CHAPTER 1

MATHEMATICS
IN OUR WORLD
Mathematics of the modern world
 Heavenly Father, I reach out to you for your guidance.
Please show me which way to turn.
Calm my anxious thoughts, come speak into my mind.
Strengthen me as I falter and feel weary.
May I feel strength rising up within my heart.
Bring clarity into my visions and dreams.
I trust that you are with me, no matter where I go,
Or what I decide to do.
You journey with me always.To dwell on the beauty of our world,
And study and fathom the science and math's miracles.
To enjoy the conversations we have and the lessons we go to,
May we drink in all the goodness you have for us.
Amen.

7 June 2020 NATURE OF MATHEMATICS 3

 MODULE I.

NATURE OF MATHEMATICS
Objectives:

1. Articulate the importance of mathematics in one’s

life;

2. Express appreciation for mathematics as a human

endeavor

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WATCH: Math from a Biblical Worldview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcKi2t54djk

7 June 2020 NATURE OF MATHEMATICS 6

❑ Euclid said that "The laws of nature are but the
mathematical thoughts of God."

❑ Galileo affirmed by stating that ―Mathematics

is the language in which God has written the
Universe.ǁ

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Etymology of Mathematics
❑ From the ancient word manthanein
manthanein which means
“to learn”.
“to learn”
❑ From Old French mathematique,
mathematique and directly from
mathēmatica (“mathematics”) (plural), from
Latin mathēmatica
Ancient Greek mathēmatikós
mathēmatikós (“fond
(“fond of
of learning”)
learning”)
❑ From Greek root word máthēma , which, in the
ancient Greek language, means what one learns or what
(máthēma, “knowledge,
one gets to know (máthēma, “knowledge, studystudy,
,
learning”)

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“Definitions” of Mathematics
❑ Mathematics is a science
(abstract) science of
▪ Calculation
▪ numbers and space.
▪ measurement, quantity and magnitude
It constitutes a body of established facts, achieved
achieved
by
by aa reliable
reliable method, verified by
method, verified by practice,
practice, and
agreed
agreed onon by by aa consensus
consensus of
of qualified
qualified experts.
experts

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 “Definitions” of Mathematics
❑ Mathematics is a science
the development formaldeductive
development of all types of formal deductive
reasoning
reasoning.
“the study of
❑Old standard dictionary definition: “the study of the
propertiesproperties
of numbersof numbers
and and figures.”
geometrical geometrical
the
figures.”
❑Today, mathematics includes abstract
abstractalgebra,
algebra, logic,
logic,
and
and probability, none of which
none is part
of which of traditional
is part of traditional
probability,
arithmetic or geometry.
arithmetic or geometry.

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What is Mathematics?
❑ A desire for a particular kind of knowing;
knowing that is self-contained on the
individual or may be seen as an
autonomous thinking (Schaaf, 1963).
❑ The science of numbers and their
operations, interrelations, combinations,
generalizations, and abstractions and of
space configurations of their structure,
measurement, transformations and
generalizations. (Merriam dictionary).

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What is Mathematics?
❑ A study of patterns and relations. It is also a
way of thinking.
❑ An art characterized by order and internal
consistency. It is a language that uses
carefully defined terms and symbols. Thus,
mathematics is a tool (Reys, Lindquist,
Lambdin, Smith and Suydam, 2004).
❑ The “science of patterns” and then more
fully as: “the science of order, patterns,
structure, and logical relationships” (Devlin,
2001, p.73).
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Mathematics as a Tool
❑ Data management ❑ Apportionment and
❑ Geometric Designs ❑ Voting
❑ Codes ❑ Logic
❑
❑ Linear Programming ❑ The Mathematics of
❑ The Mathematics of Graphs
Finance ❑ Mathematical
Systems

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Characteristics of Mathematics
❑ Precision It is precise in the sense that
mathematical statements are clear
and unambiguous. It is clear what is
known and what is not known

Reasoning is the lifeblood of

❑ Definition
mathematics. It is the engine that
drives proving and problem solving.
❑ Reasoning Its absence is the root cause of the
learning by rote approach.
❑ Coherence
❑ Purposefulness

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Characteristics of Mathematics
❑ Precision
❑ Definition Definitions abound in
mathematics. It is the bedrock of
❑ Reasoning mathematical structure and the
platform that supports reasoning.

Concepts and skills are

❑ Coherence interwoven in mathematics

And lastly, mathematics is

❑ Purposefulness goal-oriented, and for every
concept or skill there is a purpose
for it.

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What is Mathematics for?
❑ Helps unravel the puzzles of nature.
❑ Helps organize patterns and regularities as well as
irregularities in the world.
❑ Helps predict the behavior of nature and phenomena.
❑ Helps control nature and occurrences such as
epidemics.
❑ Provides tools for calculations.
❑ Provides new questions to think about.

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Who uses Mathematics?
❑ Mathematicians: pure and applied
❑ Scientists: natural and social
❑ EVERYONE, but, different
different people useuse different
different
mathematics
mathematicsatatdifferent
differenttimes
timesforfordifferent
different
purposes
purposes using
usingdifferent
differenttools.
tools.

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Why is Mathematics important to
know?
❑ It puts order in disorder
❑ It helps us to become a better person’
❑ It helps make the world a better place to
live in

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Activity 1: For class discussion-Google chat
❑ Read “Nature’s Numbers” by Ian Stewart
https://rctolentino.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/ian-stewart-
numerele-naturii.pdf
❑ After reading:
1. List down events that are related to your field of
specialization.
2. Answer the following:
a. What concepts of Mathematics are of importance to
your field?
b. What is the role of Mathematics in your field?

Note: post your answer in the google chat then

comment on your classmates answers
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 Dear God,
Thank you for the things we
have learnt, experienced and
discovered through this day.
Help us to remember it all.
Please bless our rest and sleep
tonight so that we can really
enjoy our next day together.
Amen.

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References:
❖ Aufmann, R., et al.(2013). Mathematical excursions. United States of America: Cengage Learning.
❖ CHED Memorandum Order No. 20, Series of 2013. General Education Curriculum.
https://ched.gov.ph/memorandum-orders/
❖ Nature of image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJ-4B-mS-Y
❖ https://rctolentino.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/ian-stewart-numerele-naturii.pdf
❖ https://www.google.com/search?q=mathematics+in+NATURE&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiLrsDQu-XpAhW9lUsFHcLRAL
AQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=mathematics+in+NATURE&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIECAAQEzIECAAQEzIECAAQEzIECAAQEz
IECAAQEzIECAAQEzIECAAQEzIECAAQEzIECAAQEzIECAAQEzoGCAAQHhATUNWfFlikrBZgurMWaABwAHgAgA
HEAYgBrgiSAQMwLjaYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img&ei=Sn_XXovhJL2rrtoPwqODgAs&bih=626&bi
w=1406#imgrc=Vx6GDm5E27ll7M&imgdii=KpoMPVnlmKPm4M
❖ https://www.prayerscapes.com/prayers/children/prayer_before_class_starts.html
❖ https://www.living-prayers.com/children/prayer_for_a_student.html#student
❖ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM_ZNXXucvY&list=PLwUwIvnZLqwaGlwkg4eKRz84scfvZY88z&index=3
❖ https://www.living-prayers.com/children/closing_prayer_for_class.html#ixzz6OP0oQzh3

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