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Chapter 1

Nature of Mathematics

LEARNING OUTCOME(S):
 Articulate the practical uses and importance of mathematics in one’s life.
 Identify and appreciate patterns in nature and regularities in the world.
 Establish the relationship between the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden ratio.

TIME FRAME: 3 hours

LESSON 1.1 IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS

In its early forms, math helped us quantify time, make measurements, and take records.
Rudimentary math was especially useful during the development of agriculture when surpluses
in food allowed trade. Math satisfied the need to keep accurate records and perform basic
calculations. Symbols for representing quantities ranged from everyday objects, to geometric
shapes. As mathematical techniques evolved, so did our perspective on this new system.
Ancient Greeks believed that numbers were both living entities and universal principles;
numbers were active agents in nature. Plato pioneered the study of the ontology of
mathematical objects, and Aristotle studied logic and issues related to infinity. Philosophers
quickly realized that numbers and their operations were very useful in describing our world.
The profound convergence of diverse aspects of mathematics, and existent theories in physics,
caused many leading minds to ponder the dilemma of invention versus discovery.

Mathematics describes the real world of atoms and acorns, stars and stairs, with remarkable
precision. So is mathematics invented by humans just like chisels and hammers and pieces of
music? Or is mathematics discovered—always out there, somewhere, like mysterious islands
waiting to be found?

Modern life demands the requirement to have good mathematical knowledge. Mathematics is
important for life and supports all-round personal development. We can find mathematical
application in the nature, technology, architecture, machinery, building, industry, banking
sector, research, and cartography and in many more. There are very interesting applications in
genetics and in using mathematics in the nature. Statistical methods are used in preventing
catastrophes brought by bad weather.

Math makes a huge effect on all of our lives and we regularly use mathematics every day, from
measuring distances and weights to reading timetables, estimating how much money we spent
while shopping and interpreting percentages in newspapers. It helps us do everyday tasks like
cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Math helps us complete these tasks without completely
messing up on doing it. You need math for cooking because you need to measure things such as
cups of flour, etc. Many of these skills are taught at primary school level.
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WORKSHEET 1

NAME: SCORE:

SECTION CODE OR CLASS SCHEDULE: DATE:

1. Why is mathematics important to you as a student in the university?

2. How can you apply mathematics in your future profession?

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LESSON 1.2 PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

A hike in the woods or a walk along the road to our houses reveals an endless variety of forms.
Nature abounds in spectral colors and intricate shapes - the rainbow mosaic of a butterfly's
wing; the delicate curlicue of a vine tendril; the undulating ripples of the raindrops. But these
miraculous creations not only delight the imagination, they also challenge our understanding.
How do these patterns develop? What sorts of rules and guidelines, shape the patterns in the
world around us?
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butterfly's wing vine tendril ripples of the raindrops

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Some patterns are molded with a strict regularity. The cells of a honeycomb repeat their
hexagonal symmetry. The honeybee is a skilled and tireless artisan with an innate ability to
measure the width and to gauge the thickness of the honeycomb it builds. The regularity of the
honeycomb attests to the honey bee's remarkable architectural abilities.

The nautilus is another meticulous craftsman, who designs its shell in a shape called a
logarithmic or equiangular spiral. This precise curve develops naturally as the shell increases in
size but does not change its shape. The process of self-similar growth yields a logarithmic spiral.
We find the same spiral in the path traced by a moth drawn towards a light.

honeycomb nautilus shell moth drawn towards the light

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Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form found in the natural world. These patterns
recur in different contexts and can sometimes be modelled mathematically. Natural patterns
include symmetries, trees, spirals, meanders, waves, foams, tessellations, cracks and stripes.
Early Greek philosophers studied pattern, with Plato, Pythagoras and Empedocles attempting to
explain order in nature. The modern understanding of visible patterns developed gradually over
time.

As a practical matter, mathematics is a science of pattern and order. Its domain is not molecules
or cells, but numbers, chance, form, algorithms, and change. As a science of abstract objects,
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mathematics relies on logic rather than on observation as its standard of truth, yet employs
observation, simulation, and even experimentation as means of discovering truth.

Let's take a look at some of the different types of patterns to help you appreciate them as well.

Symmetry is when different sides of something are alike. These reflections may be mirror
images with only two sides like the two sides of our bodies, they may be symmetrical on several
sides like the inside of an apple sliced in half, or they might be symmetrical on all sides like the
different face of a cube.

We understand symmetry quite well in living organisms because it is a function of their

environment. In order to balance, we need to have symmetrical body structure so we don't fall
over from imbalanced weight.

What we don't understand very well is symmetry in non-living things. Snowflakes have six-fold
symmetry but it is unclear why this occurs. Crystals like diamond are likewise constructed with
mathematical regularity. A chemist could readily explain how positively and negatively charged
sodium and chloride ions arrange themselves neatly in a crystal lattice, resulting in salt crystals
with a perfect cubic structure, and while beautiful it is still somewhat of a mystery.

face of Dr. Gellor Snowflake diamond

Alphaeus images https://www.quora.com https://www.bishopsjewelry.com

Fractals are the 'never-ending' patterns that repeat indefinitely as the pattern is iterated on an
infinitely smaller scale. Infinite iteration is not possible in nature so all 'fractal' patterns are only
approximate We see this type of pattern in trees, rivers, mountains, shells, clouds, leaves,
lightning, and more.
Ferns are a common example of a self-similar set,
meaning that their pattern can be mathematically
generated and reproduced at any magnification or
reduction. The mathematical formula that
describes ferns, named after Michael Barnsley. In
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other words, random numbers generated over and

over using Barnsley's Fern formula ultimately
produce a unique fern-shaped object
https://www.fibrex.co.uk

This variant form of cauliflower is the ultimate

fractal vegetable. Its pattern is a natural
representation of the Fibonacci or golden
spiral, a logarithmic spiral where every quarter
turn is farther from the origin by a factor of
phi, the golden ratio.

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Spirals are another common pattern in nature that we see more often in living things. Think of
the horns of a sheep, the shell of a nautilus, and the placement of leaves around a stem. A
special type of spiral, the logarithmic spiral, is one that gets smaller as it goes. We see this
pattern in galaxies, hurricanes, and some seashells

The Galaxy hurricane Yolanda (Nov. 2013)

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LESSON 1.3 THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers: 0 , 1 ,1 , 2 ,3 , 5 , 8 ,13 ,21 , 34 , ...

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. The number 2 is found by
adding the two numbers before it (1+1). 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2),
and 5 is (2+3), and so on

When we make squares with those widths, we get a nice spiral:

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Do you see how the squares fit neatly together? For example 5 and 8 make 13, 8 and 13 make
21, and so on.

A nautilus is a cephalopod mollusk with a spiral

shell and numerous short tentacles around its
mouth.
A nautilus shell is grown in a Fibonacci spiral. The
spiral occurs as the shell grows outwards and tries
to maintain its proportional shape.

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Other Amazing Examples of the Fibonacci sequence in Nature

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Sunflowers boast radial symmetry of the Fibonacci sequence. This is not uncommon since many
plants produce leaves, petals and seeds in the Fibonacci sequence. Sunflowers and other plants
abide by mathematical rules for efficiency. In simple terms, sunflowers can pack in the
maximum number of seeds if each seed is separated by an irrational-numbered angle.

Here are the three most natural ways to find spirals

in this pattern. Note that the black pattern is
identical in all the images on this page. Only the
colored lines indicating the selected spirals are
different. The 1st set of lines show 34 spirals of
seeds.

Choosing another slope, these set of lines And choosing a very shallow slope, these
show 55 spirals of seeds. set of lines show 21 spirals of seeds
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LESSON 1.4 THE GOLDEN RATIO

1. The Golden Ratio is a special number found by dividing a line into two parts so that the
longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the
longer part. It is often symbolized using phi, after the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. In an
equation form, it looks like this:

a (a+b)
= =1.6180339887498948420 …
b a

Each section of your index finger,

from the tip to the base of the
wrist, is larger than the preceding
one by about the Fibonacci ratio
of 1.618, also fitting the Fibonacci
numbers 2, 3, 5 and 8.

By this scale, your fingernail is 1 unit in length. Curiously enough, you also have 2 hands, each
with 5 digits, and your 8 fingers are each comprised of 3 sections. All Fibonacci numbers!

Here are other ways of expressing the same basic relationship in its connection to the golden
ratio and golden spiral

Engr. Lynn M. Remo

https://www.goldennumber.net
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WORKSHEET 2

NAME: SCORE:

SECTION CODE OR CLASS SCHEDULE: DATE:

 Pattern recognition in local community

 Take at least 5 pictures (with selfie) of any example of patterns (Symmetry, Spiral,
Fractal, Fibonacci Sequence, etc.) that you can find from your local community and
paste it in the space provided below.
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WORKSHEET 3

NAME: SCORE:

SECTION CODE OR CLASS SCHEDULE: DATE:

1. Continue The Fibonacci Sequence by completing the 1st table below.

0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34

2. Complete the 2nd table below by taking the ratio of the two successive Fibonacci
sequence from the 1st table. Round off your answer to the nearest thousandths.
x x 1.000 2.000 1.500

3. Measure your arm from A to B and from A to C as shown in the figure below. And write
your measurement (cm) in the given table below. Gat the ratio of AC/AB. Look for other
measurements from your classmates and get the average.

A
A BB CC

Name of Students AB (cm) AC (cm) AC÷ AB (cm)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.