Patterns and Numbers in Nature and the World

1. Patterns in Nature We see a great diversity of living things all around us, from the
microscopic to the gigantic, from the simple to the complex, from bright colors to dull ones.
Do you agree that the most intriguing things we see in nature are patterns? But before
answering that question, let me give you a hint: The regularities that we see in the forms of
the things in the natural world are considered patterns in nature.1 The following are some
natural patterns that we can observe in our environment.
Types of Natural Patterns 1.
Symmetry. There is symmetry if an imaginary line is drawn across an object, the resulting
parts are mirrors of each other, like the following figures.
Spiral. It is a curved pattern that focuses on a center point and a series of circular shapes
that revolve around it. This is common in plants and some animals.
Meander is a series of regular sinuous curves, bends, loops, turns, or windings in the
channel of a river, stream, or other watercourses. It is produced by a stream or river
swinging from side to side as it flows across its floodplain or shifts its channel within a
valley.
Cracks are linear openings that form in materials to relieve stress. The pattern of cracks
indicates whether the material is elastic or not.
Stripe is a strip or band that has a different color from the surface surrounding it. This
may be seen in various living things, especially animals.
Notes:
1. Some patterns cannot be seen because they are already parts of human experience like,
for example, the water cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. With this
knowledge, people were able to understand the world better and make intuitive decisions to
improve the ability to forecast weather, climate, water resources, and the ecosystem's
health.
2. Regardless of the purpose by which natural patterns served, such as for camouflage, for
adaptation to the environment, or they are caused by natural phenomena, all of them are
considered to be closely related to mathematics.
2. Other Types of Patterns Aside from the natural patterns, you can also come across four
(4) main types of patterns in which you are also familiar with or if not, now is the time to
know them
2.1 Logical Patterns Logic reasoning and pattern observing are the first two math
standards, which are the most important measurement of IQ and the core component of
many careers.5 Logical patterns are usually the first to be observed since making
categories or classification comes before numeration. For children, logical patterns include
studying shapes and colors. For older ones, logic tests can be seen on aptitude tests wherein
takers are shown a sequence of pictures and asked to select which figure comes next among
several choices.
To identify logic patterns, you have to look out four (4) things, namely:
(1) rotating shapes
(2) increase and decrease in numbers of shapes or patterns
(3) alternating patterns, colors, and shapes
(4) mirror images or reflections
In solving problems in logical reasoning, you have to look for patterns or rules and identify
which object does follow those patterns or rules. Here are some examples.
1.) Identify the missing square.

In this item, you have to look for the

following:
1. Relative Positional Rule: This is how the black square is positioned inside each box.
2. Movement Rule: This pertains to how the square moves in each box, in the clockwise
direction.
3. The arrows in the first and third columns are reflections of one another. Considering the
above conditions, C is the missing square in the last row.
2.) Which figure completes the sequence?

In this item it is observed that the rectangles are positioned from top to bottom alternately.
The number of squares increase by one in each frame. The correct answer is A.

Who is Fibonacci? Are you interested to know the person who discovered a sequence of
numbers and why he is differently known from his real name? Let me introduce him to
you. The picture at the right is Leonardo Pisano or Leonardo of Pisa. He was born in Pisa,
Italy, in 1170. He was recognized and well known for popularizing the Hindu-Arabic
numeral system or decimal system in Europe. He advocated the use of the digits 0 to 9 and
of the place values.
He is popularly known as Fibonacci, a shortened word for the Latin term "fillius Bonacci,"
which means "son of Bonacci" because his father was Guglielmo Bonaccio. He discovered
the famous FIBONACCI SEQUENCE. Fibonacci was able to find this number sequence
while looking at how generations of rabbits breed.

The breeding of rabbits led to his discovery of the numbers in the Fibonacci sequence. Let
us try to discover it too. However, certain conditions are to be observed as follows:
1. Start with a baby male and a baby female rabbit (Generation 0 or G0).
2. This pair will mature in Generation 1 (G1) and can reproduce a pair in Generation 2
(G2).
3. This sequence continues, as in the illustration that follows. Note: It is to be assumed that
no rabbit is to die in the process.

Legends: 𝑟𝑚 = baby male rabbit

𝑟𝑓 = baby female rabbit
𝑅𝑚 = matured male rabbit
𝑅𝑓 = matured female rabbit
Generation Illustration No. of Pairs
0 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 1
1 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 1
2 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 2
3 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 3
4 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 5
5 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑓 𝑅𝑚 𝑅𝑓 8
Listing the number of pairs in a sequence, we have
1+1 1+2 2+3 3+5 5+8 8+13 13+21 21+34 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, …

A. Fibonacci Numbers in Nature

1. In the number of petals of flowers Many flowers follow the numbers in the Fibonacci
sequence about the number of petals they possess naturally. These are some examples:
calla lily euphorbia milii trillium hibiscus cosmos
with 1 petal with 2 petals with 3 petals with 5 petals with 8 petals
2. In the number of sections in fruits When we observe fruits, we may notice that the
number of sections they have is in the Fibonacci sequence.
B. The Fibonacci Spiral
Using the first ten (10) numbers in the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 as
dimensions of adjacent squares, you can create a Fibonacci spiral. When arranged in a
certain way, the Fibonacci sequence creates a special spiral pattern. 1
1. In creating a Fibonacci spiral, begin by drawing two 1 x 1 squares. Draw a 2 x 2 square
using the sides of the rectangle formed by the first two squares. Draw a 3 x 3 square using
the sides of the second rectangle formed. You will notice that the sides of the squares are
Fibonacci numbers. Continue drawing squares using the Fibonacci numbers as sides of the
squares.
2. In creating a spiral-like shape, draw curves in the squares beginning with the 1 x 1
squares.
2.2 The Golden Ratio
The symbol of the golden ratio is the Greek letter "phi" – Ф (uppercase letter) or φ
(lowercase letter). It is named after the Greek sculptor Phidias. It is an irrational number
equal to 1.61803398874989484820... (approximately equal to 1.618). The Golden Ratio is
also equal to
φ = √𝟓+𝟏 and φ = 𝟐(𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝟓𝟒°).
𝟐

The Golden Ratio is also known as Divine Ratio or Divine Proportion.

The Golden Ratio in the Fibonacci Sequence
Using a line segment, divide it into two parts in such a way that the ratio of the longer part
to the shorter part is equal to the ratio of the whole segment to the longer part.

The Language of Mathematics