Chapter 1-Math in Nature

Topic Outline
I. Patterns and Numbers in Nature and in the World
II. Patterns and Regularities in the World
III. Behavior of Nature
IV. Applications of Mathematics in the World
Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

Patterns & Numbers in Nature and the World
Numbers are items that describe positions

or magnitudes
PATTERN - define as:

• Regular
• Repeated
• Recurring forms or designs
Studying patterns help us to

• Identify relationships
• Find logical connections to form
generalizations
• Predictions
Patterns in nature are visible regularities found:
Natural World Universe
Patterns recurring in different context can sometimes be

modelled mathematically.
Mathematics is the formal system on recognizing, classifying,

and exploiting patterns.
Mathematics – organize and systematize ideas about patterns
in nature.

Patterns possess utility and beauty.

Patterns in stars which move in circles across the sky each day.
The weather seasons cycle each year (e.g. winter, spring

summer, fall).

Snowflakes contain sixfold

symmetry which no two
are exactly the same.
There are evidences that

hexagonal snowflakes have
an atomic geometry of ice
crystals.
Animals and fish stripes and spots attest to mathematical
regularities in biological growth and form.
Evolutionary and functional arguments are explain by the
patterns of animals.


Patterns and Regularities
Types of pattern: Spirals
Symmetry
Fractals

Symmetry
Symmetry is a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion of
balance or an object is invariant to any of various
transformations (reflection, rotation or scaling).
There are two main types of symmetry, bilateral and radial.
Bilateral symmetry is a symmetry in which the left and

right sides of the organism can be divided into approximately
mirror image of each other along the midline.

Bilateral Symmetry
Symmetry exists in living

things such as in insects,
animals, plants, flowers, and
others.
Animals mainly have

bilateral or vertical
symmetry, even leaves of
plants and some flowers
such as orchids.

Radial Symmetry
Radial symmetry (or rotational symmetry) is a type of

symmetry around a fixed point known as the center and it can
be classified as either cyclic or dihedral.
Plants often have radial or rotational symmetry, as to flowers

and some groups of animals.
A five-fold symmetry is found in the echinoderms, the group

which includes starfish (dihedral-D5 symmetry), sea urchins,
and sea lilies (dihedral-D5 symmetry).
Radial symmetry suits organisms like sea anemones whose

adults do not move and jellyfish (dihedral-D4 symmetry).

Radial Symmetry
Radial symmetry is also evident in different kinds of flowers.

Radial Symmetry
Snowflakes have six-fold symmetry; each flake's structure

forms a record of the varying conditions during its
crystallization, with nearly the same pattern of growth on each
of its six arms.
Generally, crystals have a variety of symmetries and crystal
habits; some are cubic or octahedral.
Fractals
Fractal is curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the
same statistical character as the whole.
It is a class of highly irregular shapes that are related to

continents, coastlines, and snowflakes.
It is use to model
structures in which similar
patterns recur at
progressively smaller
scales, and in describing
partly random or chaotic
phenomena such as crystal
growth, fluid turbulence,
and galaxy formation

Fractals
Fractals can be seen in some plants, trees, leaves, and others.

Spirals
A logarithmic spiral (or growth spiral) is a self-similar spiral

curve which often appears in nature.
It was first described by Rene Descartes and was later

investigated by Jacob Bernoulli.
Spirals are more evident in plants.
Spirals can also be seen in typhoon, whirlpool, galaxy, tail of

chameleon, and shell among others.

Spirals

Behavior of Nature
Behavior of nature can be observed around us.
Natural regularities of nature:

Symmetry Fractals Spirals
Trees Meanders Waves
Foams Tessellations Cracks
Stripes Spots

Behavior of Nature
Honeycombs of the bees show specific

regular repeating hexagons.
It uses the least amount of wax to store the

honey giving a strong structure with no
gaps.
Zebra’s coat, the alternating pattern of

blacks and white are due to mathematical
rules that govern the pigmentation
chemicals of its skin.

Behavior of Nature
Spider webs illustrate a beautiful pattern.

The spider creates a structure by
performing innate steps.
The nautilus shell has natural pattern

which contains a spiral shape called
logarithmic spiral.

Behavior of Nature
Age of the trees can be determined by
applying dendrochronology which is a
scientific method of dating based on the
amount of rings found in the core of a tree.
Turtles have growth rings called “scutes”

which are hexagonal.
Scutes estimates the age of the turtle.
Smallest scute is in the center and is the
oldest one, while the largest ones on the
outside are the newer ones.
Behavior of Nature
Lightning during storms

creates fractals.
Foam bubbles formed by
trapping pockets of gas in a
liquid or solid.
Cracks can also be found on the

barks of trees which show some
sort of weakness in the bark.
The meander is one of a series of
regular sinuous curves, bends,
loops, turns, or windings in the
channel of the body of water.

Behavior of Nature
Hurricanes rotates, the enormous cloud bands form golden
spiral.
Galaxies form the same way as the golden spiral.
The waves of the sea also move in golden spiral and even the
fluid dynamics create golden spiral.

Activities:
What’s your favorite pattern in nature?

1. Choose a pattern in nature, such as a pine cone,
pineapple, turtle shell or starfish, that you all find
interesting.
2. Discuss its origin, how it is formed and why, and
any special characteristics unique to that pattern.
3. Which mathematical concept does it demonstrate?

Applications of Mathematics
SOME COMMON VIEWS OF MATHEMATICS
• MATH IS HARD
• MATH IS BORING
• MATH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REAL LIFE
• ALL MATHEMATICIANS ARE MAD !
MATH IS IMPORTANT IN MAKING OUR

LIFE EASY AND BEAUTIFUL.
• Ultra sound: sound waves
MATHS AND MEDICINE • MRI: magnetism
• CAT scans: X rays
Modern medicine has been transformed by methods of seeing

Inside you without cutting you open!
ALL USE MATHS TO WORK!!

PRODUCING THE PICTURES IN THE FIRST PLACE
Lots of mathematicians work in computer graphics,

computer games and Hollywood
TRANSMITTING THE PICTURES WITHOUT MISTAKES
Lots of mathematicians work in IT and mobile phone companies

Maths and meteorology
• METEOROLOGY: The science that deals with

the phenomena of the atmosphere,
especially weather and weather conditions
Where Does the math Come in play when

studying meteorology ?
Weather
ChartsandGraphs Numerical modelling water, andtemperaturemeters.

.
It’s All About Equations…

• To predict the weather,
meteorologists have sets of
equations based on the land’s
geography and starting weather
conditions. With this information
they can calculate future forecast
by entering it into a computer to
be processed.
• The longer the time predicted,
the less accurate your prediction
will be.
Example of a 7 day week Forecast…

Math helps us Organize

*CHALLENGE*: What math skills are used in meteorology?
• Mathematical equations allows us to combine,

average, and solve information.
• Using equations, geometry, estimating, charts,

graphs, and scales we can find answers to
weather concerns. Weather and math go hand
in hand….
Numerical Modeling
• Numerical Modeling: The process of obtaining an
objective forecast of the future state of the
atmosphere by solving a set of equations that
describe the evolution of variables.
• For example:
*Temperature
*Wind Speed
*Humidity
*Pressure
All of which describe the atmosphere.
Mathematics and Physical Beauty

Leonardo da Vinci's
drawings of the human body
emphasised its proportion.
The ratio of the following
distances is the Golden
Ratio:
(foot to navel) : (navel to
head)

– Why do we find people to be attractive?
– Because the proportions of the length of

the nose, the position of the eyes and the
length of the chin all conform to some
aspect of the Golden Ratio.
Mathematics and Architecture

▪ In ancient times architecture was a field of
mathematics.
▪ Architects were simply mathematicians that
someone would hire.
▪ Geometry is the guiding principle between the two
areas.
▪ Mathematics, however, is indispensable to the
understanding of structural concepts and
calculations.
Mathematics and Architecture
• The tallest building in the world:

▪ The Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
• Very tall buildings are in danger

of many things depending on
where they are.
• Stability against earthquakes is

important as well as ensuring
aerodynamic designing is done
perfectly to mitigate against
swaying.
Some interesting mathematical facts
• Over 70% of all jobs require mathematics

• On average math graduates earn more than
any other profession
• Many degrees require math including
statistics, physics, engineering, economics,
chemistry, medicine, IT, computer games,
computer science, social-science,
psychology, fashion design, business
studies, accountancy, actuarial studies,
electronics, aeronautics, cryptography, .
Some interesting mathematical facts
• Without math we would have no TV, mobile

phones, Internet, credit cards, computer
games, CDs, Radar, aeroplanes, DNA
profiling, …
• Math is vital working out your mortgage
payments, APR calculations, family budget
Activities:
On each of the presentation, write a reflection of your

learning using the guide questions.
1. What new ideas about mathematics did you learn?
2. What is it about mathematics that might have
changed your thoughts about it?
3. What are the most useful about mathematics for
humankind?

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Topic Outline

I. Patterns and Numbers in Nature and in the World

II. Patterns and Regularities in the World

III. Behavior of Nature

IV. Applications of Mathematics in the World

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

Numbers are items that describe positions

PATTERN - define as:

Studying patterns help us to

Natural World Universe

Patterns recurring in different context can sometimes be

Mathematics is the formal system on recognizing, classifying,

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

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

The weather seasons cycle each year (e.g. winter, spring

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

Snowflakes contain sixfold

There are evidences that

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

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

Types of pattern: Spirals

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

There are two main types of symmetry, bilateral and radial.

Bilateral symmetry is a symmetry in which the left and

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

Symmetry exists in living

Animals mainly have

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

Radial symmetry (or rotational symmetry) is a type of

Plants often have radial or rotational symmetry, as to flowers

A five-fold symmetry is found in the echinoderms, the group

Radial symmetry suits organisms like sea anemones whose

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

Radial symmetry is also evident in different kinds of flowers.

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

Snowflakes have six-fold symmetry; each flake's structure

It is a class of highly irregular shapes that are related to

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

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

A logarithmic spiral (or growth spiral) is a self-similar spiral

It was first described by Rene Descartes and was later

Spirals are more evident in plants.

Spirals can also be seen in typhoon, whirlpool, galaxy, tail of

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

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

Behavior of nature can be observed around us.

Natural regularities of nature:

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

Honeycombs of the bees show specific

It uses the least amount of wax to store the

Zebra’s coat, the alternating pattern of

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

Spider webs illustrate a beautiful pattern.

The nautilus shell has natural pattern

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

Turtles have growth rings called “scutes”

Lightning during storms

Cracks can also be found on the

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

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

What’s your favorite pattern in nature?

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

SOME COMMON VIEWS OF MATHEMATICS

MATH IS IMPORTANT IN MAKING OUR