COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

MATHEMATICS IN MODERN WORLD

(S.Y 2021-2022)

Chapter 1: THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

Learning Objectives :

At the end of this chapter, the student is expected to:

 identify patterns in nature and regularities in the world;

 explain the importance of mathematics in one’s life; and
 express appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavor.

INTRODUCTION

Mathematics relies on both logic and creativity, and it is pursued both for a variety of
practical purposes and for its intrinsic interest. For some people, and not only
professional mathematicians, the essence of mathematics lies in its beauty and its intellectual
challenge. For others, including many scientists and engineers, the chief value of mathematics is
how it applies to their own work. Because mathematics plays such a central role in modern
culture, some basic understanding of the nature of mathematics is requisite for scientific
literacy. To achieve this, students need to perceive mathematics as part of the scientific
endeavor, comprehend the nature of mathematical thinking, and become familiar with key
mathematical ideas and skills.

1.1 Mathematics in Our World

Mathematics plays a vital role in the affairs of humanity. Today, there are 24 GPS
satellite in orbit helping people locate their travel destinations such as Google Maps or Waze on
personal computers, tablets, or smartphones. Despite all these scientific achievements, many
“millennials” are hesitant in taking science courses partly because they feel anxious of anything
intimately connected with mathematics. The interests of millennials in gadgets, games, and
technologies that appeal to their senses have also interfered with the study of mathematics
and the sciences. Unknowingly however, these technologies employ gadgets, to the
instructions one places on the newly bought device which operate based on mathematical logic.
Finally, Ian Stewart (1995) explains in his book Nature’s Numbers that mathematics is a
systematic way of digging out the rules and structures that lie behind some observed pattern or
regularity, and using these rules and structures to explain what is going on. Now, think of one of
the most loved animation characters Dora the Explorer. When Dora gets lost in the jungle, what
does she needs? A map. Thanks to Rene Descartes, who made the Cartesian map for without it,
Dora will may never find her way. Mathematics is everywhere because it finds many practical
applications in daily life. God, the Mathematician Architect, designs everything in this
universe to follow rules or formulas. Whether following regular or irregular patterns, His
creation benefits humankind, His greatest masterpiece. As Johannes Kepler wrote, “Those
laws [of nature] are within the grasp of the human mind; God wanted us to recognize them by
creating us after his own image so that we could share in His own thoughts” (Stewart, 2020).

1.2 Fibonacci Numbers

Fibonacci observed numbers in nature. His most popular contribution perhaps is
the number that is seen in the petals of flowers. A calla lily flower has only 1 petal, euphorbia
has 2, trillium has 3, hibiscus has 5, cosmos flower has 8, corn marigold has 13, some asters have
21, and a sunflower can have 34, 55, or 89 petals. Surprisingly, these petal counts represent the
first ten numbers of the Fibonacci sequence.
 Not all petal numbers of flowers, however follow this pattern discovered by Fibonacci.
Some examples include the Brassicaceae family having four petals. Remarkably, many of
the flowers abide by the pattern observed by Fibonacci.

The principle behind the Fibonacci sequence is as follows:

These numbers arranged in increasing order can be written as the sequence {1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,
21, 24, 55, 89, …}.

Similarly, when we count the clockwise and counterclockwise spirals in the

sunflower seed, it is interesting to note that the numbers 34 and 5 occur—which are consecutive
Fibonacci numbers. Pineapples also have spirals formed by their hexagonal nubs. The nubs
on many pineapples form eight spirals that diagonally upward to the left and 13 that
rotate diagonally upward to the right, again these are consecutive Fibonacci numbers (Aufmann,
2015). The same is also observed in the clockwise and counterclockwise spirals of a pine cone.
 Another interesting pattern in nature is the honeycomb. According to Merriam-Webster
dictionary, “a honeycomb is a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honeybees in their nest to
contain their brood and stores of honey.” But why build hexagonal cells? Why not squares? Jin
Akiyama, a Japanese mathematician, explains it well in an experiment made on his regular TV
show Jinjin Math. In the experiment, a student is asked to step on one mass made up of square
cells and the result is unbelievable! The mass with hexagonal cells resisted the weight of
the student while the mass with square cells was completely destroyed. It is amazing to know
that the mass made up of hexagonal cells is stronger than the one made up of square cells.
Moreover, these patterns exist naturally in the world.
Exercise 1.2
 Reference/s:

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/president-ramon-magsaysay-state-university/
accountancy/module-mathematics-in-the-modern-world-copy/13292027

TEACHER’S CONTACT DETAILS:

Teacher : ALVIN R. DIPAGAN,ME

Cellphone Number: 09101164316
FB/Messenger: Alvin Dipagan Abalos
Email Address:alvindipaganabalos@gmail.com