Rene Decarte

The Nature of
Mathematics.

Mrs. Nitha Philip

 Why are
students
failing
Mathematic
s?
 Netherla
nds
St. Lucia Antilles Jamaica

Turks &
B.V.I
Caicos
Islands

Cayman
Trinidad
Island
& Tobago Caribbea
n

St.
Dominica
Vincent

St.
Kitts/ Grenada
Nevis
Montserr
Guyana
at
 Percentage passes in Mathematics
obtaining Grade 1- 111
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

84 786
No. of Candidates

76, 005

73, 320 Percentage passes in

Mathematics obtaining
76,000
Grade I - 111
66 000
1995

14,654
-

0 10 20 30 40 50
Percentages
Question:

Are students failing mathematics

because of the nature of
mathematics?

What is the nature of mathematics, in

fact what is mathematics?
Objectives:

1. discuss the nature of

mathematics.
 What is a pencil?
a writing instrument

Artist Sociologis Environme A

t ntalist Toddler
Agent of A toy
Means of
Tool for communica deforestatio
n
creating ting
Is it sufficient to describe
Mathematics as:
A Study of numbers,
symbols, shapes?
 Mathematics:

1: Is composed of patterns
- Also a study of patterns
- 2. Is a language
- It is also described by a
universal language

- 3. It is an ordered structure of
knowledge
 Mathematics:

4. It is a unique way of thinking

- it is also understood by a unique
way of thinking.
5. It is an Art
Mathematics: A study of
patterns

What is a pattern?

Please attempt to solve this

Handshake problem

What do you notice?

 What is A pattern:

 Any regularity in form,

number, procedure or idea
 It is based on sequences, it
repeats
Patterns in Numbers
( number sequencing)
Let us examine the 10 times
table see any patterns

9
 What about the 9 times table :
18
27
36
45
Patterns in form
Pascal triangle

1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
Patterns in Form
 8

0
-15 -10 -5 0

-2
 8

0
-15 -10 -5 0

-2
 8

0
-15 -10 -5 0

-2
 6

0
-5 0

-2
Patterns in Procedure/
algorithm
 Addition
 Subtraction:
 Multiplication
 Division ( long division)
 Completing the square
 Multiplying, adding matices
 This house of cards is 3
storeys high. 15 cards are
needed.
* How many cards would
be needed for a similar
house, 10 storeys high?
* The world record for the
greatest number of storeys
is 61. How many cards
would you need to break
this record, and make a
house 62 storeys high?