GNED 03

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

CHAPTER 1. MATHEMATICS IN OUR WORLD

Where can we find patterns?

 Repeating interval of day and night

 Cycle of the moon
 Rising and falling of tides
 Changing of the seasons
 Arrangement of leaves and stems in a plant
 Shape of a snowflake
 Flowers’ petals
 Shape of a snail’s shell
 Layout of floor tiles
 Designs of skyscrapers
 Tying shoelaces

Patterns – are regular, repeated, or recurring forms or designs

*Studying patterns help students in identifying relationships and finding logical connections to form
generalizations and make predictions.

Examples:

1. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, _____
2. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, _____

Symmetry – comes from a Greek word meaning “to measure together” and is widely used in the study
of Geometry
– Mathematically, it means that one shape becomes exactly like another when you move it in
some way: turn, flip, or slide
– indicates that you can draw an imaginary line across an object and the resulting parts are
mirror images of each other

*For two objects to be symmetrical, they must be the same size and shape, with one object having a
different orientation from the first.

*If an object is not symmetrical, it is called asymmetric.

3 Basic Types of Symmetry

1. Reflection Symmetry/ Line Symmetry/ Mirror Symmetry – is when an object is reflected across a
line, like looking in a mirror
Examples: face, square, circle, letter A

2. Rotational Symmetry – is when an object is rotated by several degrees, the same appearance as
the original position is still achieved

Examples: recycle logo, starfish, snowflake

Center – the point around which the rotation occurs

Order of Rotation (n) – number of times an object or shape can be rotated and still look like it did before
rotation began

Angle of Rotation – smallest angle that a figure can be rotated while still preserving the original
formation

360°
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑅𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑛

3. Point Symmetry (sometimes called Origin Symmetry) – occurs when there exists a position or a
central point on an object such that:
– The central point splits the object or shape into two parts.
– Every part on each has a matching part on the other that is the same distance from the
central point.
– Both parts face different directions.

*It is also the same as Rotational Symmetry of Order 2

Examples: playing cards, letters X, H, I, S, N, Z

Sequence – collection of numbers that follow a particular pattern

– ordered list of numbers that may have repeated values

Terms – individual elements in a sequence

Examples:

1. 1, 10, 1000, _____, _____, _____

2. 2, 5, 9, 14, 20, _____, _____, _____
3. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, _____, _____, _____
4. 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, _____, _____, _____
5. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, _____, _____, _____

Fibonacci Sequence – named after the Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa, who was better known
by his nickname Fibonacci

*Starting with 0 and 1, the succeeding terms in the sequence can be generated by adding the two
numbers that came before the term.
*This pattern is very visible in nature ( spiral arrangement of sunflower seeds, number of petals in a
flower, shape of a snail’s shell)

*The ratios of two successive Fibonacci numbers approach the number 𝜑, also known as the Golden
Ratio (approximately equal to 1.618)

*Shapes and figures that bear this proportion are generally considered to be aesthetically pleasing
(Mona Lisa, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Parthenon)

Examples:

Let 𝐹𝑛 be the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence with 𝐹1 = 0, 𝐹2 = 1, 𝐹3 = 1, 𝐹4 = 2, and so on.

1. Find 𝐹8 . _____
2. Find 𝐹19 . _____
3. If 𝐹22 = 10, 946 and 𝐹24 = 28, 657, what is 𝐹23 ? _____
CHAPTER 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Variable – a quantity that may change within the context of a mathematical problem or experiment

Mathematical Expression – consists of terms separated by either plus or minus signs

Literal Coefficient – variable

Numerical Coefficient – constant multiplied to the variable

Monomial – consists of a single term

Binomial – consists of two terms

Trinomial – consists of three terms

Mathematical Sentence – combines two mathematical expressions using a comparison operator

Mathematical Statement (or Proposition) – a sentence that is either true or false but no both or neither

Examples:

1. 3 is an even number.
2. 6 is an even number.
3. Close the door.

Types of Statements

1. Universal Statement – says that a certain property is true for all elements in a set
2. Conditional Statement – says that if one thing is true then some other thing also has to be true
3. Existential Statement – says that given a property that may or may not be true, there is at least
one thing for which the property is true

Examples:

1. All positive numbers are greater than zero.

2. If 378 is divisible by 18, then 378 is divisible by 6.
3. There is a prime number that is even.

Examples on Translating Statements

1. The sum of 8 and y

2. 4 less than x
3. X multiplied by 13
4. The quotient of x and 3
5. The difference of 5 and y
6. The ratio of 9 more than x to x
7. Nine less than the total of a number and two
8. Twelve added to a number
9. Twice a number minus eight
10. Three-fourths of a number
11. Six less than twice a number is forty five.
12. A number minus seven yields ten.
13. Eight times a number is forty eight.
14. Eight less than a number is five.
15. Twice the difference of a number and three is twelve.
16. 6+x
17. 14x
18. 10x=80
19. x+12=8
20. 3x=15