The Nature of

Mathematics
“Getting to Know You”
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http://williepietersen.com/the-lessons-of-the-blind-men-and-the-elephant-2/
 What is mathematics?
Common notions associated with mathematics:
➢ numbers and counting (operations)
➢Numeric and Geometric patterns
➢patterns of movement
➢fractals

Mathematics is a formal system of thought for

recognizing, classifying, and exploiting patterns (Stewart)

Nature’s patterns are not just there to be admired, they

are vital clues to the rules that govern natural processes.
Why do honeybees love hexagon?
Zack Patterson and Andy Peterson delve into
the very smart geometry behind the
honeybee's home.

Honeybees are some of nature's finest mathematicians.

Not only can they calculate angles and comprehend
the roundness of the earth, these smart insects build and
live in one of the most mathematically efficient
architectural designs around: the beehive.
 Where is Mathematics?

We see hints or clues of it in nature!

https://cismasemanuel.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ian-stewart-numerele-naturii.pdf
 Where is Mathematics?

We see hints or clues of it in nature!

https://cismasemanuel.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ian-stewart-numerele-naturii.pdf
 Where is Mathematics?

We see hints or clues of it in nature!

https://cismasemanuel.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ian-stewart-numerele-naturii.pdf
 Where is Mathematics?

In our daily routine!

https://cismasemanuel.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ian-stewart-numerele-naturii.pdf
 Where is Mathematics?

In our work!

https://cismasemanuel.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ian-stewart-numerele-naturii.pdf
 What is mathematics for?

To help us unravel the puzzles of nature, a useful

way to think about nature

To be able to predict

To help us control weather, epidemics

Provides tools for calculations

Provides new questions to think about

 What is mathematics about?

Patterns

Numbers, symbols, notations

Operations, equations, and functions

Proof – a story rather than a sequence of

statements
 Who uses mathematics?
Mathematicians: pure and applied

Scientists: natural and social

Practically everyone

But different people use different math at

different times, for different purposes, using
different tools with different attitudes.
 How is mathematics done?

With a penchant(or desire) for seeking patterns

and generalities

With a goal to know the truth

With trial and error

Without fear of facing more questions and

problems to solve

With tenacity /determination/willingness to keep

working.
 Why is mathematics important to know?

It helps us become better persons

It helps the world a better place to

live in
 What are the two mathematical views

two views
1) Platonism :
Mathematical objects are real.
Mathematicians discover mathematics
2) Formalism
Mathematical objects are creations of the
mind
Mathematicians create mathematics
Recitation 2: Answer each question using 1
sentence only.

1. What is mathematics for you?

2. What new ideas about mathematics did you

learn?

3. What is it about mathematics that might

have changed your thoughts about it?

4. What is most useful about mathematics for

humankind?
Mathematics: A useful Way
to Think About Nature and
Our World
Many patterns and occurrences
exist in nature, in our world and in
our life. Mathematics helps make
sense of these patterns and
occurrences.
 Mathematics is a tool to
quantify, organize and predict
phenomena and make life
easier for us.
Fibonacci Sequence in Nature
 Name: Leonardo Bonacci
Popularly known as FIBONACCI
Also known as . . .
Leonardo of Pisa
Leonardo Pisano Bigollo
Leonardo Fibonacci

Most talented
Born: 1170, Pisa, Italy mathematician of
Died: 1250, Pisa, Italy the middle ages
In 1202, Fibonacci wrote a very famous
book “Liber abaci” to describe
mathematics he learned.

If two new be in the

rabbits are pen after
put in a pen, one year?
How many
rabbits will
 “If 2 new born rabbits are put in a
pen, how many rabbits will be in
the pen after one year?”
Assume that rabbits...
... always produce one male and one female
offspring
. ... can reproduce once every month.
... can reproduce when they are one month old.
... never die!

Your Task: Create an illustration (tree diagram, table, flowchart,

etc) on how the rabbit population expanded over a year.
Fibonacci Sequence
 The sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144,
233, 377, … is called the Fibonacci sequence and its
terms the Fibonacci numbers.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

How do we determine the next value in the sequence
 Finding the nth Term in a Fibonacci Sequence

Example 1:
If the 16th Fibonacci number is 987, and the 18th Fibonacci is 2584 , determine
17th Fibonacci number.
Example 2:
If the 25th Fibonacci number is 75025, and the 26th Fibonacci is 121393 ,
determine 24th Fibonacci number.

Example 3:
If the 12th Fibonacci number is 144, and the 14th Fibonacci is 377 , determine 15th
Fibonacci number.
We can find many instances of mathematical order
involving the Fibonacci numbers in nature. Some of
these patterns which appear in different natural
creations can be modelled mathematically.
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/fibslide/fib00.jpg
The Fibonacci sequence in plants

Count the number of branches per generation.

 Flower Petals
Flower petals exhibit the Fibonacci number:
White calla lily contains 1 petal
Euphorbia contains 2 petals
Trillium contains 3 petals
Columbine contains 5 petals

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

 Flower Petals
Flower petals exhibit the Fibonacci number:
Bloodroot contains 8 petals
Black-eyed susan contains 13 petals
Sasha daisy contains 21 petals
Field daisies contains 34, and other types of daisies contain
55, and 89 petals.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

Fruits

A banana has 3 sections

An apple has 5 sections
Fabulous Fibonacci: http://fabulousfibonacci.blogspot.com/
 Sunflower

The sunflower seed conveys

the Fibonacci sequence.
The pattern of two spirals
goes in opposing directions
(clockwise and
counterclockwise).
The no. of clockwise spirals
and counterclockwise
spirals are consecutive
Fibonacci numbers and
usually contains 34 and 55
seeds.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

 Pineapple Spirals
Pineapple spirals
formed by their
hexagonal nubs.

The nubs on form 5

spirals and 8 spirals, or
8 spirals and 13 spirals
that rotate diagonally
upward to the right
depending on the size
of the pineapple.

The numbers 5, 8, and

13 are Fibonacci
numbers.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

 Pine Cone Spirals

Pine cone
spirals from
the center
have 5 arms
and 8 arms, or
8 arms and 13
arms,
depending on
the size, which
again two
Fibonacci
numbers.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

The Fibonacci SURPRISE!
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, . . .

What can you say about every third term?

What can you say about every fourth term?

What can you say about every fifth term?
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, . . .

Try adding together any three consecutive

Fibonacci numbers. What do you notice?
Can you explain it?

Choose any four consecutive Fibonacci

numbers. Add the first and last, and divide
by two. What do you notice? Can you
explain it?
Recitation 3: Discover any surprise of your
own.
➢ The Fibonacci numbers occur in the
sums of "shallow" diagonals in Pascal's
triangle
Golden Rectangle
Geometrically Fibonacci sequence can be visualized as a
rectangle perfectly formed by a square and another rectangle
which can be repeated infinitely inside in each section.
 Golden Rectangle
A golden rectangle can be broken into squares the size of the
next Fibonacci number down and below.

Fibonacci spiral –
Take a golden
rectangle, break it
down into smaller
squares based from
Fibonacci sequence
and divide each with
an arc.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

 Golden Rectangle

The Fibonacci numbers can be applied to the

proportions of a rectangle, called the Golden
rectangle.

Golden Rectangle is known as one of the most visually

satisfying of all geometric forms – hence, the
appearance of the Golden ratio in art.

The Golden rectangle is also related to the Golden

spiral, which is created by making adjacent squares of
Fibonacci dimensions.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

 Golden Ratio
Luca Pacioli found the relationship between Fibonacci sequence
and the golden ratio.
The golden ratio was first called as the Divine Proportion in
the early 1500s in Leonardo da Vinci’s work was explored by
Luca Pacioli (Italian mathematician) entitled “De Devina
Proportione” in 1509.

Da Vinci’s drawings of the five platonic solids and it was

probably da Vinci who first called it the “section aurea” Latin
for Golden Section.

The American mathematician Mark Barr used the Greek letter

phi (Φ) to designate this proportion in 1900.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

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