MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE

MATHEMATICS
IN THE

MODERN WORLD

Learning Modules
by

Jose Alejandro R. Belen

Neil M. Mame
 Israel P. Piñero

2020

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

LEARNING MODULES
IN
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

FOREWORD
Mathematics in the Modern World is a general education course that deals with
the nature of mathematics. It is concerned with the appreciation of its practical,
intellectual, aesthetic, and application of mathematical tools in daily life. Its
primary objective is to educate and secondarily to train learners in this area of
discipline. On educative side, it aims to equip students with necessary intelligence
to become leaders and partakers in nation building. While on the training side, it
provides them necessary and sufficient skills that they can harness in order to
combat the challenges of daily living.

This learning material being guided by CHED CMO No. 20, series of 2013, is divided
into several modules encompassing both the nature of mathematics and the utility
of mathematics in the modern world. Each module is subdivided into a number of
lessons designed to introduce each topic pedagogically in a management fashion
intended for independent learning. Learning activities as well as Chapter Tests are
provided in compliance with the learning plan suggested by the Commission on
Higher Education and of the Institution.
Module 1 is concerned with the mathematics in our world. It provides a new way
of looking at mathematics as a science of patterns. Basically, it encapsulates the
entirety of the course by providing insights that mathematical structure is
embedded in the structure of the natural world.

Module 2 is focused on mathematical language. It expounded the idea that like

any language, mathematics has its own symbols, syntax and rules. It explained the
conventions and usefulness of mathematics as a language.

Module 3 discussed about problem solving and reasoning. It asserted that

mathematics is not just about numbers and much of it is problem solving and

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reasoning. It recalibrated the learner’s problem solving skills, by providing new

understanding on the relevance of the Polya’s method in solving mathematical
problems.

Module 4 introduced the mathematical system. It was a recreational mathematics

that finally put into the limelight at the dawn of the modern world. Its utilization
served as a backbone of commerce in the information age. It is an indispensable
tool of the modern time.

Module 5 is entitled Data Management. It explained that statistical tools derived

from mathematics are useful in processing and managing numerical data in order
to describe a phenomenon and predict values. It is intended to go beyond the
typical understanding as merely set of formulas but as tools that can decode
nature’s numbers.

Module 6 explored the very fabric that woven of mathematical landscape. It is the
art and science of correct thinking and reasoning: Logic. It disciplined learner’s
understanding by exploring the application of formal logic to mathematics.

Module 7 is an innovative mathematical concept concerning network and

connectivity. It basically concerned on how networks can be encoded and solved
economically. It challenges the mind of the learner to metaphorically settle the
Konigsberg Bridge Problem of the modern world.

Over-all the modules comprising this book are eclectically treated in such a way
that both interpretative and applicative dimensions of learning become an integral
part of the lesson presented, and the learning activities as well.

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Table of Contents

FOREWORD................................................................................................................................................. 3
MODULE 1: THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS ............................................................................................. 7
The Mathematics of Our World .............................................................................................................. 8
The Mathematics in Our World ............................................................................................................ 18
The Fibonacci Sequence........................................................................................................................ 29
Chapter Test 1....................................................................................................................................... 36
MODULE 2: MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS......................................................................... 40
Characteristics and Conventions in the Mathematical Language ......................................................... 40
Four Basic Concepts.............................................................................................................................. 51
Logic and Formality............................................................................................................................... 78
Chapter Test 2....................................................................................................................................... 85
MODULE 3:PROBLEM SOLVING AND REASONING.................................................................................... 96
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning...................................................................................................... 96
Intuition, Proof and Certainty ............................................................................................................. 108
Polya’s Four Steps in Problem Solving ................................................................................................ 128
Mathematical Problems Involving Patterns........................................................................................ 136
Recreational Problems Using Mathematics ........................................................................................ 145
 Chapter Test 3..................................................................................................................................... 152
MODULE 4: MATHEMATICAL SYSTEM .................................................................................................... 158
Modular Arithmetic ............................................................................................................................ 158
Operations on Modular Arithmetic..................................................................................................... 170
Applications of Modular Arithmetic.................................................................................................... 177
Group Theory...................................................................................................................................... 193
Chapter Test 4..................................................................................................................................... 206
MODULE 5:DATA MANAGEMENT........................................................................................................... 215
The Data.............................................................................................................................................. 216
Measures of Central Tendency ........................................................................................................... 226
Measures of Dispersion ...................................................................................................................... 235

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Measures of Relative Position............................................................................................................. 242

The Normal Distributions.................................................................................................................... 254
The Linear Correlation: Pearson r ....................................................................................................... 266
The Least-Squares Regression Line ..................................................................................................... 273
Chapter Test 5..................................................................................................................................... 279

MODULE 6: LOGIC .................................................................................................................................. 288

Logic Statements and Quantifiers....................................................................................................... 289
Truth Tables, Equivalent Statements, and Tautology.......................................................................... 298
Switching Networks and Logic Gates .................................................................................................. 312
The Conditional and Related Statements............................................................................................ 234
Symbolic Argument............................................................................................................................. 328
Chapter Test 6..................................................................................................................................... 330
MODULE 7: MATHEMATICS OF GRAPHS................................................................................................. 335
Graphs and Eulerian Circuit ................................................................................................................ 336
Graph Coloring.................................................................................................................................... 361
Chapter Test 7..................................................................................................................................... 367
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MODULE ONE

THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

CORE IDEA
Module One is an introduction to the nature of mathematics
as an exploration of patterns. It is a useful way to think about
nature and our world.

Learning Outcome:
1. To identify patterns in nature and regularities in the world.
 2. To articulate importance of mathematics in one’s life.
3. To argue about the nature of mathematics, what it is, how it
is expressed, represented, and used.
4. Express appreciation of mathematics as a human endeavor.

Unit Lessons:

🕞
Lesson 1.1 Mathematics of Our World
Lesson 1.2 Mathematics in Our World
Lesson 1.3 Mathematics of Sequence

Time Allotment: Four lecture hours

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Lesson

1.1 The Mathematics of Our 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.
Lesson 1.1 does not only attempt to explain the essence of mathematics, it serves
also as a hindsight of the entire course. The backbone of this lesson draws from
the Stewart’s ideas embodied in his book entitled Nature’s Numbers. The lesson
provides new perspective to understand the irregularity and chaos of our world as
we move through the landscape of regularity and order. It poses some thought
provoking questions to draw one’s innate mathematical intelligence by making one
curious, not so much to seek answers, but to ask more right questions.

Discussions
The Nature of Mathematics

In the book of Stewart, Nature’s Number, he that mathematics is a formal system

of thought that was gradually developed in the human mind and evolved in the

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human 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 their
surroundings. 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 realization of 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 and touch.
Mathematics is our sense to decipher patterns, relationships, and logical
connections. It is our whole new way to see and understand the modern world.

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

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 to

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observe, hypothesize, experiment, discover, and recreate. On the other hand,

mathematics is an art and a process of thinking. For it involves reasoning, which
can be inductive or deductive, and it applies methods of proof both in fashion that
is conventional and unventional.

Mathematics is Everywhere
We use mathematics in their daily tasks and activities. It is our important tool in
the field of sciences, humanities, literature, medicine, and even in music and arts;
it is in the rhythm of our daily activities, operational in our communities, and a
default system of our culture. There is mathematics wherever we go. It helps us
cook delicious 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 with constrained budget with utmost economy.

Source: Space Telescope Science/NASA

The Universe
Figure 1.2

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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 their
regularities, and patiently waiting for the signature of some kind interference. It is
only by observing the abundance of patterns scattered everywhere that this
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 natural
order 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 usto take the complex processes
that is naturally occuring in the world around us and it represents them by
utilizing logic to make things more organized and more efficient.

Further, mathematics also facilitate 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

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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. It

is 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 (Vistru
Yu PPT presentation).

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 encapsulate to finite.
Even those something that is hard to express in decimal form can be expressed in
terms of fractions. Those things that seemed eternal ℤ can 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 are

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intricately “fertilized” by reasoning, analytical, critical thinking and 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 patternless 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 on the “thingification” 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.
For most, 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 a 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 the

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components 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. (Vistru-Yu)

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. (Vistru-Yu).

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 they

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are beneficial in generating conclusions and in predicting events. It is because they

provide clues. The clues that make us realize that interference in the motion of
heavenly 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 effect as much as we are so curious to know why the
“die” of the physical world play god.

“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]

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Learning Activity 1.1

Answer one of the following questions (15-20 lines) and submit your
answer to your course facilitator.

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?

Observe the following this format:

Paper Margin Orientation Paper Size Font Font All Line Page
Substance Type Size Spacing Number
(if printed)

20 Normal Portrait 8.5 x 13 Arial 12 1.5 Page x of x

Justified

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Lesson

1.2 The Mathematics in Our World

Specific Objective

: 1. To develop one’s understanding about patterns; 2. To identify

different patterns in nature;
3. To recognize different symmetries in nature; and
4. To explain the presence of Fibonacci numbers in nature

The mathematics in our world is rooted in patterns. Patterns are all around us.
Finding and understanding patterns give us great power to play like god. With
patterns, we can discover and understand new things; we learn to predict and
ultimately control the future for our own advantage.

A pattern is a structure, form, or design that is regular, consistent, or recurring.

Patterns can be found in nature, in human-made designs, or in abstract ideas. They
occur in different contexts and various forms. Because patterns are repetitive and
duplicative, their underlying structure regularities can be modelled
mathematically. In general sense, any regularity that can be explained
mathematically is a pattern. Thus, an investigation of nature’s patterns is an
investigation of nature’s numbers. This means that the relationships can be
observed, that logical connections can be established, that generalizations can be
inferred, that future events can be predicted, and that control can possibly be
possible.

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Discussions

Different Kinds of Pattern

As we look at the world around us, we can sense the orchestrating great regularity
and diversity of living and non-living things. The symphonies vary from tiny to
gigantic, from simple to complex, and from dull to the bright. The kaleidoscope of
patterns is everywhere and they make the nature look only fascinating but also
intriguing. Paradoxically, it seemed that everything in the world follows a pattern
of their own and tamed by the same time pattern of their own.

Patterns of Visuals. Visual patterns are often unpredictable, never quite

repeatable, and often contain fractals. These patterns are can be seen from the
seeds and pinecones to the branches and leaves. They are also visible in
self-similar replication of trees, ferns, and plants throughout nature.

Patterns of Flow. The flow of liquids provides an inexhaustible supply of nature’s

patterns. Patterns of flow are usually found in the water, stone, and even in the
growth of trees. There is also a flow pattern present in meandering rivers with the
repetition of undulating lines.

Patterns of Movement. In the human walk, the feet strike the ground in a regular
rhythm: the left-right-left-right-left rhythm. When a horse, a four-legged creature
walks, there is more of a complex but equally rhythmic pattern. This prevalence of
pattern in locomotion extends to the scuttling of insects, the flights of birds, the
pulsations of jellyfish, and also the wave-like movements of fish, worms, and
snakes.

Patterns of Rhythm. Rhythm is conceivably the most basic pattern in nature. Our
hearts and lungs follow a regular repeated pattern of sounds or movement whose
timing is adapted to our body’s needs. Many of nature’s rhythms are most likely

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similar to a heartbeat, while others are like breathing. The beating of the heart, as
well as breathing, have a default pattern.

Patterns of Texture. A texture is a quality of a certain object that we sense through

touch. It exists as a literal surface that we can feel, see, and imagine. Textures are
of many kinds. It can be bristly, and rough, but it can also be smooth, cold, and
hard.

Geometric Patterns. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern which consists of a

series of shapes that are typically repeated. These are regularities in the natural
world that are repeated in a predictable manner. Geometrical patterns are usually
visible on cacti and succulents.

Patterns Found in Nature

Common patterns appear in nature, just like what we see when we look closely at
plants, flowers, animals, and even at our bodies. These common patterns are all
incorporated in many natural things.

Waves and Dunes

 A wave
is any form of disturbance that carries energy as it moves. Waves are of different
kinds: mechanical waves which propagate through a medium ---- air or water,
making it oscillate as waves pass by. Wind waves, on the other hand, are

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surface waves that create the chaotic patterns of the sea. Similarly, water waves
are created by energy passing through water causing it to move in a circular
motion. Likewise, ripple patterns and dunes are formed by sand wind as they pass
over the sand.

Spots and Stripes

We can
see patterns like spots on the skin of a giraffe. On the other hand, stripes are
visible on the skin of a zebra. Patterns like spots and stripes that are commonly
present in different organisms are results of a reaction-diffusion system (Turing,
1952). The size and the shape of the pattern depend on how fast the chemicals
diffuse and how strongly they interact.

Spirals
 Jean Beaufort has released this “Spiral
Galaxy” image under Public Domain license

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The spiral patterns exist on the scale of the cosmos to the minuscule forms of
microscopic animals on earth. The Milky Way that contains our Solar System is a
barred spiral galaxy with a band of bright stars emerging from the center running
across the middle of it. Spiral patterns are also common and noticeable among
plants and some animals. Spirals appear in many plants such as pinecones,
pineapples, and sunflowers. On the other hand, animals like ram and kudu also
have spiral patterns on their horns.

Symmetries

In mathematics, if a figure can be folded or divided into two with two halves which
are the same, such figure is called a symmetric figure. Symmetry has a vital role in
pattern formation. It is used to classify and organize information about patterns by
classifying the motion or deformation of both pattern structures and processes.
There are many kinds of symmetry, and the most important ones are reflections,
rotations, and translations. These kinds of symmetries are less formally called flips,
turns, and slides.

Reflection symmetry, sometimes called line symmetry or mirror symmetry,

captures symmetries when the left half of a pattern is the same as the right half.
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Rotations, also known as rotational symmetry, captures symmetries when it still
looks the same after some rotation (of less than one full turn). The degree of
rotational symmetry of an object is recognized by the number of distinct
orientations in which it looks the same for each rotation.

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Translations. This is another type of symmetry. Translational symmetry exists in
patterns that we see in nature and in man-made objects. Translations acquire
symmetries when units are repeated and turn out having identical figures, like the
bees’ honeycomb with hexagonal tiles.

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Symmetries in Nature

From the structure of subatomic particles to that of the entire universe, symmetry
is present. The presence of symmetries in nature does not only attract our visual
sense, but also plays an integral and prominent role in the way our life works.
identical halves.
Animal Movement
Human Body
The symmetry of motion is present in
The human body is one of the pieces
animal movements. When animals move,
of evidence that there is symmetry
we can see that their movements also
in nature. Our body exhibits bilateral
exhibit symmetry.
symmetry. It can be divided into two

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Snowflakes
Sunflower Snowflakes have six-fold radial
One of the most interesting things symmetry. The ice crystals that
about a sunflower is that it contains make-up the snowflakes are
both radial and bilateral symmetry. symmetrical or patterned. The
What appears to be "petals" in the intricate shape of a single arm of a
outer ring are actually small flowers snowflake is very much similar to
also known as ray florets. These small the other arms. This only proves
flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. On that symmetry is present in a
the other hand, the dark inner ring of snowflake.
the sunflower is a cluster of radially
symmetrical disk florets.
Honeycombs/Beehive
Honeycombs or beehives are examples
of wallpaper symmetry. This kind of
symmetry is created when a pattern is
repeated until it covers a plane. Beehives
are made of walls with each side having
the same size enclosed with small
hexagonal cells. Inside these cells, honey
and pollen are stored and bees are
raised.

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Starfish
Starfish have a radial fivefold symmetry. Each arm portion of the starfish is
identical to each of the
other regions.
Fibonacci in Nature

By learning about nature, it becomes gradually evident that the nature is

essentially mathematical, and this is one of the reasons why explaining nature is
dependent on mathematics. Mathematics has the power to unveil the inherent
beauty of the natural world.

In describing the amazing variety of phenomena in nature we stumble to discover

the existence of Fibonacci numbers. It turns out that the Fibonacci numbers
appear from the smallest up to the biggest objects in the natural world. This
presence of Fibonacci numbers in nature, which was once existed realm
mathematician’s curiously, is considered as one of the biggest mysteries why the
some patterns in nature is Fibonacci. But one thing is definitely made certain, and
that what seemed solely mathematical is also natural.

For instance, many flowers display figures adorned with numbers of petals that are
in the Fibonacci sequence. The classic five-petal flowers are said to be the most

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common among them. These include the buttercup, columbine, and hibiscus.
Aside from those flowers with five petals, eight-petal flowers like clematis and
delphinium also have the Fibonacci numbers, while ragwort and marigold have
thirteen. These numbers are all Fibonacci numbers.
Apart from the counts of flower petals, the Fibonacci also occurs in nautilus shells
with a logarithmic spiral growth. Multiple Fibonacci spirals are also present in
pineapples and red cabbages. The patterns are all consistent and natural.

Learning Activity 1.2

Synthesis

I. Read the entire book entitled Nature’s Numbers by Stewart.

II. Write synthesis about all the things that you learned about nature’s
numbers.

III. It is highly recommended that at the outset, an outline must be made.

IV. Please ensure that topic sentence can be clearly understood. -Your topic
sentence must be supported by at least three arguments.

V. Your synthesis must be around 1400-1500 words.

VI. Rules on referencing and citation must be strictly observed.
VII. You may use either MLA or APA system.
VIII. The last page must contain the references or bibliography. IX.
Write your name, student number, email address at the last page X.
Please observe the following format:

28
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Paper Margin Orientation Paper Size Font Font All Line Page
Substance Type Size Spacing Number
(if printed)

20 Normal Portrait 8.5 x 13 Arial 12 1.5 Page x of x

Justified

Please bear in mind the following criteria for grading your work.
 0 Point : The student unable to elicit the ideas and concepts.
1 Point : The student is able to elicit the ideas and concepts but shows erroneous
understanding of these.
2 Points: The student is able to elicit the ideas and concepts and shows correct
understanding of these.
3 Points: The students not only elicits the correct ideas but also shows evidence of
internalizing these.
4 Points: The student elicits the correct ideas, shows evidence of internalizing these, and
consistently contributes additional thoughts to the Core Idea.

Lesson

1.3 The Fibonacci Sequence

Specific Objectives

1. To define sequence and its types

2. To differentiate Fibonacci sequence from other types of sequence
3. To discover golden ratio and golden rectangle; and
4. To learn how to compute for the nth term in the Fibonacci Sequence

As we have discussed in the preceding lesson, human mind is capable of

identifying and organizing patterns. We were also to realized that there are
structures and patterns in nature that we don’t usually draw attention to.
Likewise, we arrived at a position that in nature, some things follow
mathematical sequences and one of them follow the Fibonacci sequence.
We noticed that these sequences is observable in some flower petals, on
the spirals of some shells and even on sunflower seeds. It is amazing to
think

29
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

that the Fibonacci sequence is dramatically present in nature and it opens

the door to understand seriously the nature of sequence.
Discussion

Sequence

Sequence refers to an ordered list of numbers called terms, that may have
repeated values. The arrangement of these terms is set by a definite rule.
(Mathematics in the Modern World, 14th Edition, Aufmann, RN. et al.).
Cosider the given below example:

1, 3, 5, 7, …
(1stterm) (2nd term) (3rd term) (4th term)

As shown above, the elements in the sequence are called terms. It is called
sequence because the list is ordered and it follows a certain kind of pattern
that must be recognized in order to see the expanse. The three dots at the
end of the visible patterns means that the sequence is infinite.

There are different types of sequence and the most common are the
arithmetic sequence, geometric sequence, harmonic sequence, and
Fibonacci sequence.

Arithmetic sequence. It is a sequence of numbers that follows a definite

pattern. To determine if the series of numbers follow an arithmetic
sequence, check the difference between two consecutive terms. If common
difference is observed, then definitely arithmetic sequence governed the
pattern. To clearly illustrate the arrangement, consider the example below:

2,
4, 6, 8, 10, 12 …
2 2 2 2 230
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Notice in the given example above, the common difference between two
consecutive terms in the sequence is two. The common difference is the
clue that must be figure out in a pattern in order to recognize it as an
arithmetic sequence.

Geometric sequence. If in the arithmetic sequence we need to check for

the common difference, in geometric sequence we need to look for the
common ratio. The illustrated in the example below, geometric sequence is
not as obvious as the arithmetic sequence. All possibilities must be explored
until some patterns of uniformity can intelligently be struck. At first it may
seemed like pattern less but only by digging a little bit deeper that we can
finally delve the constancy. That is 28,832,32
128,, … generate 4, 4, 4,…

2, 8, 32, 128, …

444
Harmonic Sequence. In the sequence, the reciprocal of the terms behaved
in a manner like arithmetic sequence. Consider the example below and
notice an interesting pattern in the series. With this pattern, the reciprocal
appears like arithmetic sequence. Only in recognizing the appearance that
we can finally decode the sequencing the govern the series.

1 1 1 1
2 4, 6, 8, 10, …
,
1

Fibonacci Sequence. This specific sequence was named after an Italian

mathematician Leonardo Pisano Bigollo (1170 - 1250). He discovered the
sequence while he was studying rabbits. The Fibonacci sequence is a
series
31
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

of numbers governed by some unusual arithmetic rule. The sequence is

organized in a way a number can be obtained by adding the two previous
numbers.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, …

0 + 1 = 1 0, 1, 1
1 + 1 = 2 0, 1, 1, 2
1 + 2 = 3 0, 1, 1, 2, 3
2 + 3 = 5 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5

Notice that the number 2 is actually the sum of 1 and 1. Also the 5th term
which is number 5 is based on addition of the two previous terms 2, and 3.
That is the kind of pattern being generated by the Fibonacci sequence. It is
infinite in expanse and it was once purely maintained claim as a
mathematical and mental exercise but later on the it was observed that the
ownership of this pattern was also being claimed by some species of
flowers, petals, pineapple, pine cone, cabbages and some shells.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, …

To explore a little bit more about the Fibonacci sequence, the location of
the term was conventionally tagged as Fib(��). This means that
Fib(1)=1, Fib(2)=1, Fib(3)=2 and Fib(4)=3. In this method, the Fib(��)
is actually referring to the the ��th term of the sequence. It is also
possible to make some sort of addition in this sequence. For instance:

Fib (2) + Fib (6) = _?__

Fib(2) refers to the 2nd term in the sequence which is “1”. And Fib(6) refers
to the 6th term which is “8”. So, the answer to that equation is simply “9”

Formula for computing for the nth term in the Fibonacci Sequence

xn = φn − (1−φ)n
√5
 32
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Where:
Xn stands for the Fibonacci number we’re looking for
N stands for the position of the number in the Fibonacci sequence
Φ stands for the value of the golden ratio

Let us try for example: What is the 5th Fibonacci number? By using the formula we’ll
get:
X5 = (1.618)5 − (1−1.618)5
√5

X5= 5

The amazing grandeur of Fibonacci sequence was also discovered in the

structure of Golden rectangle. The golden rectangle is made up of
squares whose sizes, surprisingly is also behaving similar to the Fibonacci
sequence. Take a serious look at the figure:

The Golden Ratio

33

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

As we can see in the figure, there is no complexity in forming a spiral with

the use of the golden rectangle starting from one of the sides of the first
Fibonacci square going to the edges of each of the next squares. This
golden rectangle shows that the Fibonacci sequence is not only about
sequence of numbers of some sort but it is also a geometric sequence
observing a rectangle ratio. The spiral line generated by the ratio is
generously scattered around from infinite to infinitesimal.

34
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Learning Activity 1.3

I. Identify what type of sequence is the one below and supply the sequence with the
next two terms:

1. 1, 4, 7, 10, _, _? Type of Sequence: ____________________ 2. 80, 40, 20,

_, _ ? Type of Sequence: ____________________ 3. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, _, _ ?

Type of Sequence: ____________________ 4. 56, 46, 36, 26, _, _ ? Type of

 Sequence: ____________________ 5. 2, 20, 200, 2000, _, _ ? Type of

Sequence: ____________________

II. Compute for the following Fibonacci numbers and perform the given

operation: 1. What if Fib (13) ?

2. What is Fib (20) ?

3. What is Fib (8) + Fib (9) ?

4. What is Fib (1) * Fib (7) + Fib (12) – Fib (6) ?

5. What is the sum of Fib (1) up to Fib (10) ?

35
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Chapter Test 1
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer and write it on the blank provided at
the of the test paper.

____________ 1. What is said to be the most basic pattern in nature?

A. Pattern of Flow C. Pattern of Rhythm

B. Pattern of Movement D. Pattern of Visuals

____________2. This kind of pattern is unpredictable and it often contains fractals.

A. Geometric Patterns C. Pattern of Movement

 B. Pattern of Forms D. Pattern of Visuals

____________3. What kind of pattern is a series of shapes that are repeating?

A. Geometric Pattern C. Pattern of Texture

B. Pattern of Flows D. Pattern of Visuals

____________4. Among the following, what is not a type of symmetry?

A. Reflection C. Transformation

B. Rotation D. Translation

____________5. All of the following statements are correct about Fibonacci except one:

A. The logarithmic spiral growth of the Nautilus shell

B. The total number of family members correspond to a Fibonacci number.

C. Fibonacci numbers are the root of the discovery of the secret behind sunflower seeds.

D. The numbers of petals of almost all flowers in the world correspond to the Fibonacci
numbers.

____________6. What type of sequence deals with common ratio?

36
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

A. Arithmetic Sequence C. Geometric Sequence B. Fibonacci Sequence

D. Harmonic Sequence

____________7. What is the sum of Fib (10) + Fib(5) ?

A. 58 C. 60

B. 59 D. 61

____________8. What is Fib (12) ?

A. 144 C. 377

B. 233 D. 89
____________9. What are the next two terms of the sequence, 8, 17, 26, 35?

A. 49, 58 C. 44, 53

B. 39, 48 D. 54, 63

____________10. What type of sequence is 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, … ? A.

Fibbonacci Sequence C. Fibonacci Sequence B. Fibonaacii Sequence D.

Fibonacii Sequence

ANSWER KEY

37
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

1. C 6. C
2. D 7. C
3. A 8. B
4. C 9. C
5. B 10. C

References
Akshay, A. (n.d.). 13 Reasons Why Math is Important. Https://Lifehacks.Io/. Retrieved from
 https://lifehacks.io/reasons-why-math-is-important/

A. (2019, September 12). An Ode to Math, Mathematics in Nature.

Https://Www.Minuteschool.Com/. Retrieved from
https://www.minuteschool.com/2019/09/an-ode-to-math-mathematics-in-nature/

ASIASOCIETY.ORG. (n.d.). Understanding the World Through Math | Asia Society.

Https://Asiasociety.Org. Retrieved from https://asiasociety.org/education/understanding
world-through-math

Coolman, R. (2015, June 5). What is Symmetry? | Live Science. Https://Www.Livescience.Com/.

Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/51100-what-is-symmetry.html
Discovery Cube. (2018, February 2). Moment of Science: Patterns in Nature.
Discoverycube.Org/Blog. Retrieved from https://www.discoverycube.org/blog/moment
science-patterns-in-nature/

Fibonacci Number Patterns. (n.d.). Http://Gofiguremath.Org. Retrieved from

http://gofiguremath.org/natures-favorite-math/fibonacci-numbers/fibonacci-number
patterns/
Grant, S. (2013, April 21). 10 Beautiful Examples of Symmetry In Nature. Https://Listverse.Com/.
Retrieved from https://listverse.com/2013/04/21/10-beautiful-examples-of-symmetry-in
nature/

H., E. J. (2013, August 16). What is Mathematics? Https://Www.Livescience.Com/. Retrieved

from https://www.livescience.com/38936-mathematics.html

Irish Times. (2018, October 18). Who Uses Maths? Almost Everyone! Https://Thatsmaths.Com/.
Retrieved from https://thatsmaths.com/2018/10/18/who-uses-maths-almost-everyone/

38
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Natural Patterns. (n.d.). Ecstep.Com. Retrieved from https://ecstep.com/natural-patterns/

Symmetry- Reflection and Rotation. (n.d.). Https://Www.Mathsisfun.Com/Index.Htm. Retrieved

from https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry.html
The Franklin Institute. (n.d.-b). Math Patterns in Nature. Https://Www.Fi.Edu. Retrieved from
https://www.fi.edu/math-patterns-nature

The numbers of nature- the Fibonacci sequence - Eniscuola. (2016, June 27).
Http://Www.Eniscuola.Net/En/. Retrieved from
http://www.eniscuola.net/en/2016/06/27/the-numbers-of-nature-the-fibonacci-sequence/

Times Reporter. (2014, April 22). Mathematics is for Everyone. Https://Www.Newtimes.Co.Rw/.

Retrieved from https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/74768

Sequence, Mathematics in the Modern World, 14th edition, Aufmann, R, N Et. Al

Golden ratio, Math is Fun Retrieved from: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/golden-ratio.html
Golden rectangle pictures, Retrieved and adapted from:
https://www.google.com/search?q=golden+rectangle&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahU
KEwjtwuCWjJrrAhWuyosBHbQqD7cQ_AUoAXoECBMQAw&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=NUu89gD
wOnuyNM

Basic Statistical Analysis, Sprinthall, Richard C, 4 th Edition, Ally and Bacon 1992 Massachusetts

Guilford, J. P. (1956). Fundamental statistics in psychology and Education (3rd. ed.). New York:
McGrawHill, p.145.

Yount, William R. Research Design & Statistical Analysis in Christian Ministry 4 th Edition.
(USA, 2006)

Mathematical Excurcions, Aufmann R, N retrieved from http://MATHEMATICAL

EXCURSIONS-Richard-N.-Aufmann-Joanne-Lockwood-Richard-D.N.pdf

Mathematics in the Modern World (Calingasan, Martin & Yambao) C & E Publishing, Inc. 2018
(Quezon City)

https://www.calculator.net/z-score-calculator.html

Turing The chemical basis of morphogenesis Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B, 237
(1952), p. 36

39
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

MODULE TWO

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

CORE IDEA

Like any language, mathematics has its own symbols, syntax and rules.

Learning Outcome:

1. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics.

 2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
3. Perform operations on mathematical expressions correctly.
4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language.

🕞 Time Allotment: Four (4) lecture hours

Lesson
Specific Objective
3.1
At the end of this lesson, the student should be
able to:

1. Understand what mathematical language is.

2. Name different characteristics of mathematics.
3. Compare and differentiate natural language
into a
mathematical language and expressions into
sentences.
4. Familiarize and name common symbols use in
mathematical expressions and sentences.
5. Translate a sentence into a mathematical
symbol.

Introduction:
Characteristics and Conventions in Have you read about one of the story in the bible
known as “The Tower of Babel?”
the
Mathematical Language
This story is about constructing a tower in able to reach its top to heaven; the Kingdom of God.

40
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

At first, the construction of a tower is smoothly being done since all of the workers have only one
and only one language. But God disrupted the work of the people by making their language
different from each other. There were a language barrier and the people were confused what the
other people are talking about resulting the tower was never finished and the people were spread
in all over and different places of the earth.

Based on the story, what was the most important thing that people should have in
order to accomplish a certain task? Yes, a “language”. Language is one of the most important
thing among the people because it has an important role in communication. But the question is,
what is language? Why is it so important? In this module, we will be discussing about
mathematical relative on what you have learned in your English subject.

Discussion:
 For sure you may be asked what the real meaning of a language is. Perhaps you could say
that language is the one we use in able to communicate with each other or this is one of your
lessons in English or in your Filipino subject. According to Cambridge English Dictionary, a
language is a system of communication consisting of sounds, words and grammar, or the system
of communication used by people in a particular country or type of work.

Did you know that mathematics is a language in itself? Since it is a language also,
mathematics is very essential in communicating important ideas. But most mathematical
language is in a form of symbols. When we say that “Five added by three is eight”, we could
translate this in symbol as “5 + 3 = 8.” Here, the first statement is in a form of group of words
while the translation is in a form of symbol which has the same meaning and if your will be
reading this, for sure all of you have a common understanding with this. But let us take a look at
this mathematical symbols:

��(��) = ��
∀�� > 0, ∃ �� > 0 → |�� − ��| < ��, |��(��) − ��| < ��, ������
Did you understand what these symbols are? This mathematical sentence is a complex idea;
yet, it is contained and tamed into a concise statement. It may sound or look Greek to some
because without any knowledge of the language in which the ideas are expressed, the
privilege to understand and appreciate its grandeur can never be attained. Mathematics, being
a language in itself, may appear complex and difficult to understand simply because it uses a
different kind of alphabet and grammar structure. It uses a kind of language that has been
historically proven effective in communicating and transmitting mathematical realities. The
language of mathematics, like any other languages, can be learned; once learned, it allows us
to see fascinating things and provides us an advantage to comprehend and exploit the beauty
of beneath and beyond. Hence, in able to understand better different topics in mathematics, it
is

41
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

very important that you must learn first on how to read and understand different symbols in
mathematics which used in mathematical language.

A. Characteristics of Mathematical Language

The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of thoughts that
mathematicians like to express.

It is:

1. precise (able to make very fine distinction)

 2. concise (able to say things briefly); and
3. powerful (able to express complex thoughts with relative cases).

B. Vocabulary vs. Sentences

Every language has its vocabulary (the words), and its rules for combining
these words into complete thoughts (the sentences). Mathematics is no exception. As a first step
in discussing the mathematical language, we will make a very broad classification between the
‘nouns’ of mathematics (used to name mathematical objects of interest) and the ‘sentences’ of
mathematics (which state complete mathematical thoughts)’

You must study the Mathematics Vocabulary!

• Student must learn on how to use correctly the language of Mathematics, when and where
to use and figuring out the incorrect uses.
• Students must show the relationship or connections the mathematics language with the
natural language.
• Students must look backward or study the history of Mathematics in order to understand
more deeply why Mathematics is important in their daily lives.

Importance of Mathematical Language

• Major contributor to overall comprehension

• Vital for the development of Mathematics proficiency
• Enables both the teacher and the students to communicate mathematical knowledge with
precision

C. Comparison of Natural Language into Mathematical Language

The table below is an illustration on the comparison of a natural language

(expression or sentence) to a mathematical language.

42
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
English Mathematics

Expressions

Name given to an Noun such as person, 2

object of interest. place and things and
pronouns 3–2

Example: 3x
a) Ernesto
b) Batangas City 3x + 2
c) Book
 d) He
ax + by + c

Sentence

It has a complete Group of words that 3+2=5

thought express a statement,
question or command. a+b=c

Example: ax + by + c = 0
a) Ernesto is a boy.
b) He lives in Batangas
City. c) Allan loves to read (x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2
book. d) Run!
e) Do you love me?

D. Expressions versus Sentences

Ideas regarding sentences:

Ideas regarding sentences are explored. Just as English sentences have verbs, so do
mathematical sentences. In the mathematical sentence;

3+4=7

the verb is =. If you read the sentence as ‘three plus four is equal to seven, then it’s easy to hear
the verb. Indeed, the equal sign = is one of the most popular mathematical verb.

Example:

1. The capital of Philippines is Manila.

2. Rizal park is in Cebu.
3. 5 + 3 = 8
4. 5 + 3 = 9

43
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Connectives

A question commonly encountered, when presenting the sentence example 1 + 2 = 3 is

that;
If = is the verb, then what is + ?

The answer is the symbol + is what we called a connective which is used to connect
objects of a given type to get a ‘compound’ object of the same type. Here, the numbers 1 and 2
are connected to give the new number 1 + 2.

In English, this is the connector “and”. Cat is a noun, dog is a noun, cat and dog is a
‘compound’ noun.

Mathematical Sentence

Mathematical sentence is the analogue of an English sentence; it is a correct arrangement

of mathematical symbols that states a complete thought. It makes sense to as about the TRUTH
of a sentence: Is it true? Is it false? Is it sometimes true/sometimes false?

Example:

1. The capital of Philippines is Manila.

2. Rizal park is in Cebu.
3. 5 + 3 = 8
4. 5 + 3 = 9

Truth of Sentences

Sentences can be true or false. The notion of “truth” (i.e., the property of being true or
false) is a fundamental importance in the mathematical language; this will become apparent as
you read the book.

Conventions in Languages

Languages have conventions. In English, for example, it is conventional to capitalize

name (like Israel and Manila). This convention makes it easy for a reader to distinguish between
a common noun (carol means Christmas song) and proper noun (Carol i.e. name of a person).
Mathematics also has its convention, which help readers distinguish between different types of
mathematical expression.

Expression

An expression is the mathematical analogue of an English noun; it is a correct

arrangement of mathematical symbols used to represent a mathematical object of interest.

44
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

An expression does NOT state a complete thought; in particular, it does not make sense to
ask if an expression is true or false.

E. Conventions in mathematics, some commonly used symbols, its meaning and an

example

a) Sets and Logic

SYMBOL NAME MEANING EXAMPLE

∪ Union Union of set A and A∪B

set B

∩ Intersection Intersection of set A∩B

A and set B

∈ Element x is an element of A x∈A

∉ Not an element of x is not an element x∉A

of set A

{} A set of.. A set of an element {a, b, c}

⊂ Subset A is a subset of B A⊂B

⊄ Not a subset of A is not a subset of B A⊄B

… Ellipses There are still a, b, c, …

other items to
follow
a + b + c + ….

∧ Conjunction A and B A∧B

∨ Disjunction A or B A∨B

~ Negation Not A ~A

→ Implies (If-then statement) If A, then B A→B

↔ If and only if A if and only if B A↔B

∀ For all For all x ∀x

∃ There exist There exist an x ∃

∴ Therefore Therefore C ∴C

45
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
| Such that x such that y x|y

■ End of proof

≡ Congruence / equivalent A is equivalent to B A ≡B

a is congruent to a ≡ b mod n
b modulo n
 a, b, c, Variables (axo)p (5x2)6
*First part of English
Alphabet uses as fixed
…, z
variable*
*Middle part of English
(lower alphabet use as subscript and
superscript variable*
*Last part of an English
case)
alphabet uses as unknown
variable*

b) Basic Operations and Relational Symbols

SYMBOL NAME MEANING EXAMPLE

+ Addition; Plus sign a plus b 3+2

a added by b
a increased by b

- Subtraction; minus sign a subtracted 3-2

by b
a minus b
a diminished
by b

• Multiplication sign a multiply 4•3

() *we do not use x as a symbol by b a times (4)(3)
for multiplication in our
b
discussion since its use as a
variable*

÷ or | Division sign; divides a÷b 10 ÷ 5

b|a 5 | 10

46
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
ο Composition of function f of g of x f ο g(x)

= Equal sign a=a 5=5

a+b=b+a 3+2=2+3
 ≠ Not equal to a≠b 3≠4

> Greater than a>b 10 > 5

< Less than b<a 5 < 10

≥ Greater than or equal to a≥b 10 ≥ 5

≤ Less than or equal to b≤a 5 ≤ 10

* Binary operation a*b a * b = a + 17b

c) Set of Numbers
SYMBOL NAME MEANING EXAMPLE

ℕ0 natural numbers / 0= {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0∈ 0

whole numbers set
(with zero)

ℕ1 natural numbers / 1= {1,2,3,4,5,...} 6∈ 1

whole numbers set
(without zero)

ℤ integer numbers set = {...-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,...} -6 ∈

ℚ rational numbers set = {x | x=a/b, a,b∈ and b≠0} 2/6 ∈

ℝ real numbers set = {x | -∞ < x <∞} 6.343434 ∈

ℂ complex numbers set = {z | z=a+bi, -∞<a<∞, -∞<b<∞} 6+2i ∈

F. Translating words into symbol

• Practical problems seldom, if ever, come in equation form. The job of the problem solver is
to translate the problem from phrases and statements into mathematical expressions and
equations, and then to solve the equations.

• As problem solvers, our job is made simpler if we are able to translate verbal phrases to
mathematical expressions and if we follow step in solving applied problems. To help us
translate from words to symbols, we can use the Mathematics Dictionary.

47
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Examples:
 Let x be a number. Translate each phrase or sentence into a mathematical expression or
equation.

1.Twelve more than a number.

Ans.: 12+x

2.Eight minus a number.

Ans.: 8−x

3.An unknown quantity less fourteen.

Ans.: x−14

4.Six times a number is fifty-four.

Ans.: 6x=54

5. Two ninths of a number is eleven.

Ans.: 2/9x=11

6. Three more than seven times a number is nine more than five times the

number. Ans.: 3+7x=9+5x

7. Twice a number less eight is equal to one more than three times the number.

Ans.: 2x−8=3x+1 or 2x−8=1+3x

48
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
 Self -Learning Activity
Directions: Do as indicated.

A. Bingo Game: Your teacher will be asking you to make your own bingo card
(one card only) with different mathematical symbols like the one below.
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN

W O R L D

ο ∀ ≤ - ↔

ℂ ℕ1 ℚ ℕ0 *

| ℝ FREE ~ ■

≥ ∧ ∪ ≡ >

∃ () + ∨ ℤ

No symbol/s must be repeated in a single card. Just like an ordinary bingo game, you will
be playing a “Block-out Game” where your teacher would be the game master. Whoever student/s
complete all the symbols in a card (block out game) won the game. The game master will be
check if the symbols are all correct. Note: He or she will be given an incentive points for this
item.

B. Translate each of the following mathematical phrase into a mathematical

expression if possible. Let x and y be the numbers.

1. A number increased by five

Ans.

2. Twice the square of a number

Ans.

3. The square of the sum of two numbers

Ans.

4. The sum of the squares of two numbers

Ans.
 49
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

5. A number less by three

Ans.

6. Twice of a number added by four

Ans.

7. The cube of a number less than five

Ans.

8. The area of a rectangle whose length is seven more than its width

Ans.

9. The difference of a square of two numbers

Ans.

10. The quotient of the sum of two numbers by another

number Ans
 50
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Lesson

3.2 Four Basic Concepts

Specific Objective

At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Define what a set and its basic terminologies.
2. Differentiate two ways in describing sets.
3. Perform basic operations on set.
4. Define what a relation and a function is.
5. Translate relation and function into a diagram.
6. Name and apply the different properties of a relation
and function.
7. Identify the domain and range in a relation and
function.
8. Evaluate a function.
9. Define and perform a binary operation.

Introduction
 In this module, it will be discussed the four basic concepts in mathematics such as
sets and its basic operation, the functions, relations and the binary operations.

Discussion:

I. SETS AND SUBSETS

A. The Language of Sets

Use of the word “set” as a formal mathematical term was introduced

in 1879 by Georg Cantor. For most mathematical purposes we can think of a set
intuitively, as Cantor did, simply as a collection of elements.

So, by definition:

A set is a collection of well-defined objects.

Illustration:

A set of counting numbers from 1 to 10.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

A set of an English alphabet from a to e.

A set of even numbers
A set of an integers

Note: A set is denoted with braces or curly brackets { } and label or name the set
by a capital letter such as A, B, C,…etc.

a. A set of counting numbers from 1 to 5.

A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }

b. A set of English alphabet from a to d.

B = { a, b, c, d }

c. A set of all even positive integers.

C = { 2, 4, 6, 8, … }

d. A set of an integers.
D = { …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}

Now, if S is a set, the notation x ∈ S means that x is an element of S. The notation

x ∉ S means that x is not an element of S.
 So, what is an element of a set?

Element of a set
Each member of the set is called an element and the ∈ notation
means that an item belongs to a set.

Illustration:

Say A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }
1 ∈ A; 3 ∈ A; 5 ∈ A
Is 6 is an element of set A? Since in a given set A above, we could not see six as
an element of set A, thus we could say that;

6 is not an element of set A or

6∉A

Note: Each element is a set should be separated by comma.

Terminologies of Sets

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

1. Unit Set

Unit set is a set that contains only one element.

Illustration:
A = { 1 }; B = { c }; C = { banana }

2. Empty set or Null set; ∅

Empty or null set is a set that has no element.

Illustration:
A={}
A set of seven yellow carabaos

3. Finite set

A finite set is a set that the elements in a given set is countable.

Illustration:
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 }
B = { a, b, c, d }
 4. Infinite set

An infinite set is a set that elements in a given set has no end or not
countable.
Illustration:

A set of counting numbers

A = { …-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, … }

5. Cardinal Number; n

Cardinal number are numbers that used to measure the number of

elements in a given set. It is just similar in counting the total number of element in a set.

Illustration:
A = { 2, 4, 6, 8 } n = 4
B = { a, c, e } n = 3

6. Equal set

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Two sets, say A and B, are said to be equal if and only if they have
equal number of cardinality and the element/s are identical. There is a 1 -1
correspondence.

Illustration:
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} B = { 3, 5, 2, 4, 1}
7. Equivalent set

Two sets, say A and B, are said to be equivalent if and only if they
have the exact number of element. There is a 1 – 1 correspondence.

Illustration:
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } B = { a, b, c, d, e }

8. Universal set

The universal set U is the set of all elements under discussion.

Illustration:

A set of an English alphabet

U = {a, b, c, d, …, z}
 9. Joint Sets

Two sets, say A and B, are said to be joint sets if and only if they
have common element/s.

A = { 1, 2, 3}B = { 2, 4, 6 }

Here, sets A and B are joint set since they have common element
such as 2.

10.Disjoint Sets

Two sets, say A and B, are said to be disjoint if and

only if they are mutually exclusive or if they don’t have common

element/s. A = { 1, 2, 3}B = { 4, 6, 8 }

B. Two ways of Describing a Set

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

1. Roster or Tabular Method

It is done by listing or tabulating the elements of the set.

2. Rule or Set-builder Method

It is done by stating or describing the common characteristics of the

elements of the set. We use the notation A = { x / x … }

Illustration:

a. A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }
A = {x | x is a counting number from 1 to 5}
A = { x | x ∈ N, x < 6}

b. B = { a, b, c, d, …, z }
B = {x | x ∈ English alphabet}
B = { x | x is an English alphabet}
 C. Subsets

A subset, A ⊆ B, means that every element of A is also an element

of B.

If x ∈ A, then x ∈ B.
In particular, every set is a subset of itself, A ⊆ A.

A subset is called a proper subset, A is a proper subset

of B, if A ⊂ B and there is at least one element of B that is not in A:

If x ⊂ A, then x ⊂ B and there is an element b such that b ∈

B and b ∉ A.

NOTE1: The empty set. or {} has no elements and is a subset of every set
for every set A, A ⊂ A.

The number of subsets of a given set is given by 2n, where n is the

number of elements of the given set.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Illustration:
How many subsets are there in a set

A = {1, 2, 3 }? List down all the subsets of set A. Number of subsets = 2 n = 23 = 8

subsets

With one element

{1};{2};{3}

With two elements

{ 1, 2 } ; { 1, 3 }; { 2, 3 }

With three elements

{ 1, 2, 3 }

With no elements
{}
 D. Ordered Pair

Given elements a and b, the symbol (a, b) denotes the ordered pair
consisting of a and b together with the specification that “a” is the first element of the
pair and “b” is the second element. Two ordered pairs (a,b) and (c,d) are equal iff a = c
and b = d. Symbolically;

(a, b) = (c, d) means that a = c and b = d

Illustration:

a) If (a, b) = (3, 2), what would be the value of a and b.

Here, by definition that two ordered pairs (a,b) and (c,d) are equal iff a = c
and b = d.
Hence, a = 3 and b = 2.

b) Find x and y if (4x + 3, y) = (3x + 5, – 2).

Solution:

Since (4x + 3, y) = (3x + 5, – 2), so

4x + 3 = 3x + 5
Solving for x, we got x = 2 and obviously y = – 2.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

E. OPERATION ON SETS

Sets can be combined in a number of different ways to produce another set.

Here are the basic operations on sets.

1. Union of Sets

The union of sets A and B, denoted by A ∪ B , is the set defined as:

A ∪ B = { x | x ∈ A or x ∈ B }

Example 1: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {4, 5} , then

A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} .

Example 2: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {1, 2, 4, 5} , then

A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} .

Note that elements are not repeated in a set.

2. Intersection of Sets

The intersection of sets A and B, denoted by A ∩ B , is the set defined as :

A ∩ B = { x | x ∈ A and x ∈ B }

Example 1: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {1, 2, 4, 5}

then A ∩ B = {1, 2} .

Example 2: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {4, 5}

then A ∩ B = ∅

3. Difference of Sets

The difference of sets A from B , denoted by A - B , is the set

defined as

A - B = { x | x ∈ A and x ∉ B }

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Example 1: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {1, 2, 4, 5}

then A - B = {3} .

Example 2: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {4, 5} ,

then A - B = {1, 2, 3} .

Example : 3 If A = {a, b, c, d } and B = {a, c, e } ,

then A - B = {b, d } .

Note that in general A - B ≠ B - A

4. Compliment of Set

For a set A, the difference U - A , where U is the universe, is called

the complement of A and it is denoted by A c. Thus Ac is the set of
everything that is not in A.
 Example: Let U = { a, e, i, o, u } and A = { a, e }

then A c = { i, o u }

5. Cartesian Product

Given sets A and B, the Cartesian product of A and B, denoted by A x B

and read as “A cross B”, is the set of all ordered pair (a,b) where a is in A and b is
in B. Symbolically:
A x B = {(a, b) | a ∈ A and b ∈ B}

Note that A x B is not equal to B x A.

Illustration:

If A = { 1, 2} and B = {a, b}, what is A x B?

A x B = {(1,a), (1, b), (2, a), (2, b)}. How many elements in a A x B?

Example 1: Let A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {a, b}. Then

A x B = {(1, a), (1, b), (2, a), (2, b), (3, a), (3, b)} .

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Example 2: For the same A and B as in Example 1,

B x A = {(a, 1), (a, 2), (a, 3), (b, 1), (b, 2), (b, 3)} .

Venn Diagram

A Venn diagram is an illustration of the relationships between and among sets,

groups of objects that share something in common. Usually, Venn diagrams are used to depict
set intersections (denoted by an upside-down letter U). This type of diagram is used in
scientific and engineering presentations, in theoretical mathematics, in computer applications,
and in statistics.

Venn Diagram on Sets Operation

 A. Union of Sets B. Intersection of Sets

C. Difference of Sets D. Complement

Self- Learning
Activity
Directions: Do as indicated.

1. Tell whether the following is true or false:

1. Empty set is also called a unit set.
2. { ∅ } is an empty set.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

3. A set with two elements has 2 subsets.

4. Equivalent set is also an equal set.
5. Counting number is an example of a finite set.

2. List down all the subsets of a set

A = { a, b, c, d }.

3. If A = {1,2,3} and B={i,o,u}, find A x B.

4. Find x and y if (x – y, x + y) = (6, 10)

 5. Let U = {{0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}; A = {1, 3, 5, 7}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8} and C = {3, 6, 9,
0}. Find the following:

a) A ∪ B b) B ∩ C c) A’ ∩ B’ d) (A ∪ B)’

6. A group of students were asked whether they are like basketball, softball, or both. If 456
like basketball, 384 like softball, and 252 like both games, how many students were there?

7. A survey of 100 fourth year high school students revealed that 42 like mathematics, 62 like
Filipino, 44 like History, 22 like both Math and History, 25 like both Math and Filipino,
17 like Filipino and History, and 10 like all the three subjects. How many like Math only?
Filipino only? History only? How many did not like any of the three subjects?

II. FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS

A. THE LANGUAGE OF RELATIONS AND FUNCTIONS

Sometimes, we asked ourselves that, “What is my relationship with other people,

with the environment and most of all, with the God?”

How strong is your relationship with your parents, brother, sister, friends and even
your teacher? Are we related by blood? Are we related through sharing a common ideas
and ideology? Also, we talked about relationship between student and teacher, a manager
and the subordinates or even people who share common religion, ethnic or culture.

How are we going to relate the word relation in Mathematics? The objects of
mathematics may be related in various ways. A set “A” may be said to be related to a set
“B” if A is a subset of B, or if A is not a subset of B, or if A and B have at least one
element in common. A number x may be said to be related to a number y if x < y, or if x
is a factor of y, or if x2 + y2 = 1.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

To be able to understand better what a relation is all about more specifically if we

talked about relation in mathematics, let us have a simple illustration.

Let A = {1,2,3} and B = {2, 3, 4} and let us say that an element x in A is related to
an element y in B if and only if, x is less than y and let us use the notation x R y as
translated mathematical term for the sentence “x is related to y. Then, it follows that:

1 R 2 since 1 < 2
 1 R 3 since 1 < 3
1 R 4 since 1 < 4
2 R 3 since 2 < 3
2 R 4 since 2 < 4
3 R 4 since 3 < 4.

Now, can we say that 1 R 1? Is 3 R 2?

Recall the Cartesian product. What are the elements of A x B? It is clearly stated A
x B = { (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), (3,2), (3,3), (3,4)}. Here, the elements of
some ordered pairs in A x B are related, whereas the element of other ordered pairs are
not.

What are the elements (ordered pair) in A x B, based on the given conditions, that
are related? Perhaps your answer would be:

{ (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (2,3), (2,4), (3,4)}

Observe that knowing which ordered pairs lie in this set is equivalent to knowing
which elements are related to which. The relation can be therefore be thought of the
totality of ordered pairs whose elements are related by the given condition. The formal
mathematical definition of relation, based on this idea, was introduced by the American
mathematicians and logician C.S. Peirce in the nineteenth century.

What is a relation?

1. A relation from set X to Y is the set of ordered pairs of real numbers (x, y) such
that to each element x of the set X there corresponds at least one element of the
set Y.

2. Let A and B sets. A relation R from A to B is a subset of A x B. Given an

ordered pair (x, y) in A x B, x is related to y by R, written x R y, if and only if,
(x, y) is in R. The set A is called the domain of R and the set B is called its co
domain.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Notation:

The notation for a relation R may be written symbolically as follows:

x R y meaning (x, y) ∈ R.

The notation x R y means that x is not related to y by R;

x R y meaning (x, y) ∉ R.
Example:

1. Given a set of an ordered pairs:

{(0, -5), (1, -4), (2, -3), (3, -2), (4, -1), (5, 0)}

The domain are x = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

The co-domain are y = {-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0}

2. Let A = {1,2} and B = {1,2,3} and define a relation R from A to B as follows:

Given any (x,y) ∈ A x B,

(x,y) ∈ R means that ��−��

2is an integer;

a. State explicitly which ordered pairs are in A x B and which are in R.

b. Is 1 R 3? Is 2 R 3? Is 2 R 2?
c. What are the domain and the co-domain of R?
Solution:

a. A x B = {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2),(2,3). To determine explicitly the

composition of R, examine each ordered pair in A x B to see whether its element
satisfy the defining condition for R.

(1,1) ∈R because 1−1

0
2= 2= 0, which is an integer.

(1,2) ∉ R because 1−2

−1
2= 2, which is not an integer.

(1,3) ∈R because 1−3

0−2
2=
2= −1, which is an integer.

(2,1) ∉R because 2−1

1
2= 2, which is not an integer.

62
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

(2,2) ∈R because 2−2

0
2= 2= 0, which is an integer.

(2,3) ∉R because 2−3

 −1
2= 2, which is not an integer.

Thus, R = {(1,1), (1,3), (2,2)}

b. Yes! 1 R 3 because (1,3) ∈ R

No! 2 R 3 because (2,3) ∉ R.
Yes! 2 R 2 because (2,2) ∈ R.

c. The domain of R is {1,2} and the co-domain is {1,2,3}

C. ARROW DIAGRAM OF A RELATION

Suppose R is a relation from a set A to a set B. The arrow diagram for R is

obtained as follows:

1. Represent the elements of A as a points in one region and the elements of B as

points in another region.
2. For each x in A and y in B, draw an arrow from x to y, and only if, x is related
to y by R. Symbolically:

Draw an arrow from x to y

If and only if, x R y
If and only if, (x, y) ∈ R.
Example:
1. Given a relation {(1, 2),(0, 1),(3, 4),(2, 1),(0, −2)}. Illustrate the given relation
into an arrow diagram.
-2 1 2 4

0123

2. What is the domain and co-domain of an example 1?

63
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

The domain are as follows: {0, 1, 2, 3}

The co-domain are as follows: {-2, 1, 2, 4}

3. Let A = {1,2,3} and b = {1,3,5} and define relations S and T from A to B as

follows:
For all (x, y) ∈ A x B, (x,y) ∈S means that x < y, i.e., S is a “less than”
 relation.

T = {(2,1), (2,5)}
Draw arrow diagrams for S and T.

Solution:

A x B = {(1,1), (1,3), (1,5), (2,1), (2,3), (2,5), (3,1), (3,3), (3,5)}. It is given by
x < y so S = {(1,3), (1,5), (2,3), (2,5), (3,5)}

1
1
2
3
3
5

1
1
3
2
5
3

D. PROPERTIES OF A RELATION

When a relation R is defined from a set A into the same set A, the three properties are
very useful such as reflexive, symmetric and the transitive.

64
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

A. Reflexive
 A relation R on A is said to be reflexive if every element of A is related to itself. In
notation, a R a for all a ∈ A.

Examples of reflexive relations include:

_ "is equal to" (equality)

_ "is a subset of" (set inclusion)
_ "is less than or equal to" and "is greater than or equal to" (inequality)
_ "divides" (divisibility).

An example of a non reflexive relation is the relation "is the father of" on a set of people
since no person is the father of themself.
When looking at an arrow diagram, a relation is reflexive if every element of A has an
arrow pointing to itself. For example, the relation in a given figure below is a reflexive
relation.

B. Symmetric

A relation R on A is symmetric if given a R b then b R a.

For example, "is married to" is a symmetric relation, while, "is less than" is not.
The relation "is the sister of" is not symmetric on a set that contains a brother and sister
but would be symmetric on a set of females. The arrow diagram of a symmetric relation
has the property that whenever there is a directed arrow from a to b, there is also a
directed arrow from b to a.

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

C. Transitive
 A relation R on A is transitive if given a R b and b R c then a R c.

Examples of reflexive relations include:

_ "is equal to" (equality)

_ "is a subset of" (set inclusion)
_ "is less than or equal to" and "is greater than or equal to" (inequality)
_ "divides" (divisibility).

On the other hand, "is the mother of" is not a transitive relation, because if Maria is
the mother of Josefa, and Josefa is the mother of Juana, then Maria is not the mother of
Juana.

The arrow diagram of a transitive relation has the property that whenever there are
directed arrows from a to b and from b to c then there is also a directed arrow from a to c:

A relation that is refexive, symmetric, and transitive is called an equivalence

relation on A.

Examples of equivalence relations include:

_ The equality ("=") relation between real numbers or sets.

_ The relation "is similar to" on the set of all triangles.
_ The relation "has the same birthday as" on the set of all human beings.

On the other hand, the relation " ⊆ " is not an equivalence relation on the set of all
subsets of a set A since this relation is not symmetric.

E. WHAT IS A FUNCTION?

A function is a relation in which every input is paired with exactly one output.

A function from set X to Y is the set of ordered pairs of real numbers (x, y)
in which no two distinct ordered pairs have the same first component. Similar to a
relation,

66
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

the values of x is called the domain of the function and the set of all resulting value of y is
called the range or co-domain of the function.

A function F from a set A to a set B is a relation with domain and co-domain

B that satisfies the following two properties:

1. For every element x in A, there is an element y in B such that (x,y) ∈F.

2. For all elements x in A and y and z in B,
If (x,y) ∈ F and (x,z) ∈F, then y = z

These two properties; (1) and (2) can be stated less formally as follows:

1. Every element of A is the first element of an ordered pair of F.

2. No two distinct ordered pairs in F have the same first element.

• Is a function a relation? Focus on the x-coordinates, when given a relation. • If the

set of ordered pairs have different x-coordinates, it is a function. • If the set of
ordered pairs have same x-coordinates, it is NOT a function but it could be said a
relation.

Note:
a) Y-coordinates have no bearing in determining functions
b) Function is a relation but relation could not be said as function.

Example 1: Determine if the following is a function or not a function.

1. {(0, -5), (1, -4), (2, -3), (3, -2), (4, -1), (5, 0)}

2. {(-1, -7), (1, 0), (2, -3), (0, -8), (0, 5), (-2, -1)}

3. 2x + 3y – 1 = 0

4. x2 + y2 = 1

5. y2 = x + 1

Example 2. Which of the following mapping represent a function?

1.
301
67
123

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

 2.

1
1
2
2
3
3

Function Notations:

The symbol f(x) means function of x and it is read as “f of x.” Thus, the
equation y = 2x + 1 could be written in a form of f(x) = 2x + 1 meaning y = f(x). It can be
stated that y is a function of x.

Let us say we have a function in a form of f(x) = 3x – 1. If we replace x = 1,

this could be written as f(1) = 3(1) – 1. The notation f(1) only means that we substitute the
value of x = 1 resulting the function value. Thus

f(x) = 3x – 1; let x = 1
f(1) = 3(1) – 1 = 3 – 1 = 2.

Another illustration is given a function g(x) = x2 – 3 and let x = -2, then

g(-2) = (-2)2 – 3 = 1

Operations on Functions

The following are definitions on the operations on functions.

a. The sum or difference of f and g, denoted by f ± g is the function defined by

(f ± g)(x) = f(x) ± g(x).

b. The product of f and g, denoted by f · g is the function defined by (f·g)(x) = f(x)·g(x).

 68
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

c. The quotient of f and g denoted by f/g is the function defined by f(x)/g(x), where
g(x) is not equal to zero.

d. The composite function of f and g denoted by f ο g is the function defined by (f ο

g)(x) = f(g(x)). Similarly, the composite function of g by f, denoted by g ο f, is the
function defined by ( g ο f)(x) = g(f(x)).

Examples:

1. If f(x) = 2x + 1 and g(x) = 3x + 2, what is (f+g)(x)?

Solution:

(f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)

= (2x + 1) + (3x + 2)
= 2x + 3x + 1 + 2
= 5x + 3

2. What is (f • g)(x) if f(x) = 2x + 1 and g(x) = 3x + 2?

Solution:

(f • g)(x) = f(x) • g(x)

= (2x + 1)(3x + 2)
= 6x2 + 7x + 2

3. What is (����) (��) if f(x) = 2a + 6b and g(x) = a + 3b?

Solution:

(����) (��) =��(��)

����+����
��(��)=
��(��+����)
��+����=
��+����= ��

4. If f(x) = 2x + 1 and g(x) = 3x + 2, what is (g ο f)(x)?

Solution:

(g ο f)(x) = g(f(x)) = g(2x + 1) = 3(2x + 1) + 2 = 6x + 3 + 2 = 6x +

 ��
5 �� = {(��, ��)|�� = �� + ��; ���������� ��, ��

∈ ��, �� < ��}

III. BINARY OPERATION

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

A binary operation on a set G, then, is simply a method (or formula) by which the
members of an ordered pair from G combine to yield a new member of G. This condition
is called closure. The most familiar binary operations are ordinary addition,
subtraction, and multiplication of integers. Division of integers is not a binary
operation on the integers because an integer divided by an integer need not be an
integer.

In mathematics, a binary operation on a set is a

calculation that combines two elements of the set (called
operands) to produce another element of the set.

Definition of Binary Operations

Let G be a non-empty set. An operation * on G is said to be a binary operation on

G if for every pair of elements, a, b is in G that is a,b ∈ G; the product a * b ∈ G.

Note: For each (a,b) ∈G, we assign an element a * b of G.

Illustrative examples:

Tell whether the following is a binary operation or not.

1) G ∈ Z define a * b = a + b (usual addition on Z)

Solution:

Let a ∈ Z and b ∈ Z. If we add a and b, then the sum a + b ∈ Z. Hence a * b = a

+ b is a binary operation.

2) G ∈ Z define a * b = ab (usual multiplication on Z)

Solution:
 Let a, b ∈ Z. Then the product of a and b, that is ab ∈ Z. Hence a * b = ab is a
binary operation.

3) G ∈ R+ defined by a * b = a + 17b

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Solution:

Let a, b ∈ R+. If we take the sum of a + 17b ∈ R+. Hence it is a binary operation.

4) G ∈ Z+, defined * by a * b = a – b for all set a, b ∈ Z+.

Solution:

If a > b = a – b > 0 ∈ Z+

If a < b = a – b < 0 ∉ Z+

Therefore, * is NOT a binary operation

5) G ∈ R defined by a * b = ab

To be able to determine if the above statement is a binary operation or not, we

need to have a counter example.

If a = 0 and b = 0, then ab does not exist, hence it is not an element of R

If a = -4 and b = ½, then ab would be an element of a complex number C, so ab ∉

R.

6) G ∈ Z\{-1} , defined * by a * b = a + b + ab for all set a, b ∈ Z.

Solution

Let a, b ∈ Z except -1, then a > -1 and b > -1 and a < -1 and b < -1. If a * b = a +
b + ab, it follows that a * b = a + b + ab ∈ Z since in both case such as a and b >
-1 and a and b < -1, the result would be Z, hence * is a binary operation.

CLOSED
 Definition: A set is “closed” under operation if the operation assigns to every
ordered pair of elements from the set an element of the set.

Illustrative examples:

1) Is S = { ±1, ±3, ±5, ±7, …} is closed under usual addition?

Solution:

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

By giving a counter example, S = { ±1, ±3, ±5, ±7, …} is NOT closed under
usual addition. Why? Let us say we are going to a 1 and 3. The sum of 1 and 3 is 4
where 4 is not an element of S. Hence, it is not closed.

2) Let + and • be usual binary operations of addition and multiplication of Z and

let H = {n2| n ∈ Z+}. Is H closed under addition? Under multiplication?

Solution:

a. To be able to determine if H is closed under addition, we need to have a

counter-example. Let us take two elements in Z, say 1 and 4. If we are going to
add this two numbers, the result would be 5 and obviously, 5 ∈ n2 or 5 is not a
perfect square. Hence, H is not closed under addition.
b. Let r ∈ H and s ∈ H. Using H x H ∈ (r, s) = r • s. Since r ∈ H and s ∈ H, that
means there must be an integers n and m ∈ Z+such that r = n2 and s = m2. So;

(r, s) = r • s = n2• m2 = (nm)2

and n, m ∈ Z+. It follows that nm ∈ Z+, then (nm)2 ∈ H. Hence, H is closed

under multiplication.

Example. Consider the binary operation ∗ on R given by

x ∗ y = x + y − 3. (x ∗ y) ∗ z = (x + y − 3) ∗ z = (x + y − 3) + z − 3 = x + y + z
− 6, x ∗ (y ∗ z) = x ∗ (y + z − 3) = x + (y + z − 3) − 3 = x + y + z − 6.

Therefore, ∗ is associative. Since x ∗ y = x + y − 3 = y + x − 3 = y ∗ x, ∗ is

commutative.

Example. Consider the binary operation * on R given by a*b = ab/2. Show

 that a*b = b*c.

Solution:

Let a*b = ab/2. We need to show that a*b = b*a. In b*a = ba/2. But
by commutative properties under multiplication, that is ab = ba, then it follows
that b*a = ab/2. Hence a*b = b*a

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Definition:
Let * be a binary operation of a set S. Then;

(a) * is associative if for all a, b, c ∈ S, (a*b)*c = a *(b*c)

(b) * is commutative if for all a, b ∈ S, a*b = b *a

(c) An element e ∈ S is called a left identity element if for all a ∈ S, we have e

*a=a

(d) An element e ∈ S is called a right identity element if for all a ∈ S, we have

a*e=a

(e) An element e ∈ S is called an identity element if for all a ∈ S, we have a *

e = a and e * a = a.

(f) Let e be an identity element is S and a ∈ S, then b is called an inverse of the

element “a” if a * b = e and b * a = e.

Note that a * b = b * a = e or a * a-1 = a-1 * a = e

If a ∈ S, then the inverse of “a” is denoted by a-1. Here -1 is not an

exponent of a.

Example: Let S = Z+ as define * on S by a * b = a + b – ab. Show the associativity

and the commutativity of S in a binary operation. Find also its identity and inverse if
any.

(a) Associativity
 Let a, b, c ∈ Z+. Then; (a * b) * c = a * (b * c)

For (a * b) * c

(a * b) * c = (a + b – ab) * c

= (a + b – ab) + c - (a + b – ab)c

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

= a + b + c – ab – ac – bc + abc

For a * (b * c)

a * (b * c) = a * (b + c – bc)

= a + (b + c – bc) – (a)(b + c – bc)

= a + b + c – bc – ab – ac + abc

Hence * is associative on S ∈ Z+.

(b) Commutative

a*b=b*a
a + b – ab = b + a – ba
a + b – ab = a + b – ab

Hence * is commutative on S ∈ Z+.

(c) Identity

a*e=ae*a=a

a + e – ae = a e + a – ea = a

e – ae = a – a e – ea = a – a

e(1 – a) = 0 e(1 – a) = 0

e=0e=0

hence, the identity exist except when a = 1.

 (d) Inverse

a * a-1 = e a-1 * a = e

Example: Let S = Z+ as define * on S by a * b = a2 + ab + b2. Is the operation *

associative? Commutative? What is its identity? What is its inverse?

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

(a) Commutative

a*b=b*a

a2 + ab + b2 = b2 + ba + a2

a2 + ab + b2 = a2 + ab + b2

Hence, the operation * is commutative.

(b) Associative

(a * b) * c = a * (b * c)

(a2 + ab + b2)* c = a * (b2 + bc + c2)

(a2 + ab + b2)2 + (a2 + ab + b2)(c) + c2 ≠ a2 + (a)( b2 + bc + c2) + (b2 + bc + c2)2

Hence, the operation * is not associative.

Cayley Tables

A (binary) operation on a finite set can be represented by a table. This is a square

grid with one row and one column for each element in the set. The grid is filled in so that
the element in the row belonging to x and the column belonging to y is x*y.

A binary operation on a finite set (a set with a limited number of elements) is

often displayed in a table that demonstrates how the operation is performed.

Example: The table below is a table for a binary operation on the set {a, b, c, d}
* a b C d
 a a b C d

b b c D a

c c d A b

d d a B c

a. Is the * commutative?
b. Is the * associative?
c. What is its identity?

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Self - Learning Activity

Directions. Do as indicated.

A. Define a relation C from R to R as follows: For any (x,y) ∈R x R,

(x,y) ∈ C meaning that x2 + y2 = 1.

a. Is (1,0) ∈ C? Is (0,0) ∈ C? Is -2 C 0? Is 0 C (-1)?

b. What are the domain and the co-domain of C?

B. If f(x) = 2x2 and g(x) = 3x + 1, evaluate the following: a. (f + g)(x) b) (f

• g)(x) c) (����) (��) d) (g ο f)(x) C. Tell whether the following is a

binary operation or not. a) G ∈ Z, defined * by a * b = a2 – b2for all set

a, b ∈ Z. Explanation:
b) G ∈ N, defined * by a * b = 2 + 3ab for all set a, b ∈ N.

Explanation:

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

c) G ∈ Z-, defined * by a * b = a + ab - b for all set a, b ∈ Z-.

Explanation:

d) G ∈ R, defined * by a * b = √�� − �� for all set a, b ∈ R.

Explanation:

D. Let S = Z+ as define * on S by a * b = a + b + 1. Show the associativity and the

commutativity of S in a binary operation. Determine also the identity if there
is.
 E. Let A = Z – {0} and let S = {f 1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6} be the set of functions as A
defined as follows:
��1(��) = �� ��4(��) =1��

��2(��) =1
1−����5(��) =��
��−1

��3(��) =��−1
����6 = 1 − ��

Show that the composition of mappings is a binary operation by completing the

multiplication table for *

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
* f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

f1

f2

f3

f4

f5

f6

Present your solution below.

Lesson

3.3 Logic and Formality

 Specific Objective

At the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Define what logic is.

2. Tell whether the statement is formal or non-formal.
3. Show the relationship between grammar in English and logic in
Mathematics.

Introduction

What comes first in your mind when we speak about logic? Do you have any idea what
logic is all about? Could we say that if a person thinks correctly, then he has logic? Perhaps until
now, there are some people arguing whether a logic is an art or it is a science. Now, whether it is
an art or a science, studying logic could be very important not only in the field of mathematics
but in other sciences such as natural science and social science. On this module, we will studying
the fundamental concept of logic but basically logic as mathematical language.

Discussion

I. What is logic?

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

In this particular module, we are going to talk about logic as a mathematical

language but a deeper discussion logic as a science as well as its application will be tackled
in module 6. It is very essential to understand better what logic is as a language.

But first, let us have a definition in logic. In your social science courses, logic
could define as the study of the principles of correct reasoning and it is not a psychology of
reasoning. Based on the definition which is logic is the study of the principle of correct
reasoning, one of the principles in logic that is very much important to study is on how to
determine the validity of ones argument. Studying mathematics is also studying theorems.
The proof of the theorem uses the principle of arguments in logic. So, in this case, we could
say actually that the language of mathematics is logic.
In short, mathematical statement is also a grammar. In English, when we construct
a sentence or sentences, we always check if it is grammatically correct but in Mathematics,
we check mathematical statement or sentence in a logical structure. Wherever you go, we
have a common language in mathematics. In order not to conflict with in an English word,
we use appropriate symbols in mathematics so that there will no ambiguity on how to
communicate as to the meaning of a mathematical expression or even in mathematical
sentences
II. Formality
As stated by Heylighen F. and Dewaele J-M in the “Formality of Language: Definition and
Measurement”, an expression is completely formal when it is context independent and
precise (i.e. non-fuzzy), that is, it represents a clear distinction which is invariant under
changes of context. In mathematics, we are always dealing in a formal way.
Suppose that somebody asked you that the result of adding 5 to 3 is 8 or let us say
that if a variable x is an even number then the square of this variable x would be also an even
number, you would agree that both mathematical sentences or statements are true and there is
no reason for you to doubt. Those two examples statements are precise and it is also an
independent. These are the two characteristics in mathematics that the statement must have
to say the mathematical sentence is in a formal manner. Speaking of statement, statement is
the main component of logic in mathematics.
When we say mathematical logic, it is a statements about mathematical objects
that are taken seriously as mathematical objects in their own right. More generally, in
mathematical logic we formalize, that is, we formulate in a precise mathematical way its
definition, theorem, lemma, conjecture, corollary, propositions and the methods of proof
which will be discussed in our next lesson. These are the major part of formality in
mathematics.
a) Definition

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MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

One of the major parts of formality in mathematics is the definition itself.

When we say definition, it is a formal statement of the meaning of a word or group of words
and it could stand alone.

Example of this is a definition of a right triangle. What is the exact or

formal definition of this? A right triangle consists of two legs and a hypotenuse. The two
legs meet at a 90° angle and the hypotenuse is the longest side of the right triangle and is the
side opposite the right angle. Here, you will see the exactness and the precision of the
definition of a right triangle.

Now suppose we are going to define “carabao”. Can you give a definition
for this? Maybe, some of you will define a carabao is a black and strong animal helps the
farmer in plowing the rice field. But, have you noticed that this is not a formal definition?
How about the cow and the horse? These are also an animal that could also help the farmers
in plowing the field. How about the machine tractor? Are we not consider this machine that
could possibly help our farmers in plowing the rice field? So, we cannot say that is a formal
definition since it cannot stand alone.

b) Theorem
 Another statement that could we consider as a formal statement is the
theorem. You will encounter this word in all books of mathematics especially if it is pure
mathematics. In your algebra subject during your high school days, have you studied
different laws and principles in mathematics? These are just really theorems that proven true
and justified using the concept of mathematical logic and all you need to do is to apply those
laws and principles, isn’t it? But what does theorem means? A theorem is a statement that
can be demonstrated to be true by accepted mathematical operations and arguments. In
general, a theorem is an embodiment of some general principle that makes it part of a larger
theory. The process of showing a theorem to be correct is called a proof.
An example of a theorem that we all know is the Pythagorean Theorem.
This is a very well-known theorem in mathematics. The theorem stated that the square of the
hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. If the
hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle, or the long side) is called c and the other two
sides are a and b, then this theorem with the formula a2 + b2 = c2. You will notice that the
theorem is precise in a form of if-then statement. The if-then statement is one of the
statements in logic.
So, a statement could not be considered theorem unless it was proven true
using mathematical logic.
c) Proof
To be able to say that a theorem is true, it should be undergo on the process
of proving. But what do we mean by proof or a mathematical proof. Proof is a rigorous

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