Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:

Mathematics in Our World

MATHEMATICS IN OUR WORLD

Introduction:

Mathematics, was often foresee as a subject that only deals with numbers.
However, upon its discovery it contributes a lot in building the civilization up to the present
days. You may not realize but even in the simplest activities, you use Mathematics.
Unfortunately, only few appreciate its beauty. Thus, this course aims to provide a deeper
understanding in different perspectives of Mathematics.

In this module, we will learn how amazing Mathematics is in our world. From the
tiniest creature up to the largest, you can infer that Mathematics exist.

Lesson 1: Patterns and Numbers in Nature and the World

A. What is Pattern?
Patterns – repetitive forms or designs that are guided by a rule
Human is capable of determining patterns around, as a creative and
wonderful formations that shows a sense of organization. In a deeper sense, a
thorough identification of connections and relationships behind the occurrence
of patterns, human is able to form generalizations and make predictions.
Through this, some people tend to also see nature as an “intelligent design”
that is made up of balance and proportion called patterns.

B. Types of Patterns in Nature

a. Symmetry – In Mathematics, symmetry is present in an object when it remains

unchanged after applying several transformations such as rotation.

Kinds of Definition Example

Symmetry

Bilateral - also called mirror symmetry, line Human Body

Symmetry symmetry, reflection symmetry Butterfly

- if you draw an imaginary line

across an object, the resulting
parts are mirror images of each
other

https://quatr.us/math/bilateral-symmetry-
geometry.html

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 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

- if an object is rotated by several Snowflakes (six -fold

Rotational degrees, same appearance as symmetry)
Symmetry the original position is still
achieved

https://www.quora.com/What-determines-
the-6-fold-symmetrical-structure-of-a-
snowflake

Angle of Rotation - the smallest Starfish (Five-fold

angle that a figure can be symmetry)
rotated while still preserving the
original formation
n=5
360°
Angle of Rotation =
𝑛
Angle of Rotation of
Starfish
where n is the number of folds of 360° 360°
symmetry = = = 72°
𝑛 5

Hence, if you rotate

the starfish by 72
degrees, you can still
see the original
appearance of that
object.

https://www.ck12.org/c/geometry/rotation-
symmetry/lesson/Rotation-Symmetry-GEOM/

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 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

Translational
Symmetry - if an object is moved to another Wallpaper designs
location, its size and shaped are Fence
not changed

https://www.mathematicsdictionary.com/engl
ish/vmd/full/t/translationalsymmetry.html

b. Fractals – Never-ending patterns: If you zoom in the lens on

the digital image of an object, there are no new details but
they appear as the same as the original image of the
fractal.
Example: Geological fault lines, mountain ranges,
coastlines, animal coloration patterns, pineapples, heart
rates, circulatory system, fern (see photo besides)
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24156288/coloring-the-barnsley-fern-fractal

c. Spirals – These are curved patterns made by

series of circular shapes revolving around a central
point.
Example: Snail’s shell, satellite images of typhoon
(see photo besides), horns of ram, galaxy

https://www.severe-weather.eu/tropical-weather/haishen-korea-typhoon-landfall-mk/

d. Chaos – Created from complicated underlying

behavior: A chaotic pattern is used to describe a
kind of order which lacks predictability.
Example: Vortex street of clouds (see photo
besides), shell of a mollusk

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heard_Island_Karman_vortex_street.jpg

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 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

C. Why these things formed the way they are?

a. Snowflakes
There are different combinations of
complex shapes of snowflakes. However,
many are not perfectly symmetric due to
the effects of humidity and temperature on
the ice crystals as it forms.

https://www.quora.com/What-determines-the-6-fold-symmetrical-structure-of-a-snowflake

b. Honeycombs
What is the shape of beehive’s hole? You
would most probably use a ruler and a compass
to make polygons such as hexagon.
Despite their very small size, bees are able
to produce hexagonal formation of honeycombs.
It is observed that such formation enables the bee
colony to maximize their storage of honey using
the smallest amount of wax.
https://www.tes.com/lessons/uS-7C1IdOUy7Cg/shapes-in-nature

c. Tigers’ Stripes and Hyenas’ Spots

During the growth of cells, chemical reactions and diffusion processes
occurs. According to Allan Turing’s theory, the said growth patterns determined
the stripes of tigers and spots of hyenas. These seemingly random designs are
believed to be governed by mathematical equations.

Tiger: https://in.pinterest.com/amp/pin/822681056915810969/ Hyena: https://ideas.ted.com/everything-you-know-about-hyenas-is-wrong-these-

animals-are-fierce-social-and-incredibly-smart/amp/

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 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

d. The Sunflower
There is a definite pattern of clockwise and counter
clockwise arcs or spirals extending outward from the center
of the flower.
This arrangement allows
the sunflower seeds to occupy
the flower head in a way that
maximizes their access to light
and necessary nutrients.

https://thesmarthappyproject.com/fibonacci-in-a-sunflower/ Photo Owned by JP Valdopeña

e. The Snail’s Shell

When they were born, snails have their fragile
and colorless shell called protoconch. Eventually,
these original shells harden as the snails consume
calcium.
Shells becomes spiral as the snails grow
because it expands proportionately so that they can
continue to live inside their shells. It is even more
visible when the shell is sliced.
https://www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/248401735668513670/

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT

 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

It’s your turn for an exercise!

Exercise 1.1.1: Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. What is the angle of rotation of the recycle symbol? Show your solution.

2. Which of the following is not symmetric: human body, a pair of shoes, fan blade,
letter G in alphabet, pair of earrings? Why?

3. What type of patterns in nature has a never-ending pattern? _______________

4. What are the missing terms in the sequence: J, F, M, A, M, J, __, __, __, __, __, D?
Why?

5. What are the next terms in the sequence: 10, 35, 60, 85, __? How?

6.

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT

 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

Lesson 2: The Fibonacci Sequence

A. Sequence is an ordered list of numbers, called terms, that may have repeated
values. The arrangement of these terms is set by a definite rule.
Example:
 1, 10, 100, 1000
The rule is that the terms are powers of 10 (100, 101, 102, 103), or multiplying
each term by 10 to derive the next term.

 2, 5, 9, 14, 20
The first term is 2. The 2nd term is derived by adding 3 to 1st term, 2+3 = 5. for
the 3rd term, 5+4 = 9. And the 4th term is 9+5 = 14. You can see that differences
between terms are the consecutive numbers 3, 4, 5. Hence, for the last term,
14+6 = 20.

B. Fibonacci Sequence

 It is a special type of sequence made up of

Fibonacci numbers

 It is named after Italian mathematician

Leonardo of Pisa, known by his nickname
Fibonacci (In some reference, his name is
Leonardo Pisano Bigolio.)

 He discovered this sequence by looking how a

hypothesized group of rabbits bred and
reproduced.
https://www.thoughtco.com/leonardo-pisano-fibonacci-biography-2312397

 Generating the next term by adding the two previous terms:

Starting with 0 and 1 as 1st and 2nd term:
0+1=1 (3rd term)
1+1=2 (4th term)
1+2=3 (5th term)
2+3=5 (6th term)
3+5=8 (7th term)

 Hence, the Fibonacci numbers are 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, …

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT

 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

 This sequence is very visible in nature:

 spiral arrangement of sunflower seeds,

 shape of snail’s shell

 number of petals in a flower

http://centerofmathematics.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-fibonacci-sequence-and-golden-ratio.html

Other flowers with different Fibonacci number of petals:

3 petals – iris, trillium;
5 petals – buttercup, columbine, hibiscus;
8 petals – clematis, delphinium;
13 petals – ragwort, marigold;

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT

 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

C. The Golden Ratio

Try to choose two consecutive Fibonacci numbers from the sequence
then get the ratio of the larger Fibonacci number to the smaller Fibonacci
number. Let’s try and we will get the following:

Consecutive Fibonacci Numbers Operation (Larger/ Smaller) Ratio

0 and 1 1/0 Undefined
1 and 1 1/1 1
1 and 2 2/1 2
2 and 3 3/2 1.5
3 and 5 5/3 1.667
5 and 8 8/5 1.6
8 and 13 13/8 1.625
13 and 21 21/13 1.615
21 and 34 34/21 1.619
34 and 55 55/34 1.618
55 and 89 89/55 1.618
89 and 144 144/89 1.618
144 and 233 233/144 1.618
233 and 377 377/233 1.618
377 and 610 610/377 1.618
 The ratios of successive Fibonacci numbers approach 𝜙 (Phi), also known as the
Golden Ratio which is approximately equal to 1.618.
 This ratio is visible in many works of art and architecture such as in the Mona Lisa,
the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Parthenon.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/310115124314774720/ https://misfitsarchitecture.com/parthenon-with-golden-ratio/

It’s your turn for an exercise!

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT

 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

Exercise 1.2.1: Directions: Given that the 1st term of the Fibonacci sequence is 0,
find the following.

1. What is the 20th term of the Fibonacci Sequence?

2. Find the sum of the 17th and 18th Fibonacci numbers.

3. Find the ratio between the 20th and 19th Fibonacci numbers.

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT

 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

Lesson 3: Aspects of Mathematics

Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in the world.

Mathematics helps predict the behavior of nature and phenomena in the world,
as well as helps humans exert control over occurrences in the world for the
advancement of our civilization.

Aspects of Definition Example

Mathematics
A. Mathematics Mathematical tools store gathering data the
for Organization help us in making shopping habits of customers,
sound analysis and
better decisions in our time management, and
day-to-day activities.
budgeting allowance
B. Mathematics for Using probability, Weather: Based on historical
Prediction experts can calculate patterns, meteorologists can
the chance of an make forecasts to help us
event to occur. prepare for our day-to-day
activities.
- future events can
be predicted Astronomers also use patterns to
predict the occurrence of
meteor showers or eclipses.
C. Mathematics “Man is also able to “The threat of climate change
for Control exert control over and global warming has been
himself and the the subject of much debate over
effects of nature.” the years.

To ensure that greenhouse gas

concentrations in the
atmosphere are kept at levels
that would not interfere with the
climate system, the United
Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
was signed in 1992 and has 197
parties as of December 2015.”

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 Mathematics in the Modern World | Chapter 1:
Mathematics in Our World

It’s your turn for an exercise!

Exercise 1.2.1: Directions: Classify the following whether Mathematics is used for
Organization, Prediction, or Control. Write your answer on the blank.

________________1. In order to finish your school tasks before the deadline, you
make schedule of when and what you are going to do.

________________2. Fishermen know in advance that when it is full moon, they

encounter difficulties in catching fishes.

________________3. Your family owned a dress shop, to attract customers, you

gather data about the current trend on dresses and make adjustments on your
items.

Prepared by: IVY JOY N. AGUIFLOR, LPT