Chapter 1: Mathematics in the Modern World

Specific Objectives
1. To understand the mathematics of the modern world.
2. To revisit and appreciate the mathematical landscape.
3. To realize the importance of mathematics as a utility.
4. To gain awareness of the role of mathematics as well as our role in mathematics.

In this lesson, does not only attempt to explain the essence of mathematics, it servesalso
as a hindsight of the entire course. The backbone of this lesson draws from theStewart’s ideas
embodied in his book entitled Nature’s Numbers. The lessonprovides new perspective to
understand theirregularity and chaos of our world aswe move through the landscape of
regularity and order. It posessome thought-provoking questions to draw one’s innate
mathematical intelligence by making onecurious, not so much to seek answers, but to ask
more right questions.

The Nature of Mathematics

In the book of Stewart, Nature’s Number,that mathematics is a formal systemof thought
that was gradually developed in the human mind and evolved in thehuman culture. Thus, in
the long course of human history, our ancestors at a certain point were endowed with insight
to realize the existence of “form” in theirsurroundings. From their realization, a system of
thought further advanced their knowledge into understanding measures. They were able to
gradually develop the science of measures and gained the ability to count, gauge, assess,
quantify, and size almost everything.
From our ancestor’s realizationof measures, they were able to notice and recognize some
rudiment hints about patterns. Thus, the concept of recognizing shapes made its course
towards classifying contour and finally using those designs to build human culture: an
important ingredient for a civilization to flourish. From then, man realized that the natural
world is embedded in a magnanimously mathematical realm of patterns----and that natural
order efficiently utilizes all mathematical patterns to its advantage. As a result, we made use of
mathematics as a brilliant way to understand the nature by comprehending the structure of its
underlying patterns and regularities. Mathematics is present in everything we do; it is
all around us and it is the building block of our daily activities. It has been at the forefront of
each and every period of our development, and as our civilized societies advanced, our needs
of mathematics pioneering arose on the frontier of our course as we prepare our human
species to traverse the cosmic shore.

Mathematics is a Tool
Mathematics, as a tool, is immensely useful, practical, and powerful. It is not about
crunching numbers, formulas, and symbols but rather, it is all about forming new ways to see
problems so we can understand them by combining insights with imagination. It also allows us
to perceive realities in different contexts that would otherwise be intangible to us. It can be
likened to our sense of sight andtouch.Mathematics is our sense to decipher patterns,
relationships, and logicalconnections. It is our whole new way to see and understand the
modern world.

Mathematics, being a broad and deep discipline, deals with the logic of shape, quantity,
and arrangement. Once, it was perceived merely a collective thought dealing with counting
numbers, but it is now being understood as a universal language dealing with symbols, arts,
equations, geometric shapes and patterns. Itis asserting that mathematics is a powerful tool
in decision-making and it is a way of life.
 Figure 1.1: The nature of mathematics

In the Figure 1.1 illustrated by Nocon and Nocon, it portrays the function of mathematics. As
shown, it is stated that mathematics is a set of problem-solving tools. It provides answers to
existing questions and presents solutions to occurring problems. It has the power to unveil the
reasons behind occurrences and it offers explanations. Moreover, mathematics, as a study of
patterns, allows people toobserve, hypothesize, experiment, discover, and recreate. On the
other hand,mathematics is an art and a process of thinking. For it involves reasoning,
whichcan be inductive or deductive, and it applies methods of proof both in fashion thatis
conventional and unconventional.

Mathematics is Everywhere
We use mathematics in their daily tasks and activities. It is our important tool
in thefield of sciences, humanities, literature, medicine, and even in music and arts; it isin the
rhythm of our daily activities, operational in our communities, and a defaultsystem of our
culture. There is mathematics wherever we go. It helps us cookdelicious meals by exacting
our ability to measure and moderately control of heat.It also helps us to shop wisely, read
maps, use the computer, remodel a home withconstrained budget with utmost economy.
Source: Space Telescope Science/NASA

The Universe
Figure 1.2

Even the cosmic perspective, the patterns in the firmament are always presented as a
mystery waiting to be uncovered by us-the sentient being. In order to unearthed this mystery,
we are challenged to investigate and deeply examine its structure and rules to the
infinitesimal level. The intertwined governing powers of cosmic mystery can only be decoded
by seriously observing and studying the irregularities, and patiently waiting for the signature
of some kind interference. It is only by observing the abundance of patterns scattered
everywhere that these irregularities will beg to be noticed. Some of them are boldly exposed
in a simple and obvious manner while others are hidden in ways that is impossible to perceive
by easy to discern. While our ancestors were able to discover the presence of mathematics in
everything, it took the descendants, us, a long time to gradually notice the impact of these
patterns in the persistence of our species to rightfully exist.

The Essential Roles of Mathematics

Mathematics has countless hidden uses and applications. It is not only something that
delights our mind but it also allows us to learn and understand the naturalorder of the world.
This discipline was and is often studied as a pure science but it also finds its place in other
areas of perpetuating knowledge. Perhaps, science would definitely agree that, when it comes
to discovering and unveiling the truth behind the inherent secrets and occurrences of
the universe, nothing visual, verbal, or aural come close to matching the accuracy, economy,
power and elegance of mathematics. Mathematics helps us to take the complex processes
that is naturally occurring in the world around us and it represents them by utilizing logic to
make things more organized and more efficient. Further, mathematics also facilitates not only
to weather, but also to control the weather ---- be it social, natural, statistical, political, or
medical. Applied mathematics, which once only used for solving problems in physics, and it is
also becoming a useful tool in biological sciences: for instance, the spread of various diseases can now
be predicted and controlled. Scientists and researchers use applied mathematics in doing or
performing researches to solve social, scientific, medical, or even political crises. It is a
common fact that mathematics plays an important role in many sciences. Itis and it provides
tools for calculations. We use of calculations in other disciplines whenever we are underrating
some kind of research or experiment. The use of mathematical calculations is indispensable
method in scientifically approaching most of the problems. In a similar way, mathematics,
provides new questions to think about. Indeed, in learning and doing mathematics, there will
always be new questions to answer, new problems to solve, and new things to think about.
The Mathematical Landscape
The human mind and culture developed a conceptual landscape for mathematical
thoughts and ideas to flourish and propagate. There is a region in the human mind that is
capable of constructing and discerning the deepest insights being perceived from the natural
world. In this region, the mathematical landscape exists- wherein concepts of numbers,
symbols, equations, operations calculations, abstractions, and proofs are the inhabitants as
well as the constructs of the impenetrable vastness of its unchartered territories. In this
landscape, a number is not simply a mathematical tree of counting. Also, infinite variables can
be encapsulated to finite. Even those something that is hard to express in decimal form can
be expressed in terms of fractions. Those things that seemed eternalcan further be exploited
using mathematical operations. This landscape claimed complex numbers as the firmament
and even asserted that imaginary numbers also exist. To the low state negative numbers
relentlessly enjoying recognition as existent beings. The wind in this landscape is
unpredictable that the rate of change of the rate of change of weather is known as calculus.
And beneath the surface of this mathematical landscape are firmly-woven proofs, theorems,
definitions, and axioms which areintricately “fertilized” by reasoning, analytical, critical
thinkingand germicide by mathematical logic that made them precise, exact and powerful.
With this landscape, the mathematician's instinct and curiosity entice to explore further the
vast tranquil lakes of functions and impassable crevasse of the unchartered territories of
abstract algebra. For to claim ownership is to understand the ebb and flow of prime numbers.
To predict the behavior of its Fibonacci weather, to be amazed with awe and wonder the
pattern less chaos of fractal clouds, and to rediscover that after all, the numbers
in mathematics is not a "thing"but a process. Conventionally, we are just simply made
ourselves comfortable onthe “trinification” of those processes and we forgot that 1+1 is not a
noun but a verb.

How Mathematics is Done

 Math is a way of thinking, and it is undeniably important to see how that thinking is
going to be developed rather than just merely see face value of the results. For some people,
few math theorems can bring up as much remembered pain and anxiety. For others, this
discipline is so complex and they have to understand the confusing symbols, the difficult
procedures, and the dreaded graphs and charts. Foremost, mathematics is just nothing but
something to survive, rather than to learn. To the untrained eye, doing mathematics is quite
difficult and challenging. It is ambiguous, for it follows a set of patterns, formulas, and
sequences that make it more demanding to do and to learn. It is abstract and complex ---- and for these
reasons, a lot of people adopt the belief that they are not math people. Mathematics builds
upon itself. More complex concepts are built upon simpler concepts, and if you do not have
a strong grasp of the fundamental principles, then more complex problem is more likely going
to stump you. If you come across a mathematical problem that you cannot solve, the first
thing to do is to identify thecomponents or the operations that it wants you to carry out, and
everything follows. Doing and performing mathematics is not that simple. It 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.

Mathematics is for Everyone

The relationship of the mathematical landscape in the human mind with the natural
world is so strange that in the long run, the good math provides utilization and usefulness in
the order of things. Perhaps, for most people, they simply need to know the basics of the
mathematical operations in order to survive daily tasks; but for the human society to survive
and for the human species to persistently exist, humanity needs, beyond rudiment of
mathematics. To safeguard our existence, we already have delegated the functions of
mathematics across all disciplines. There is mathematics we call pure and applied, as there are
scientists, we call social and natural. There is mathematics for engineers to build, mathematics
for commerce and finance, mathematics for weather forecasting, mathematics that is related
to health, and mathematics to harness energy for utilization. To simply put it, everyone uses
mathematics in different degrees and levels. Everyone uses mathematics, whoever they are,
wherever they are, and whenever they need to. From mathematicians to scientists, from
professionals to ordinary people, they all use mathematics. For mathematics puts order
amidst disorder. It helps us become better persons and helps make the world a better place
to live in.

The Importance of Knowing and Learning Mathematics

Why do we want to observe and describe patterns and regularities? Why do we want to
understand the physical phenomena governing our world? Why do we want to dig out rules
and structures that lie behind patterns of the natural order? It is because those rules and
structures explain what is going on. It is because theyare beneficial in generating conclusions
and in predicting events. It is because theyprovide clues. The clues that make us realize that
interference in the motion ofheavenly bodies can predict lunar eclipse, solar eclipse as well as
comets’appearances. That the position of the sun and the moon relative to the earth can
predict high tide and low tide events affecting human activities. And that human activities
need clues for the human culture to meaningfully work. Mathematical training is vital to
decipher the clues provided by nature. But the role of mathematics goes clues and it goes
beyond prediction. Once we understand how the system works, our goal is to control it to
make it do what we want. We want to understand the mathematical pattern of a storm to
avoid or prevent catastrophes. We want to know the mathematical concept behind the
contagion of the virus to control its spread. We want to understand the unpredictability of
cancer cells to combat it before it even exists. Finally, we want to understand the butterfly
effectas much as we are so curious to know why the “die” of the physical world playGod.

“Whatever the reasons, mathematics is a useful way to think about nature.What does it want to tell us
about the patterns we observe? There are many answers. We want to understand how they happen; to
understand why they happen, which is different; to organize the underlying patterns and regularities in the
most satisfying way; to predict how nature will behave; to control nature for our own ends; to
make practical use of what we have learned about our world. Mathematics helps us to do all these
things, and often, it is indispensable. “Stewart]

Mathematics in the Modern World

 Mathematics is exhibited not only in the technologies that have dominantly influenced
man’s daily pursuits. It is practically everywhere and progresses to varying degrees of
usefulness. Mathematics is practiced not only by professionals like teachers, scientist,
engineers, and economists. Time has shown that one’s understanding of the universe
continues to reach greater bounds, and mathematics is rightfully credited for this. As a
science of logical thinking, mathematics is vital in understanding natural phenomena, human
activities, and social systems.
Lesson 1. Patterns in Nature and the Regularities in the World
Patterns and Counting are correlative. Counting happens when there is pattern. When
there is counting, there is a logic. Consequently, pattern in nature goes in logic or logical set-
up.
Mathematics – exists everywhere as patterns do in nature.
- not all about numbers
- is more about reasoning, making logical inferences and generalization, and seeing
relationship in both visible and invisible patterns in the natural world.
- Goes beyond arithmetic
- It is a language by which the universe is elegantly designed. Its value transcends the
intellectual, the practical and even the aesthetics standards.
Patterns – are core topics in mathematics. In fact, mathematics is also known as science of
patterns. Historically, mathematicians have dealt with two types of patterns: (1) the numeric
patterns and the (2) geometric patterns (Patterns of Shapes)
- can be sequential, spatial, temporal and even linguistic. The most basic patterns are
the sequence of the dates in the calendar such as 1-30 being used month after month;
the seven (7) day in a week; the 12 months and the regular holidays in a year. These
are celebrated in the same sequence every year. All these phenomena create a
repetition of names or events called regularity.
Regularity – is a fact that the same thing always happens in the same circumstances. While
a pattern is a discernible regularity in the world or in a man-made design
Patterns in Nature – are visible regularities of form found in the natural world. These
patterns include contexts and can sometimes be modelled mathematically. Natural patterns
include symmetries, fractal, spirals, meanders, waves, foams, tessellations, cracks,
stripes and affine transformation.
Geometric Pattern – is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated
like a wallpaper design.
According to Ian Stewart (1995), we live in a universe of patterns. Every night the stars move
in circles across the sky. The season cycle at yearly intervals.
Some Examples of Patterns in Nature
Symmetry – means agreement in dimensions, due
proportion and arrangement. In everyday language, it
refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion
and balance. In mathematics, symmetry means that an
object is invariant to any of various transformations
including reflection, rotation and scaling.
(Examples:Starfish, Butterfly, Broccoli, Shell, Human,
Animals, Plants, Honeycomb, Peacock, Jellyfish, Flowers
Sunflowers, Spider
web/circular web, Mushroom, Snowflakes, Total Solar
Eclipse, Trees, Leaves, Lungs)
A spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around
the point.
Examples: Pineapples, Pinecones, Hurricanes, Snail shell, snake, Galaxies, ferns, Whirlpool,
Curly Hair, Typhoon, Stom, Sunflowers, Trees, Seed heads, Shell.
A meander is a one of a series of regular sinuous curves,
bends, loops, turns, or windings in the channel of a river,
stream, or other watercourse. It produced by a stream or
river swinging from side to side as it flows across its
floodplain or shifts its channel within a valley.

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through

matter or space, with little or no associated mass transport.
Waves consist oscillations or vibrations of a physical medium
or a field, around relatively fixed locations. Surfaces waves in
water show water ripples.

A foam is a substance formed by trapping pockets of gas

in a liquid or solid. A bath sponge and the head on a glass
of beer are examples of foams. In most foams, the volume
of gas is large, with thin films or liquid or solid separating
the regions of gas. Soap foams are also known as suds.

A tessellation of a flat surface is the tiling of a plane using

one or more geometric shapes, called tiles, with no overlaps
and no gaps. In mathematics, tessellations can be
generalized to higher dimensions and a variety of
geometrics.

A fracture or crack is the separation of an object or

material into two or more pieces under the action of
stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the
development of certain displacement discontinuity
surfaces within the solid. If a displacement develops
perpendicular to the surface of displacement, it is called
a normal tensile crack or simply a crack; if a
displacement develops tangentially to the surface of
displacement, it is
called a shear crack, slip band, or dislocation.

Stripes are made by a series of bands or strips, often of

the same width and color along the length.

A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely

complex patterns that are self-similar across different
scales. They are created by repeating a simple process
over and over in an ongoing feedback loop. Driven by
recursion, fractals are images of dynamic systems-the
pictures of chaos. Geometrically, they exist in between
our familiar dimensions. Fractal patterns are extremely familiar, since nature is full of
fractals. For instance: trees, rivers, coastlines, mountains, clouds, seashells, hurricanes, etc.

Affine Transformation – These are the processes of

rotation, reflection and scaling. Many plant forms utilize
these processes to generate their structure. In the case of
Broccoli and Cauliflower heads, it can readily be seen that
there is a type of pattern, which also shows some spiraling in
the case of Broccoli.
What is happening in Cauliflower head is perhaps not so
obvious but in the case of a fern the rotating pattern is very
evident. Each branch appears to be a smaller version of the main plant and so on, at smaller
scales.
The following pictures show patterns and regularities in nature.

Lesson 2: Fibonacci Sequence

Another one in this world that involves pattern is a Fibonacci Number (Grist, 2011). These
numbers are nature’s numbering system. They appear everywhere in nature, from the
arrangement in plants, to the patterns of the florets of the flowers, the bracts of a pinecone,
or the scales of a pineapple. The Fibonacci numbers are therefore applicable to the growth of
every living thing, including single cell, a grain of wheat, a hive of bees and even all of
mankind.
In mathematics, the Fibonacci are the number in the following integers sequence, called
Fibonacci Sequence, and characterized by the fact that every number after the first two is the
sum of the two preceding ones.
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144…………………………….
The first 6 Fibonacci Numbers Fnfor n = 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5………….

F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6
0 1 1 2 3 5 8
Let’s Draw a Fibonacci Spiral. Get a piece of graphing paper and pencil then follow
the steps.
Instructions: Using the graphing paper, you will now create a spiral. You need to estimate
which square you will start (not in the middle). You may also extend your graphing paper to
make it bigger if you have a bigger space in your work area.
Step 1. Draw a square that measures one square unit.
Step 2. Draw a second square of one square unit to the right (R) of the square.
Step 3. Draw a 2x2 square above (A) the squares just drawn; making sure that one side
of your squares is the length of the two squares just drawn.
Step 4. Draw a 3x3 to the left (L) of the other three squares.
Step 5. Draw a 5x5 below (B) the squares.
Step 6. Continue this pattern (R-A-L-B) until you have filled up the graphing paper with
same number of squares as a side for the next set of squares.
Step 7. To create the spiral, you need to draw an arc starting on the inside of the initial
square and have it pass from one corner to the next so that it is continuously passing each
new square from corner to corner.
… and you will have something like this! Great work! Keep on going …

George Dvorsky (2013) highlighted that the famous Fibonacci sequence has captivated
mathematicians, artists, designers, and scientists for centuries. Also known as the Golden
Ratio, its ubiquity and astounding functionality in nature suggests its importance as a
fundamental characteristic of the universe. Leonardo Fibonacci came up with the sequence
when calculating the expansion pairs of rabbits over the course of one year. Today, its
emergent patterns and ratios (Phi = 1.61803….) can be seen from the microscale to the
macroscale, and the right through to biological systems and inanimate objects. While the
Golden Ratios doesn’t account every structure or pattern in the universe, it’s certainly a major
player. Here are some examples:

1. Seed heads. The head of the flower is also a subject to

Fibonaccian processes. Typically, seeds are produced at the
center, and then migrate towards the outside to fill all the
space.Sunflowersprovide a greatexample of these spiraling
patterns.

2. Pine Cones. Similarly, the seeds pods on a pinecone are

arranged in a spiral pattern. Each cone consists of a pair of
spirals, each one spiraling upwards in opposing directions.
The number of steps will almost always match a pair of
consecutive Fibonacci numbers. For example, a 3-5 cone is a
cone which meets at the back after three steps along the
left spiral, and five steps along the right.

3. Tree branches
The Fibonacci sequence can also be
seen in the way tree branches form or
split. A main trunk will grow until it
produces a branch, which creates two
growth points. Then, one of the new
stems’ branches into two, while the
 other one lies dormant. This pattern of branching is repeated for
each of for each of the new stems.

4. Shells. The unique properties of the golden rectangle

provide another example. This shape, a rectangle in
which the ratio of the sides a/b is equal to the golden
mean (phi), can result in a nesting process that can be
repeated into infinity – and which takes on the form of
a spiral. It’s called the logarithmic spiral, and it bounds
in nature.

5. Spiral Galaxies and Hurricane. Not surprisingly,

spiral galaxies also follow the familiar Fibonacci
pattern. The Milky Way has spiral arms, each of them
a logarithmic spiral of about 12 degrees. As an
interesting aside, spiral galaxies appear to defy
Newtonian Physics.

Lesson 3: Importance of Mathematics in Life

According to Katie Kim (2015), Math is a subject that makes students either jump for
joy or rip their hair out. However, math is inescapable as you become an adult in the real
world.
1. Restaurant Tipping. After you have finished eating at the restaurant, it is common
courtesy to pay your waiter a generous tip. You need to have the most basic math skills
to calculate how much a 15% or 20% tip would be. Tipping your waiter shows your
appreciation for his service and ultimately benefits the restaurant, too.
2. Netflix Film Viewing. Let’s say you have approximately one hour until you have to
leave to go somewhere very important, like your job or your grandmother’s birthday
party.
3. Calculating Bills. If you aren’t already, we will all be home-owners and car-owners
one day. With ownership comes the major responsibility of staying on the top of
mandatory payments like taxes, mortgage, and insurance. Math is required to calculate
these payments and subtract them from your savings.
4. Computing Test Scores. It is towards the end of May, and for all high school students,
the school year is coming to an end very soon. That also means final report cards will
be coming out.
5. Tracking Career. Math is needed for almost every single profession in the world. If you
want to be a CEO, a real estate agent, a biologist, or even a rocket scientist, it is
without a doubt that numbers will be utilized. Basically, you will never be able to
escape math and you might as accept it and have fun learning it while your career does
not depend on it.
6. Doing Exercises. Getting in shape and staying fits means achieving your health goals!
Maybe you want to meet a personal goal by the end of the month. You need math to
know how many more reps to curl, or how many seconds to cut off your mile time, or
how many more pounds to lose to achieve that goal.
7. Handling Money. Another aspect of growing up into a young adult is opening and
managing back account. It is important to be accurate in math to care for your precious
savings, making sure there are no mistakes.
8. Making Countdowns. For many, this will be most important reason on the list to know
math: so that you can countdown the days until school is over and summer starts!
9. Baking and Cooking. Baking and Cooking are hobbies enjoyed by many. In order to
prevent unexpected results, you have to know the difference between a quarter of a
cup from a quarter of a teaspoon. Baking + cooking = Fraction = math.
 10. Surfing Internet. Ultimately, without math, how would you be reading this
article online at this moment? How would you able to tweet to your friends or post on
Instagram from last night? We have math to thank for establishing technology and the
social media that consumes our lives.

Lesson 4: Nature of Mathematics

It is important to further discuss the nature of Mathematics, what it is, how it is
expressed, represented and used.
According to the American Association for Advancement of Science (1990),
Mathematics relies on both logic and creativity, and it is pursued both for a variety of practical
purposes and for its intrinsic interest. For some people, and not only professional
mathematicians, the essence of mathematics lies in its beauty and its intellectual challenge.
1. Patterns and Relationships
Mathematics is the science of patterns and relationships. As a theoretical discipline,
mathematics, explores the possible relationships among abstractions without concern for
whether those abstractions have counterparts in the real world. The abstractions can be
anything form strings of numbers to geometric figures to sets of equations.
2. Mathematics, Science and Technology
Mathematics is abstract. Its function goes along well with Science and Technology.
Because of its abstractness, mathematics is universal in a sense that other fields of human
thought are not. It finds useful application in business, industry, music, historical scholarship,
politics, sports, medicine, agriculture, engineering, and the social and natural science.
3. Mathematical Inquiry
Normally, are confronted with problems. In order to live a peace, these problems must
be solved. Using mathematics to express ideas or to solve problems involves at least phases:
(1) representing some aspects of things abstractly, (2) manipulating the abstractions by rules
of logic to find new relationships between them, and (3) seeing whether the new relationship
say something useful about the original things.
4. Abstraction and Symbolic Representation
Mathematical thinking often begins with the process of abstraction that is, noticing a
similarity between two or more objects or events. Aspects that they have in common, whether
concrete or hypothetical, can be represented by symbols such as numbers, letters, or other
mark, diagrams, geometrical constructions, or even words. Whole numbers are abstractions
that represent the size of sets of things and event or the order of things within a set.
5. Manipulating Mathematical Statements
After abstractions have been made and symbolic representations of them have been
selected, those symbols can be combined and recombined in various ways according to
precisely defined rules. Typically, strings of symbols are combined into statements that
express ideas or propositions.
6. Application
Mathematical processes can lead to a kind of model of a thing, from which insights can
be gained about the things itself. Any mathematical relationships arrived at by manipulating
abstract statements may or may not convey something truthful about the thing being
modeled.
Lesson 5: The Role of Mathematics in Some Disciplines
 Mathematics is offered in any college course. It is found in every curriculum because its
theories and applications are needed in any workplace. That’s why students can’t stay away
from attending math classes. There has to be mathematics in the real world. This subject
always brings life to any person or professional. Every second of the day needs mathematical
knowledge and skills to perform academic activities and office routines. If ordinary people
have to use math, then much more for students to know and master it so they will succeed in
class in the school.
As posted by Angel Rathnabai (2014), Mathematics is not only number work or
computation, but is more about forming generalization, seeing relationships, and developing
logical thinking and reasoning.
Here are some main disciplines in which the role of Mathematics is widely accepted:
1. Mathematics in Physical Sciences
In Physics, every rule and principle take the mathematical form ultimately. Mathematics gives
a final shape to the rules of Physics. It presents them in a workable form. Mathematical
computations occur at every step-in physics.
The unit of measurement are employed to substances in Physics as frequently as I
Mathematics. The Chare’s law of expansion of gases is based upon mathematical calculations.
2. Mathematics in Chemistry
Math is extremely important in physical chemistry especially in advanced topics such as
quantum or statistical mechanics. Quantum relies heavily on group theory and linear algebra
requires knowledge of mathematical/ physical topics such as Hilbert spaces and Hamiltonian
operators. Statistical mechanics relies heavily on probability theory. Other fields of Chemistry
also use of a significant amount of math.
3. Mathematics in Biological Sciences
Biomathematics is a fertile field with open, challenging and fascination problems in the areas
of mathematical genetics, mathematical ecology, mathematical neuron-physiology,
development of computer software for special biological and medical problems, mathematical
theory of epidemics, use of mathematical programming and reliability theory in biosciences
and mathematical problems in biomechanics, bioengineering and bioelectronics.
4. Mathematics in Engineering and Technology
The use of mathematics of engineering is very well known. It is considered to be the
foundation of engineering. Engineering deals with surveying, levelling, designing, estimating,
construction etc.…, In all these processes, application of mathematics is very important. By
the application of geometric principles to design and constructions, the durability of things
constructed can be increased. With its help, results can often be verified in engineering.
Mathematics has played an important role in the development of mechanical, civil,
aeronautical and chemical engineering through its contributions to mechanics if rigid bodies,
hydro-dynamics, aero-dynamics, heat transfer, lubrication, turbulence, elasticity and others.
5. Mathematics and Agriculture
Agriculture is a science depends extensively on mathematics. It needs a direct application of
mathematics, such as measurement of land area, average investment and expenditure,
average return or income, time and work, seed rate etc. Progress of the farm can be judged
by drawing graphs of different items in production.
6. Mathematics and Economics
The level of mathematical literacy required for personal and social activities is continually
increasing. Mastery of the fundamental processes is necessary for clear thinking. The social
sciences are also beginning to draw heavily upon mathematics. Mathematical language and
methods are used frequently in describing economic phenomena.
7. Mathematics and Psychology
The great educationalist Herbart said, “it is not only possible, but necessary that mathematics
be applied to Psychology”. Now, experimental psychology has become highly mathematical
due to its concern with such factors as intelligence quotient, standard deviation, mean,
median, mode, correlation coefficients and probable errors. Statistical analysis is the only
reliable method of attacking social and psychological phenomena. Until mathematicians
entered into the field of psychology, it was nothing but a flight of imagination.
8. Mathematics and Actuarial Science, Insurance and Finance
Actuaries use mathematics and statistics to make financial sense of the future. For example, if
an organization embarks on a large project, an actuary may analyze the project, assess the
financial risks involved, model the future financial outcomes and advise organization on the
decisions to be made. Much of their work is on pensions, ensuring funds stay solvent long the
future, when current workers have retired.

9. Mathematics and Archaeology

Archaeologists use a variety of mathematical and statistical techniques to present the data
from archaeological surveys and try to distinguish patterns in their results that shed light on
past human behavior. statistical measures are used during excavation to monitor which pits
are most successful and decide on further excavation. Finds are analyzed using statistical and
numerical methods to spot patterns in the way the archaeological record changes over time,
and geographically within a site and across the country. Archaeologists also use statistics to
test the reliability of their interpretations
10. Mathematics and Logic
D’ Alembert says, ‘’Geometry is a practical logic, because in it, rules of reasoning are applied
in the simplest and sensible manner’’. Pascal says, ‘’logic has barrowed the rules of geometry;
the method of avoiding error is sought by everyone. The logicians profess to lead the way, the
geometers alone reach it, and aside from their science there is no true demonstrations”.
11. Mathematics in Music
Leibnitz, the great mathematician said, - “Music is a hidden exercise in arithmetic of mind
unconscious of dealing with numbers”. Pythagoras said “Where harmony is, there are
numbers”. Calculations are the roots of all sorts of advancement in different disciplines. The
rhythm that we find in all music notes is the results of innumerable permutations and
combinations of SAPTSWAR. Music theorists often use mathematics to understand musical
structure and communicate new ways of hearing music. This has led musical applications of
set theory, abstract algebra, and number theory.
12. Mathematics in Arts
“Mathematics and art are just two different languages that can be used to express the same
ideas”. It is considered that the universe is written in the languages of mathematics, and its
characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures. The old Goethe Architecture was
based on geometry. Even the Egyptian pyramids, the greatest feat of human architecture and
engineering, was based on mathematics. Artists who strive and seek to study nature must
therefore first fully understand mathematics. Appreciation of rhythm, proportion, balance and
symmetry postulates a mathematical mind.
13. Mathematics in Philosophy
The function of mathematics in the development of philosophical thought has been very aptly
put by the great educationist Herbart, in his words, “the real finisher of education is
Philosophy, but it is the office of mathematics to ward off the dangers of Philosophy”.
Mathematics occupies a central place between natural Philosophy and mental Philosophy. It
was in their search of distinction between fact and fiction that Plato and other thinkers came
under the influence of Mathematics.

14. Mathematics in Social Networks

Graph theory, text analysis, multidimensional scaling and clusters analysis, and a variety of
specials models are some mathematical techniques used in analyzing data on a variety of
social networks.
15. Mathematics in Political Science
In mathematical Political science, we analyze past election results to see changes in voting
patterns and the influence of various factors on voting behaviors, on switching of votes
among political parties and mathematical models for conflict resolution. Here we use game
theory.
16. Mathematics in Linguistics
The concept of structure and transformation are as important for linguistics as they are for
mathematics. Development of machine languages and comparison with natural and artificial
language require a high degree of mathematical ability. Information theory, mathematical
body, mathematical psychology etc. are all needed in the study of linguistics. Mathematics
has had a great influence on research in literature. In deciding whether a given poem or easy
could have been written by a particular poet or author, we can compare all the characteristics
of the given composition with the characteristics of the poet or other works of the author with
the help of the computer.
17. Mathematics in Management
Mathematics in management is a great challenge to imaginative minds. It is not meant for the
routine thinkers. Different mathematical models are being used to discuss management
problems of hospitals, public health, pollution, educational planning and administration and
similar other problems of social decision. In order to apply mathematics to management, one
must know the mathematical techniques and the conditions under which these techniques are
applicable.
18. Mathematics in Computers
An important area of applications of mathematics is in the development of formal
mathematical theories related to the development of the computer science. Now most
applications of mathematics to science and technology today via computers. The foundations
of computer science are based only on mathematics. It includes, logic, relations, functions,
basic set theory, countability and counting arguments, proof techniques, mathematical
induction, graph theory, combinatory, discrete probability, recursion, recurrence relations, and
number theory, computer oriented numerical analysis, operation research techniques, modern
management techniques like simulation, monte Carlo program, Evaluation Research
Technique, Critical path method, development of new computer languages, study of artificial
intelligence, development of automata theory and etc.
19. Mathematics in Geography
Geography is nothing but a scientific and mathematical description of our earth in its
universe. The dimension and magnitude of earth, its dimension and position in the universe
the formation of days and nights, lunar and solar eclipse s, latitude and longitude, maximum
and minimum rainfall, etc. are some of the numerous learning areas of geography which need
the application of mathematics.
Lesson 6: Appreciating Mathematics as a Human Endeavor
In order to appreciate mathematics much better, every person should have the
thorough understanding of the disciplines as a human endeavor. Mathematics brings impact
to the life a learner, worker, or an ordinary man in society. The influences of mathematics
affect anytime for a lifetime. Mathematics works in the life of all professionals.
Mathematics is appreciated as human endeavors because all professionals and ordinary
people apply its theories and concepts in the office, laboratory and marketplace. According to
Mark Karadimos (2018), the following professions use mathematics in their scope and field of
work:

Accountants assist businesses by working on their taxes and planning for upcoming years.
They work with tax codes and forms, use formulas for calculating interest, and spend a
considerable amount of energy organizing paperwork.
Agriculturists determine the proper amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, and water to produce
bountiful amounts of foods. They must be familiar with chemistry and mixture problems.
Architects design building for structural integrity and beauty. They must know how to
calculate loads for finding acceptable materials in design which involve calculus.
Biologists study in nature to act in concert with it since we are very closely tied to nature.
They use proportions to count animals as well as use statistics/probability.
Chemists find ways to use chemicals to assist people in purifying water, dealing with waste
management, researching superconductors, analyzing crime scenes, making food product and
in working in biologist to study human body.
Computer Programmers create complicated sets of instructions called programs/software
to help us use computers to solve problems. They must have a strong sense of logic and have
critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Engineers (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Material) build products/ structure /systems
like automobiles, buildings, computers, machines, and planes, to name just a few examples.
They cannot escape the frequent use of variety of calculus. Geologists use mathematical
models to find oil and study earthquakes.
Lawyers argues cases using complicated lines or reason. That skill is nurtured by high level
math courses. They also spend a lot of time researching cases, which means learning relevant
codes, laws and ordinances. Building cases demands a strong sense of language with specific
emphasis on hypothesis and conclusions.
Managers maintain schedules, regulate worker performance, and analyze productivity.
Medical Doctors must understand the dynamics systems of the human body. They research
illnesses, carefully administer the proper amounts of medicine, read charts/ tables, and
organize their workload and manage the duties nurses and technicians.
Meteorologists forecast the weather for agriculturists, pilots, vacationers, and those who are
marine-dependent. They read maps, work with computer models, and understand the
mathematical laws of Physics.
Military Personnel carry out a variety of tasks ranging from aircrafts maintenance to
following detailed procedures. Tacticians utilize a branch of mathematics called linear
programming.
Nurses carry out the detailed instructions doctors given them. They adjust intravenous drip
rates, takes vital, dispense medicine, and even assist in operations.
Politicians help solve the social problems of our time by making complicated decisions with
the confines of the law, public opinion, and (hopefully) budgetary restraints.
Salespeople typically work on commission and operate under a buy low, sell high profit
model. Their job requires good interpersonal skills and the ability to estimate basic math
problems without the need of paper/pencil.
Technician repair and maintain the technical gadgets we depend on like computers,
televisions, DVDs, cars, refrigerators. They always read measuring devices, referring to
manuals, and diagnosing system problems.
Tradesmen (carpenters, electricians, mechanics, and plumbers) estimate job costs and use
technical math skills specific to their field. They deal with slopes, areas, volumes, distances
and must have an excellent foundation in math.
To realize the love for and interest mathematics, Annenberg Learner (2017), shared the
following notes that mathematics is everywhere and is always an integral part of human
endeavor.
How can math be so universal? According to Annenberg Learner, first, human beings
didn’t invent math concepts; we discovered them. Math can help us to shop wisely, buy the
right insurance, remodel a home within a budget, understand the population growth, or even
bet on the horse with the best chance of winning the race.
Mathematics is the only language shared by all human beings regardless of culture,
religion, or gender. Pi is still approximately 3.14159 regardless of what country you are in.
Adding up the cost of a basket full of groceries involves the same math process regardless of
the whether the total is expressed in dollars, rubles, or yen. With the universal language, all
for us, no matter what our unit of exchange, are likely to arrive at math results the same
way”.
Being fast in mental arithmetic can save your money when you go to the market.
Mathematics is all around us.
With these, mathematics can be a great aid in all our activities in the world and
deserves huge appreciation and therefore everyone realizes the following:
1. Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities.
2. Mathematics helps predict the behavior of nature and phenomena in the world.
3. Mathematics helps control nature and occurrences in the world for our ends.
4. Mathematics has numerous applications in the world making it indispensable.

Answer the following questions (5-10 sentences).

1. What are the new things that you learned about the nature of mathematics?
2. What aspect of the lesson significant changed your view about mathematics?
3. What is the most important contribution of mathematics in humankind?

IS MATHEMATICS INVENTED OR DISCOVERED?