GEMMW

Mathematics in the Modern World

MODULE 1: MATHEMATICS IN NATURE
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:
1. Identify patterns in nature and regularities in the world.
2. Differentiate a geometric sequence from an arithmetic sequence.
3. Determine the sum of an arithmetic series and geometric series.
4. Solve problems involving arithmetic mean and geometric mean.

MATHEMATICS IN NATURE
Patterns in nature are noticeable regularities of form observed in the natural
world. These patterns reappear in different circumstances and can be demonstrated
mathematically. Natural patterns that can be found in nature include symmetry,
spirals, waves, and the like. The following are examples of patterns that we can find
in nature.
Pinecones
Pinecones have seed pods that
arrange in a spiral pattern. They consist
of a pair of spirals, each one twisting
upwards in opposing directions.

The number of steps will almost

always match a pair of consecutive
Fibonacci numbers. For example, a
three–to–five cone meets at the back
after three steps along the left spiral and
five steps along the right.

Honeycombs •
• Bees are renowned as first-rate honey producers
and they are also adept at geometry. For centuries,
mankind has marveled at the incredible hexagonal
figures in honeycombs which bees can instinctively
create, while for humans, they need the assistance of
a compass and ruler.
Honeycombs are examples of wallpaper
symmetry. This is where a pattern is repeated until it
covers a plane.
 Mathematicians believe bees build these
hexagonal constructions because it is the shape
most efficient for storing the largest possible amount
of honey while using the least amount of wax.

•
Milky Way Galaxy
Recently, a new • As well as having mirror
section on the edges of symmetry, the Milky Way
the Milky Way Galaxy has another amazing
was discovered, and, by design. Like nautilus shells
studying this, and sunflowers, each ‘arm’
astronomers now believe of the galaxy symbolizes a
the galaxy is a near- logarithmic spiral that begins
perfect mirror image of at the galaxy’s center and
itself. expands outwards.

Using this new • Source:

information, scientists http://www.planetdolan.com/
have become more 15-beautiful-examples-of-
confident in their theory mathematics-in-nature/2/
that the galaxy has only
two major arms: the
Scutum-Centaurus and
the Perseus.
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 1
Mathematics in Nature
Complete the table below by drawing pictures in nature that have a
mathematical connection and explain its connection in the second column.
Pictures in Nature Mathematical Connections
PATTERNS IN MATHEMATICS
Numbers can have interesting patterns. In mathematics, a sequence is an
ordered list of numbers of elements that are usually determined using some function
or patterns. Sequences can be both finite and infinite. A sequence is a set of
numbers (or other objects) that follow a particular pattern. The individual elements of
a sequence are called the term. Here we list the most common patterns and how
they are made.

Sequences and patterns

A "sequence" (called a "progression" in British English) is an ordered list of
numbers; the numbers in this ordered list are called the "elements" or the "terms" of
the sequence.

Example 1. Determine the next term in each given sequence and explain
the pattern that the sequences are following.
a. 1, −3, 9, −27, 81, ...
The next term in the given sequence is -243. (multiply by
negative 3)

b. 0, 3, 8, 15, 24, ...

The next term in the sequence is 35. (add 2 in the second
difference of consecutive numbers)

c. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, …
The next term in the sequence is 36. (square the natural
number)

d. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …
The next term in the sequence is 13. (add consecutive
numbers to arrive at the next term)

e. 0, 1, 8, 27, 64, …
The next term in the sequence is 125. (cube the whole
number)
Example 2. How many dots will there be in the next term?

The next term will have the given illustration below.

Therefore, the number of dots in the next term is 21.

Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 2
Sequences and Patterns
I. Write the next three terms for the given sequences and patterns.
1. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, …
2. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...
3. 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, …
4. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, …
5. 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512, 729, ...
II. Draw the next two figures in each pattern below.
.
1.

2.
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

An arithmetic sequence goes from one term to the next by always adding (or
subtracting) the same value. The number added (or subtracted) at each stage of an
arithmetic sequence is called the common difference (d).

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
where: an = the nth term
a1 = first term
n = number of terms
d = common difference

Example 1. Find the next term in the sequence 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, ___.
The common difference in the sequence is 4, therefore
the next term is 20 + 4 = 24.

Example 2. Find the 35th term in the arithmetic sequence 3, 9, 15, 21, …
Listing all the terms until you arrive at the 35th term is too
tedious. A way to determine the value of the nth term of a
sequence is given below.

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
Using the above formula

𝑎35 = ?
𝑎1 = 3
𝑑=6
𝑎35 = 3 + (35 − 1)6
𝑎35 = 207
Therefore, the 35th term of the given sequence is 207.
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 3
Arithmetic Sequence
I. Find the next three terms in each sequence.
1. 18, 11, 4, …
2. 23, 18, 13, 8, 3, …
3. 14, 34, 54, 74, 94, …
4. 7, 2, –3, –8, –13, –18, …
5. 15, 11, 7, 3, –1, –5, –9, …
II. Write down the stated term of the following arithmetic sequences. Show your
solution.
1. –7, –5, –3, … (14th)

2. 3, 3 ½, 4, … (16th)

3. 25, 32, 39, 46, ... (20th)

4. –5, –1, 3, 7, 11, ... (12th)

5. 3, –2, –7, –12 ... (27th)

III. Solve the following.

1. What is the thirty-second term of the arithmetic sequence –12, –7, –2, 3, ... ?

2. What is the fiftieth term of the arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, ... ?

3. What is the twentieth term of the arithmetic sequence 21, 18, 15, 12, ... ?

4. The fifth term of an arithmetic sequence is 11 and the tenth term is 41. What
is the first term?

5. The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 4 and the tenth term is 67.
What is the common difference?
GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

A geometric sequence goes from one term to the next by always multiplying
(or dividing) by the same value. The number multiplied (or divided) at each stage of a
geometric sequence is called the common ratio (r).

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1

where: an = the nth term

a1 = first term
n = number of terms
r = common ratio

Example 1. Find the next term in the sequence 10, 30, 90, 270, …
This sequence has a factor of 3 between each number.
Therefore, the next term is 270 x 3 = 810.
Example 2. Find the 10th term in the sequence 10, 30, 90, 270, …
Listing all the terms until you arrive at the 10th term is too
tedious, a way to determine the value of the nth term of a
geometric sequence is given below.

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
Using the above formula

𝑎10 = ?
𝑎1 = 10
𝑟 = 3 (𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜)
𝑛 = 10
𝑎10 = 10 ∙ 310−1
𝑎10 = 10 ∙ 39
𝑎10 = 196 830
Therefore, the 10th term of the given geometric sequence is 196
830.
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 4
Geometric Sequence
I. Find the next three terms in each sequence.
1. 2, 10, 50, 250, 1 250, ...
2. −2, −4, −8, −16, ...
3. −3, −15, −75, −375, ...
4. 1, −5, 25, −125, ...
5. −4, −12, −36, −108, …
II. Write down the stated term of the following geometric sequences. Show your
solution.
1. 1, 2, 4, 8, … (12th)

2. 3, 6, 12, 24,… (8th)

3. 512, 256, 128, … (6th)

4. 12, 18, 27, … (9th)

5. 2, 10, 50, … (6th)

III. Solve the following.

1. Find the next four terms of the geometric sequence with 𝑎1 = −6 and r = −2/3.
2. Find r for the geometric progression whose first three terms are 2, 4, and 8.
3. Given the first two terms in a geometric progression as 2 and 4, what is the 10th
term?
4. Given the first two terms in a geometric progression as 5 and 12, what is the 7th
term?
ARITHMETIC SERIES
An arithmetic series is the sum of a sequence 𝐴𝑘 , 𝐴 = 1,2,3, …, in which each
term is computed from the previous one by adding (or subtracting) a constant d.

The sum of the sequence of the first n terms is then given by

𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = (𝑎 + 𝑎𝑛 )
2 1
where: Sn = the sum of the terms in a sequence
n = number of terms
a1 = first term
an = the nth term

or
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
2
where: Sn = the sum of the terms in a sequence
n = number of terms
a1 = first term
d = common difference

Example 1. Find the sum of first 75 positive integers.

Solution 1:

To find the sum of first 75 positive integers first let us write the series
1 + 2 + 3 + ..........+ 75
Total number of terms in the series is 75 so n = 75
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = (𝒂 + 𝒂𝒏 )
𝟐 𝟏
75
𝑆75 = (1 + 75)
2
𝑺𝟕𝟓 = 𝟐 𝟖𝟓𝟎

Solution 2:
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = [𝟐𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅]
𝟐
75
𝑆75 = [2 × 1 + (75 − 1) × 1]
2
75
𝑆75 = [2 + 74]
2
𝑺𝟕𝟓 = 𝟐 𝟖𝟓𝟎
Example 2. Find the sum of each arithmetic series 38 + 35 + 32 + ... + 2.

Solution 1:
𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅
2 = 38 + (𝑛 − 1)(−3)
2 = 38 + (−3𝑛 + 3)
2 = 41 − 3𝑛
3𝑛 = 39
𝒏 = 𝟏𝟑

𝟏
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒏(𝒂𝟏 + 𝒂𝒏 )
𝟐
1
𝑆13 = (13)(38 + 2)
2
𝑆13 = (6.5)(40)
𝑺𝟏𝟑 = 𝟐𝟔𝟎

Solution 2:
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = [𝟐 × 𝟑𝟖 + (𝟏𝟑 − 𝟏)(−𝟑)]
𝟐
13
𝑆13 = [2 × 38 + (13 − 1)(−3)]
2
13
𝑆13 = [76 + (−36)]
2
𝑺𝟏𝟑 = 𝟐𝟔𝟎
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 5
Arithmetic Series

I. Find the sum of the following series:

1. 3, 8 ½, …, to 20 terms

2. 19, 13, …, to 10 terms

3. –17, –12, –7,…, 33

4. –9, –1, …, to 8 terms

5. 4, 11, …, to 16 terms

II. Solve the following.

1. Find the sum of all the integers from 1 to 1 000.

2. Find the sum of all positive integers, from 5 to 1 555 inclusive, that are
divisible by 5.

3. A tube well is bored 80 meters deep. The 1st meter costs ₱1 250 and the cost
per meter increases by ₱250 for every subsequent meter. Find the cost of
boring the 75th meter and the total cost incurred for the entire job.

4. There is a stack of logs in the backyard. There are 15 logs in the 1st layer, 14
in the second, 13 in the third, 12 in the fourth, and so on with the last layer
having one log. How many logs are in the stack?

5. There are 20 rows of seats on a concert hall: 25 seats are in the 1 st row, 27
seats on the 2nd row, 29 seats on the 3rd row, and so on. If the price per ticket
is ₱2 300, how much will be the total sales for a one-night concert if all seats
are taken?
GEOMETRIC SERIES
A geometric series is the indicated sum of a geometric sequence. The sum
of the first n terms of a geometric series is given by
𝑎1 (𝑟 𝑛 −1)
𝑆𝑛 = ; r≠1
𝑟−1

where: Sn = the sum of the terms in a sequence

n = number of terms
a1 = first term
r = common ratio

Example 1. Find the sum of the first 10 terms of -5 + 10 + (-20) + 40 + ...

Solution:
𝒂 (𝒓𝒏 −𝟏)
𝑺𝒏 = 𝟏 𝒓−𝟏
(−5)(−2)10 − (−5)
𝑆10 =
(−2) − 1
(−5)(1 024) + 5
𝑆10 =
−3
−5 115
𝑆10 =
−3
𝑺𝟏𝟎 = 𝟏 𝟕𝟎𝟓
Example 2. Find the sum of the first 9 terms of 5 + 10 + 20 + 40 + ...

Solution:
𝒂 (𝒓𝒏 −𝟏)
𝑺𝒏 = 𝟏 𝒓−𝟏

(5)(2)9 − (5)
𝑆9 =
2−1
(5)(512) − (5)
𝑆9 =
1
𝑺𝟗 = 𝟐 𝟓𝟓𝟓
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 6
Geometric Series

I. Find the sum of the following series:

1. 1, 2, 4, 8, …, to 12 terms

2. 3, 6, 12, 24, …, to 8 terms

3. 512, 256, 128, …, to 6 terms

4. 12, 18, 27, …, to 9 terms

5. 2, 10, 50, …, to 6 terms

II. Solve the following.

1. You have won a contest sponsored by a local radio station. If you are given the
choice of the two payment plans listed below, which plan will pay you more? How
much more?
a. ₱10.00 on the first day, ₱20.00 on the second day, ₱30.00 on the third day,
etc., for two months.
b. ₱10.00 on the first day, ₱20.00 on the second day, ₱40.00 on the third day,
etc. for two weeks.
2. A culture of bacteria doubles every two hours. If there are 500 bacteria at the
beginning, how many bacteria will there be after 24 hours?
ARITHMETIC MEAN
An arithmetic mean is the sum of all of the numbers in a list divided by the number of
terms in that list. In the arithmetic sequence, if the three numbers are in arithmetic
sequence, that means if a, b and c are in arithmetic sequence, then the first two
terms a and b will have the difference which will be equal to the next two
terms b and c.
𝑆
𝐴𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 (𝐴) =
𝑁
where: A = arithmetic mean
N = the number of terms
S = the sum of the numbers in the list
Example 1. Find the missing term or terms in each arithmetic sequence.
a. ..., 29, ___, −31, ...
Solution:
𝑺
𝑨=
𝑵
29 + (−31)
𝐴=
2
−2
𝐴=
2
𝑨 = −𝟏
The missing term is −1, which is also the arithmetic mean
between 29 and −31.
b. ..., −20, ___, −40, ...
Solution:
𝑺
𝑨=
𝑵
−20 + (−40)
𝐴=
2
𝐴 = −30
𝑨 = −𝟑𝟎
The missing term is −30, which is also the arithmetic mean
between −20 and −40.
MULTIPLE ARITHMETIC MEANS BETWEEN TWO GIVEN NUMBERS
Let a and b be the two given numbers and A1, A2, …, An be the arithmetic means
between them. Then a, A1, A2, …, An, b will be in arithmetic sequence. If a is the first
term, then b will be the (n+2)th term.
Hence, 𝑏 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 + 2 − 1)𝑑
𝑏−𝑎
𝑑=
𝑛+1
𝑏−𝑎
So, 𝐴1 = 𝑎 + 𝑛+1,
𝑏−𝑎
𝐴2 = 𝑎 + 2 𝑛+1,

…
𝑏−𝑎
𝐴𝑚 = 𝑎 + 𝑚 𝑛+1

Example 1. Find the missing terms in the arithmetic sequence.

..., 10, ___, ___, ___, 130, ...
Solution:
𝑏−𝑎
𝐴1 = 𝑎 + 𝑛+1
130−10
𝐴1 = 10 + 3+1

𝑨𝟏 = 𝟒𝟎
𝑏−𝑎
𝐴2 = 𝑎 + 2 (𝑛+1)
130−10
𝐴2 = 10 + 2 ( )
3+1

𝑨𝟐 = 𝟕𝟎
𝑏−𝑎
𝐴3 = 𝑎 + 3 (𝑛+1)
130−10
𝐴3 = 10 + 3 ( )
3+1

𝑨𝟑 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 7
Arithmetic Mean
I. Find the missing term or terms in each arithmetic sequence.
1. ..., 13, ___, 7, ...
2. ..., −23, ___, −3, ...
3. ..., 9, ___, 3, ...
4. ..., 36, ___, 56, ...
5. ..., −16.3, ___, −20.5, ...
6. ...,35, ___, ___, ___,83, ...
7. ..., −7.7, ___, ___, −16.4, ...
8. ..., 19, ___, ___, −71, ...
9. ..., − 25/8 , ___, ___, ___, − 32/25 , ...
10. ..., 3125, ___, ___, ___, 5, ...

II. Solve the following:

1. Insert two arithmetic means between 20 and 68.

2. Insert three arithmetic means between 7 and 15.

3. Insert 5 arithmetic means between 5 and 2.

4. Find 5 arithmetic means between 7 and 19.

5. Find a, 𝑏, and 𝑐 given the arithmetic sequence 𝑎, 44, 𝑏, 64, 𝑐.

GEOMETRIC MEAN

Geometric mean b of two terms a and c is given by √𝑎𝑐. If a, and c are in geometric
sequence, then the ratio of the two consecutive terms is equal.
𝑏 𝑐
=𝑏
𝑎

𝑏 2 = 𝑎𝑐

𝑏 = √𝑎𝑐
*b is the geometric mean between a and c.
Example 1. What is the geometric mean between −3 and −108?
Solution:

𝑏 = √𝑎𝑐

𝑏 = √(−3)(−108)

𝑏 = √324
𝒃 = ±𝟏𝟖 is the geometric mean between −3 and −108.

Multiple Geometric Means between two numbers

Let a and b be the two given numbers. Let, G1, G2, G3, ..., Gn be n geometric
mean between them.
𝑚
𝑏 𝑛+1
𝐺𝑚 = 𝑎 ( )
𝑎
Example 1. Insert 3 numbers between 1 and 256 so that the resulting sequence is
geometric.
Solution: We are supposed to insert three numbers, say
1, G1, G2, G3, 256

Solution:
𝟏 𝟐 𝟑
𝟐𝟓𝟔 𝟑+𝟏 𝟐𝟓𝟔 𝟑+𝟏 𝟐𝟓𝟔 𝟑+𝟏
𝑮𝟏 = 𝟏 ( ) 𝑮𝟐 = 𝟏 ( ) 𝑮𝟑 = 𝟏 ( )
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
1 1 3
𝐺1 = 2564 𝐺2 = 256 2 𝐺3 = 256 4

𝑮𝟏 = ±𝟒 𝑮𝟐 = ±𝟏𝟔 𝑮𝟐 = ±𝟔𝟒

If the common ratio is positive, then 𝑮𝟏 = 𝟒, 𝑮𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝟑 = 𝟔𝟒.

If the common ratio is negative, then 𝑮𝟏 = −𝟒, 𝑮𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝟑 = −𝟔𝟒
Note: Always test the results using positive and negative common ratio.
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 8
Geometric Mean
I. Find the missing term or terms in each geometric sequence.
1. ..., −3, ___, −108, ...
2. ..., −2, ___, −18, ...
3. ..., −3, ___, −75, ...
4. ..., 2, ___, 18, ...
5. ..., −2, ___, −8, ...
6. ..., 3 125, ___, ___, ___, 5, ...
7. ..., −2 , ___, ___, ___, −32 , ...
8. ..., 1, ___, ___, ___, 16, ...
9. ..., 3, ___, ___, 648, ...
10. ..., −1, ___, ___, −27, ...

II. Solve the following:

1. Calculate the Geometric Mean of 3 and 27.

2. What is the geometric mean of 5 and 45?

3. Insert three geometric means between 2 and 162.

4. Find four geometric means between 4 096 and 972.

References:
Sirug, W. S. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World
http://www.planetdolan.com/15-beautiful-examples-of-mathematics-in-nature/2/
https://mathigon.org/course/sequences/introduction
https://www.purplemath.com/modules/series.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_CaCie8R4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt2OlMAJj6o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EmWdysUk0c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj_X9JVSF8k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93X6Up32Peg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAhJuftIoEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSOVC3aI6Nw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbd5E_qjm0k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghDTPCZNiw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC4GbozKLsY