CHAPTER I

Mathematics in Our World:

PATTERNS IN NATURE

Delia Rose A. Miana

Central Luzon State University
Department of Mathematics and Physics
Instructor

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Mathematics in our World

PATTERNS IN NATURE
For thousand of years, people around the globe
have observed patterns in nature. The ancient
Greeks are perhaps most famous in studying
patterns in their attempt to explain regularities
in nature. In fact, to them is attributed the word
geometry, which means “measurement of the
earth”.

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Mathematics in our World

PATTERNS IN NATURE
Natural patterns include:

 Symmetries
 Spots
 Stripes
 Tessellations
 Fractals

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

1. Symmetry
The word symmetry comes from the Greek
word symmetria, meaning “the same measure”.

Aside from mathematics, symmetry also has

many applications in arts and architecture. There
is symmetry in logos, flags, buildings, paintings,
and many more.

Symmetry, also bounds in nature. The most

common type of symmetry found in nature are
reflection, translation, rotation, and spiral.
Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World
 Patterns in Nature

Reflection Symmetry
If you fold a picture in half and both halves
are exact mirror image of one another, then the
figure has a reflection symmetry (sometimes
called bilateral or mirror symmetry)

The fold is what we call the line of axis of

symmetry.

Figure 1

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Reflection Symmetry in Nature

Figure 2. The Human Body

(Source: https://brilliant.org/wiki/symmetry)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Reflection Symmetry in Nature

Figure 3. Butterfly
(Source: http://croissantdelune.centerblog.net/5796373-Papillon)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Reflection Symmetry in Nature

Figure 4. Bird
(Source: https://www.enkivillage.org/symmetry-in-nature.html)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Reflection Symmetry in Nature

Figure 5. Stones
(Source: http://martin-hill.com/2017/04/24/is-nature-stable-delicate-or-random/)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Reflection Symmetry in Nature

Figure 6. Taj Mahal

(Source: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Symmetry)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Reflection Symmetry in Nature

Figure 7. Multiple Lines of Symmetry in Flower Petals

(Source: http://www.shivacharity.com/symmetry.html)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Translational Symmetry
Translations are transformations that
slide objects along without rotating them
(Stewart, 1995). Basically a translation means
an object has been moved the same distance
and the same direction.

Figure 8. Translational Symmetry

https://www.learner.org/courses/learningmath/geometry/session7/part_c/index.html

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Translational Symmetry in Nature

Figure 9. Translation Symmetry in Leaves

(Source: http://www.shivacharity.com/symmetry.html)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Translational Symmetry in Nature

Figure 10. Translation Symmetry in Birds

(Source: https://windagainstcurrent.com/2015/02/13/symmetry/)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Translational Symmetry in Nature

Figure 11. Translation Symmetry in Birds

(Source: https://doowansnewsandevents.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/snake-coral.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Rotational or Radial Symmetry
Rotational or radial Symmetry is the
characteristic that makes an object look
exactly the same as it did before it was
rotated about a fixed point, called the center.
The rotation must be less than 360°
otherwise, we say that the object does not
exhibit rotational symmetry.

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Rotational or Radial Symmetry
The number of times an object can be rotated
is called the order;
The number of degrees through which an
object is rotated so that it still looks the same
as it did before the rotation, is called the
angle of rotation.

If we let 𝒏 be the order then the angle of

360°
rotation is given by 𝑛 .

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Rotational or Radial Symmetry

Figure 12. Rotational Symmetry

http://www.mathdance.org/html/symmetrygroups/symmetrygroups.html

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Rotational and Radial Symmetry in Nature

Figure 13. Rotational Symmetry of order 5

(Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-sea-stars-2291865)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Rotational and Radial Symmetry in Nature

Figure 14. Rotational Symmetry in Painted Trillium

(Source: https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/symmetries/2013/04/07/symmetries-in-nature/)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature
Rotational and Radial Symmetry in Nature

Figure 15. Rotational Symmetry in Four-leaf clover

(Source: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/446982331745744936/)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Spiral Symmetry
Spiral symmetry is also largely present in
nature. A spiral is formed because of a
property of growth known as self-similarity or
scaling, which means that the same shape is
maintained as the creature grows.

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Spiral Symmetry in Nature

Figure 16. Cross-section of a Nautilus Shell

(Source: https://www.tribetats.com/blogs/tribetats-blog/sacredgeometrytattoos-1)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Spiral Symmetry in Nature

Figure 17. Sunflower Head

(Source: https://www.popmath.org.uk/rpamaths/rpampages/sunflower.html)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Spiral Symmetry in Nature

Figure 18. The Horns of a Dall Sheep

(Source: http://www.patternsinnature.org/Book/Spirals.html)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Spiral Symmetry in Nature

Figure 19. Satellite Image of a Typhoon

(Source: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/132363676520672456/)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

2. Tessellations
Tessellations (or tiling) is a pattern made up
of one or more geometric shapes that are joined
together without overlaps or gaps to cover a
plane.

Figure 20. Cats and Dogs Tessellation Figure 21. Polygon Tessellation
http://en.tessellations-nicolas.com/zoom/catdog.php http://www.mathcats.com/crafts/connectthedots.html

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Tessellations in Nature

Figure 22. Honeycomb

(Source: http://www.spacemakeplace.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/07/Honeycomb_pattern.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Tessellations in Nature

Figure 23. Snake’s Skin

(Source: http://www.spacemakeplace.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/07/Snake_pattern.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Tessellations in Nature

Figure 24. Leaf

(Source: http://www.spacemakeplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Leaf_pattern.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Tessellations in Nature

Figure 25. Cracked Mud

(Source: http://www.spacemakeplace.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/07/CrackedMud_pattern.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Tessellations in Nature

Figure 26. Tidal

(Source: http://www.spacemakeplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tidal_pattern.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

3. Fractals
A fractal is a never ending replication of a
pattern at different scales (same shape but
different size). This property is called self-
similarity.

One of the simplest fractal shapes is the von

Koch curve, named after its creator Neils Fabian
Helge von Koch

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Fractals

Figure 27. First Four Iterations of the Von Koch Curve

(Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Koch-curve-at-iterations-from-0-to-
4_fig1_316742654)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Fractals

Figure 28. First Three Iterations of Minkowski curve

(Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Koch-curve-at-iterations-from-0-to-
4_fig1_316742654)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Fractals in Nature

Figure 29. Rivers Forming Treelike Figures in the Desert of Baja California,
mexico
(Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-
day/2012/4/baja-california-rivers/)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Fractals in Nature

Figure 30. Closeup photo of Romanesco Broccoli

(Source: https://media.mnn.com/assets/images/2013/04/broccoli-1.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Fractals in Nature

Figure 31. Ice Crystals Forming

(Source: https://media.mnn.com/assets/images/2013/04/fractal-ice.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World

 Patterns in Nature

Fractals in Nature

Figure 32. 20 times magnification of dendritic copper

crystals forming
(Source: https://media.mnn.com/assets/images/2013/04/fractal-copper.jpg)

Math1100: Mathematics in the Modern World