Symmetry exists in living things
such as insects, animals, plants, flowers, and others. Animals mainly have bilateral or vertical
symmetry, even leaves of plants and some flowers such as orchids.

Example
Radial symmetry (or rotational symmetry) is a type of symmetry around a fixed point known
as the center and it can be classified as either cyclic or dihedral. A figure has a rotational
symmetry if it achieves the same appearance as the original position even if it is rotated several
degrees. Plants often have radial or rotational symmetry, as to flowers and some groups of
animals. A five-fold symmetry is found in the echinoderms, the group which includes starfish,
sea urchins, and sea lilies.
Angle of Rotation
It is the smallest angle that a figure can be rotated while still preserving the original formation.
Example: Starfish and Snowflakes
Order of Rotation
1
A figure has rotational symmetry of order n (n-fold rotational symmetry) if of a complete turn
𝑛
leaves the figure unchanged.
Angle of Rotation= 360° 𝑛
Example: n=6
𝐴 = 360° 𝑛
𝐴 = 360° 6
𝐴 = 60°
Example
B. Fractals
A fractal is a curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole.
The repetition that occurs in a fractal is called self-similarity. Another way to think of this is, when you zoom in
on a small part of a fractal pattern, it looks just like the whole thing.
Example
C. Spirals
A spiral is a curved pattern that focuses on a center point and a series of circular shapes that
revolve around it.
Example
Example

What number comes next?

2, 4, 9, 17, 28, ____

2 5 8 11
3 3 3
Example
Example
The Fibonacci Sequence

The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers in which each number (Fibonacci number) is
the sum of the two preceding numbers.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …

It is often associated with the golden ratio. In mathematics, two quantities are in the golden
ratio if their ratio is the same of their sum to the larger of the two quantities. The golden ratio is
the relationship between numbers on the Fibonacci sequence where plotting the relationships
on scales results in a spiral shape. In simple terms, golden ratio is expressed as an equation,
where a is larger than b, (a + b) divided by a is equal to a divided by b, which is equal to
1.618033987… and represented by a Greek character φ.
Golden Ratio

𝑎+𝑏 𝑎 1+ 5
= = 1.618 … = 𝜑 2
𝑎 𝑏
Golden Rectangle

𝑎+𝑏 𝑎
= = 1.618 … = 𝜑
𝑎 𝑏
Golden Rectangle – Golden Spiral
BINET’S FORMULA

Binet's formula is an explicit formula used to find the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence. It is
so named because it was derived by mathematician Jacques Philippe Marie Binet, though it
was already known by Abraham de Moivre.

Formula
If 𝐹𝑛 is the nth Fibonacci number, then

(1 + 5)𝑛 −(1 − 5)𝑛

𝐹𝑛 =
2𝑛 5
Example

Find Fib (4) or the 4th term to prove the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …

(1+ 5)𝑛 −(1− 5)𝑛
𝐹𝑛 = 2𝑛 5

(1 + 5)4 −(1 − 5)4

𝐹4 =
24 5

109.6656 − 2.3344
𝐹4 =
35.7771

107.3312
𝐹4 =
35.7771

𝐹4 = 3
Sum of first n terms : Sn = Fn + 2 – 1

What is the sum of the first 11 terms of the given sequence?

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …

(1+ 5)𝑛 −(1− 5)𝑛

Sn = Fn + 2 – 1 𝐹𝑛 = 2𝑛 5
(1+ 5)13 −(1− 5)13
= F13 – 1 𝐹13 = 213 5

= 233 – 1 F13 = 233

S11 = 232

1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 13 + 21 + 34 + 55 + 89 = 232 (✓)
Fibonacci Numbers in Nature

On many plants, the number of petals is a Fibonacci number.

Looking at these diagrams, one can see that there are 21 spiral arms curving to the right and
34 spiral arms curving to the left. These two numbers are successive numbers in the Fibonacci
sequence. Therefore, seeds in a sunflower follow the pattern of the Fibonacci sequence.
You are an example of the beauty of the Fibonacci Sequence. The human body has various
representations of the Fibonacci Sequence proportions, from your face to your ear to your
hands. You have now been proven to be mathematically gorgeous.
Golden Ratio in Art

Golden ratio art examples include:

•Leonardo Di Vinci - Mona Lisa, Vitruvian Man
•Botticelli - Birth of Venus
•Michelangelo - Holy Family, 'David'
•Raphael - Crucifixion
•Rembrandt - Self-Portrait
•Salvador Dali - The Sacrament of the Last
Supper, The Persistence of Memory
Golden Ratio in Music

Music is composed of numeric value and when the Golden Ratio is used to create a
musical piece, it becomes a living example of math. The Fibonacci Sequence is also
prevalent in music:
•There are eight notes in a scale.
•The third and fifth notes are the basis of chords.
•The length, or octave, of any note is 13 notes.