MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is defined in many ways.

 Mathematics is a branch of science, which deals with numbers and their

operations. It involves calculation, computation, solving of problems etc.
 Its dictionary meaning states that, ‘Mathematics is the science of numbers
and space’ or ‘Mathematics is the science of measurement, quantity and
magnitude’. It is exact, precise, systematic and a logical subject
 It is a set of problem-solving tools, a language, a process of thinking, and a
study of patterns, among others.

Whatever point of view is taken, there is no denying the reality that mathematics
is everywhere. Individuals from around the world use math in their daily lives.
Mathematics has various applications in the world. Mathematics helps us to organize
and systemize our ideas about patterns; in so doing, not only can we admire and enjoy
these patterns, we can also use them to infer some of the underlying principles that
govern the world of nature.

This chapter is dedicated to nature of mathematics, patterns and numbers in

nature and the world and the uses of mathematics.

A. PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

Patterns in nature are visible regularities found in the natural world. These
patterns persist in different contexts and can be modelled mathematically. Natural
patterns may consist of spirals, symmetries, mosaics, stripes, spots, etc.

SYMMETRIES
Symmetry is a perfect, harmonious structure of an object which can be divided
into equally shaped and sizes.

 It is beauty characterized by such excellence of proportion.

Classification of Symmetry

1. Bilateral (mirror) symmetry is a symmetrical with respect to its reflection. This means
that you can make an axis of symmetry straight down the center.

2. Radial (rotational) symmetry is where similar parts are regularly arranged around a
central axis and the pattern looks the same after certain amount of rotation. It can either
be cyclic or dihedral. Flowers most often exhibit this type of symmetry.
3. Translational symmetry, such a repeating tile or wallpaper patterns, means that a
particular translation of an object to another location does not change its pattern.

4. Scaling symmetry which is the property of a pattern where each part of which is
identical to the whole as seen at different magnifications. This is commonly called self-
similarity-a property that characterizes a fractal shape.

5. Time symmetry, is periodic behavior which involves changes in time. Symmetry can
also be a description of non-geometric forms such as time and space.

SOME EXAMPLES OF SYMMETRY IN NATURE

Snowflakes are symmetrical (or

patterned) because they reflect the Honeycomb is a perfect hexagonal
internal order of the crystal's water figure made by bees. It is a wallpaper
molecules as they arrange themselves in symmetry, where a repeated pattern
predetermined spaces (known as covers a plane.
“crystallization”) to form a six-sided
snowflake.

Tiger striping is relatively symmetrical Sunflower exhibits radial symmetry and

across the sagittal axis meaning left/right numerical symmetry is called as
side down the midline of the body, the way Fibonacci sequence.
our left and right hands are basically
symmetrical.

Figure 1. Patterns in nature

 W. Gary Smith adopts eight patterns in his landscape work namely: scattered,
fractured, mosaic, naturalistic drift, serpentine, spiral, radial, and dendritic.

SPIRALS
A spiral pattern would be described as a circular pattern beginning at a center
point and circling around the center point as the pattern moves outward.

Spiral Radial

Scattered Dendritic

Figure 2. Some patterns adopted in landscape design

Numbers are everywhere in nature, Mathematicians noticed that numbers appear in

many different patterns in nature: birds two wings, clover’s three leaflets, deer’s four
hooves, buttercup’s five petals, insect’s six legs, rainbow’s seven colors, octopus’ eight
arms and many others.

Clover Buttercup
 Insect Octopus
Figure 3. Samples of numbers in nature

B. THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

He was born late in the twelfth century in Pisa,
Italy: Pisano in Italian indicated that he was from
Pisa. His father was a merchant called Guglielmo
Bonaccio. When scholars were studying the
handwritten copies of Liber Abaci (as it was
published before printing was invented), they
misinterpreted part of the title – "filius Bonacci"
meaning "son of Bonaccio" (Fibonacci
Sequence, 2016).

Fibonacci Day is November 23, as it has the

digits “1, 1, 2, 3” which is part of the sequence,
which he developed. This famous Fibonacci
Sequence has fascinated mathematicians, artists,
Leonardo Pisano Bigollo designers and scientists for centuries. Also
recognized as the Golden Ratio, the Fibonacci
sequence goes like this:

Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers which precede it.
 The ratio of any two successive Fibonacci Numbers is very close to the Golden
Ratio, referred to and represented as phi (Φ) which is approximately equal to 1.618034 …
The bigger the pair of Fibonacci Numbers considered, the closer is the approximation.

Table 1. Fibonacci Sequence

FIBONACCI SPIRAL

A Fibonacci spiral starts with a

rectangle partitioned into 2 squares. In each
step, a square the length of the rectangle's
longest side is added to the rectangle.

SOME EXAMPLES OF FIBONACCI

NUMBERS IN NATURE

FLOWERS
 C. PATTERNS AND REGULARITIES IN THE WORLD AS ORGANIZED BY
MATHEMATICS

Patterns, relationships, and functions

constitute a unifying theme of mathematics.
So many of the beautiful phenomena
observed in nature can be described in
mathematical terms.

The world consists of orders (the regular

cycles of days and nights, the recurrence of
seasons, alternate sunrise and sunset, etc.)
and symmetry (the fractal pattern in a
Romanesco broccoli, spiral nautilus shell,
bilateral peacock’s tail, circular spider webs,
etc.) from which similarity, predictability and
regularity in nature and the world
consequently exist.

The concept of symmetry fascinates

philosophers, astronomers,
mathematicians, artists, architects and
physicists. The mathematics behind
symmetry seems to permeate in most of
the things around us.

For example, the mathematics of

pendulum is quite complicated but
harmonic. Its period or the time it takes to
swing back to its original position is related
to its length, but the relationship is not
linear.
D. PHENOMENA IN THE WORLD AS PREDICTED BY MATHEMATICS

There are many patterns found in nature, including numerical patterns (such as
Fibonacci numbers in sunflowers) and shape patterns (such as in snowflakes).
Nature has symmetries at every scale, from elementary particles and atoms right up
to galaxies.

Mathematics is an extraordinary exercise of the human mind in abstracting the

results of observation to find similarities and differences between phenomena.

E. NATURE AND OCCURENCES IN THE WORLD AS CONTROLLED BY

MATHEMATICS FOR HUMAN ENDS

Mathematics relies on both logic and creativity, and it is pursued both for a
variety of practical purposes and for its intrinsic interest. For some people, and not
only professional mathematicians, the essence of mathematics lies in its beauty and
its intellectual challenge. For others, including many scientists and engineers, the
chief value of mathematics is how it applies to their own work. Because mathematics
plays such a central role in modern culture, some basic understanding of the nature
of mathematics is requisite for scientific literacy.
MORE FIBONACCI NUMBERS…

Fibonacci is even connected to the shape Spiral aloe. Numerous cactus display
of Chicken egg the Fibonacci spiral, each set of leaves
spiral outward.

All pinecones display a fibonacci

sequence. The umbo on pinecones
The spirals in the skin of pineapple. increase in size as you move outward,
displaying a Fibonacci spiral.

A hurricane displays a logarithmic

Fingerprints have a distinct Fibonacci spiral. spiral, one that gets smaller as it goes.
Fibonacci Spiral.
 Branches and root of trees

The number on the diagonals of Pascal’s triangle add to the Fibonacci series

THE GOLDEN RATIO

 The Golden Ratio is also called the golden section, golden mean, golden
number, divine proportion, divine section and golden proportion.

 It is a ratio of line segments when a line is divided into two parts (a and b), such
that the ratio of ‘a’ to ‘b’ is the same as the ratio of (a + b) to ‘a’. This ratio is
called the golden ratio and is signified by the Greek letter phi (Φ). Its
mathematical value is 1.61803398…

 The ratio of consecutive Fibonacci approaches 𝝋. It is also an irrational number.

  It appears many times in geometry, art, architecture, and other areas.
 Many buildings and artworks have the Golden Ratio in them, such as the
Parthenon in Greece, but it is not really known if it was designed that way.
 Some artists and architects believe the Golden Ratio makes the most
pleasing and beautiful shape.
F. APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICS IN THE WORLD
.
Mathematics has everyday applications. It is a universal language in different
places, in different times, in different settings and different circumstances. The physical
world seems to consist of countable things and any infinity encountered is a result of
extending a counting process.
Farming and gardening also provide rich mathematical opportunities. Within the
broad concept of farming, there are two very important elements: time and money. At the
root of both of these is mathematics. Mathematics has enabled farming to be more
economically efficient and has increased productivity. Farmers use mathematics as a
system of organization to effectively utilize their time and manage their money.
Planning a market list and grocery shopping requires math knowledge, starting from
the fundamental operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to estimation
and percentages: calculating price per unit, figuring percentage discounts, comparing unit
and bulk price of items, estimating total price, etc. Today’s trends like using credit card to
pay, or atm debit or electronic banking are all applications of mathematics.
Anywhere in the house, there is mathematics; e.g. symmetric arrangement of
furnitures, wall decorations and frames, wine bottles in the bar, plant pots in the inner
garden and even restroom fixtures.

The CN Tower in Toronto, the tallest tower and

freestanding structure in the world, has contains the
golden ratio in its design. The ratio of observation
deck at 342 meters to the total height of 553.33 is
0.618 or phi, the reciprocal of Phi.
Notre Dame in Paris, which was built in between
1163 and 1250 appears to have golden ratio
proportions in a number of its key proportions of
design. Although it is rather asymmetrical in its
design and difficult to measure photographically
because of parallax distortions, the golden ratio
lines of the green, blue and red rectangles conform
closely to the major architectural lines, which
represent:

Red – Vertical height of base at ground level top of

first level, top of second floor

Blue – Vertical height of base of second level

, top of second level, Top of third level

Green – Horizontal width of outside of left top

section, inside of top right section, Outside of top
right section:

Leonardo da Vinci used

golden ratio in his creation of
the “Last Supper”, it was
known during the
Renaissance period as the
Divine Proportion.

Musical instrument design is often based

on phi, the golden ratio. Fibonacci and phi
are used in the design of violins and even
in the design of high-quality speaker wire
and even in producing harmonious and
pleasing to the ear’s music.
The Great Pyramid of Giza (2570 BC)
considered one of the seven wonders of
Ancient World, it was also considered
tallest man-made structure, which took 10
years of preparation and 20 years of
building.

It was said to be one of the most ancient

and the best examples of the use of the
Phi. The ratio of the height of the pyramid
to either of the sides of its base
approximately equals to Phi.
APPLICATION

The following are some applications of Mathematics:

 Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in nature.

 Mathematics helps predict the behavior of nature and many phenomena.
 Mathematics helps control nature and occurrences in the world for our own good.
 Mathematics has applications in many human endeavor.

GENERALIZATION

1. Many patterns and occurrences exist in nature, in our world and in our life.
Mathematics helps make sense of these patterns and occurrences.

2. Mathematics is a tool to quantify, organize and control the world, predict

phenomena and make life easier for us.

IV. EVALUATION

ACTIVITY 1

Direction: Identify the following questions. Write your answer on the space
provided before each number.

_______________1. It is the value of the Golden Ratio. (1.618)

_______________2. Who discovered Fibonacci Numbers? (Leonardo Pisano

Bigollo)

_______________3. It is a kind of sequence that is in order and can be repeated.

(Pattern)

_______________4. When two or more parts are identical after a flip, slide or turn.
(Symmetry)

_______________5. It contains both radial and bilateral symmetry. (Sunflower)

ACTIVITY 2

1. Watch A beautiful short film on Fibonacci sequence in Nature – ‘Nature by

Numbers’.

2. Watch in You tube the “Science Documentary 2016: The Math Mystery
Mathematics in Nature and Universe”.

After Watching the above video, make your reaction/reflection in a clean bond paper,
consider the following:

 Share your impression and experiences

 Did the video interest you or bother you? Why or why not?
 What did you realize after watching?

`
V. ASSIGNMENT:
Research on the following and give examples.

1. Rosette Patterns both in Nature and Architecture

2. Frieze Pattern
3. Binet’s Formula
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