DISCLAIMER: Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used

in the creation of this reference material, without prejudice to the existing copyrights of the
authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the professors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original
works, by way of footnotes or bibliography, to their best abilities and based on available
resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions imposed by
the duly constituted authorities.

We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or

suitability of the information contained in this material or any references and links provided
here. Links to other materials in our CPOD and CAM was made in good faith, for non-
commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent
with fair use under Sec. 185 of Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

WEEK 2
MATHEMATICS IN NATURE

Lesson Objectives
a. Examine the nature and relationship of numbers in a sequence.
b. Determine the nth term of a number sequence
c. Generate a pattern to form a number sequence
d. Identify Fibonacci sequence in nature
e. Determine the nth term of a Fibonacci sequence
f. Use Golden ratio in appreciating mathematics in human anatomy and in photography

NUMBERS AND PATTERNS

All around us, we see a great diversity of living things, from the microscopic to the gigantic,
from the simple to the complex, from bright colors to dull ones. One of the most intriguing
things we see in nature is patterns. We tend to think of patterns as sequences or designs that
are orderly and that repeat. But we can also think of patterns as anything that is not random.
For example, we recognize the spots on a giraffe as a pattern, but they're not regular, nor are
any of the spots the same size or shape. However, other patterns are orderly as is seen in the
symmetry of a sea star or a snowflake.
What comes next?
 1)

2)

3) 2 2 5 9 10
4) 2 10 30 68
5) 12 6.5 7.5 12.75 27.5 71.25
6) 8 12 18 40.5
7) 40 43 37 49 25
Symmetry is when different sides of something are alike. These reflections may be mirror
images with only two sides, like the two sides of our bodies; they may be symmetrical on
several sides, like the inside of an apple sliced in half; or they might be symmetrical on all sides,
like the different faces of a cube.
Mirror Symmetry
Threefold Symmetry
Fourfold Symmetry
Fivefold Symmetry
Sixfold Symmetry
Rotational symmetry
Fractals are the 'never-ending' patterns that repeat indefinitely as the pattern is iterated on an
infinitely smaller scale. We see this type of pattern in trees, rivers, mountains, shells, clouds,
leaves, lightning, and more.
Spirals are another common pattern in nature that we see more often in living things. Think of
the horns of a sheep, the shell of a nautilus, and the placement of leaves around a stem. A
special type of spiral, the logarithmic spiral, is one that gets smaller as it goes. We see this
pattern in hurricanes, galaxies, and some seashells.
A sequence may be finite or infinite. The Fibonacci sequence is an infinite sequence. A finite
sequence has a definite number of terms. A sequence is an order of succession an
arrangement, following a rule or pattern for such arrangement. Sequences are usually given by
stating their general or nth terms.

Fibonacci sequence, which is the sequence of numbers that goes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21. . . and
so on. Each number is the sum of the two numbers before it; for example 1 + 1 = 2; 1 + 2 = 3; 3
+ 5 = 8; etc.

Example:
Let us consider the sequence given by: 𝑡𝑛 = 3𝑛 + 1.
If we get the first 5 terms of the sequence, we have:
𝑡1 = 3(1) + 1 = 3 + 1 = 4
𝑡2 = 3(2) + 1 = 6 + 1 = 7
𝑡3 = 3(3) + 1 = 9 + 1 = 10
𝑡4 = 3(4) + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13
𝑡5 = 3(5) + 1 = 15 + 1 = 16
The first term of the sequence is 4; the second is 7; and so on.

Summary
The pattern of a number sequence may be identified by scrutinizing how the terms are
related to one another. To generate the next term of some term sequences, a constant number
is added, the number to be added increases, or the number to be added decreases.
Chapter Summary

 The Fibonacci Sequence is 1,2,3,5,8,13,21, …

  To find a Fibonacci number, use the Binet’s formula. The symbol “n” stands for the term
number.
1 + √5 𝑛 1 − √5 𝑛
( 2 ) − ( 2 )
𝐹𝑛 = √5
 The Golden Ratio is a special number which is approximately equal to 1.618034.

Sources

https://bit.ly/2FSmh1c

2018. Patterns in Nature and Technology

https://itemit.com/patterns-in-nature-and-technology/

Patterns in Nature: Definition & Examples.

https://bit.ly/3cezail

MATH PATTERNS IN NATURE

https://www.fi.edu/math-patterns-nature\

NATURAL PATTERNS
https://ecstep.com/natural-patterns/

Lamb. How are Fibonacci numbers expressed in nature?

https://science.howstuffworks.com/math-concepts/fibonacci-nature.htm

2019. Math Trails Reveal the Beauty of Numbers and Patterns in Nature
https://bit.ly/2ZOX4Mg