MODULE 1

EXPLORATION OF PATTERN IN NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Topic Outline:
1. Definitions of Patterns
2. Kinds of Patterns
a. Geometric Patterns
b. Algebraic Patterns
c. 8 Patterns of W. Gary Smith
3. Fibonacci sequence
4. Golden Rectangle/ Golden Ratio

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of Module 1 the students will be able to :

1. Identify patterns in nature and regularities in the world.

2. Articulate the importance of mathematics in one’s life.
3. Argue about the nature of mathematics, what is it, how it is expressed, represented, and used.
4. Express appreciation of mathematics as a human endeavor.

TOPIC PRESENTATION :

LESSON 1
Mathematics in Our World

Mathematics is the study of the relationships among numbers, quantities, AND SHAPES. It includes
Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Statistics, and Calculus.
Mathematics nurtures human characteristics like power of creativity, reasoning, critical thinking,
and others. It provides the opportunity to solve both simple and complex problems in many real – world
contexts using a variety of strategies.
Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in the world. Mathematics being a science of
patterns, helps students to utilize, recognize, and generalize patterns that exist in number in the shapes
and in the world around them.
Students with such skills are better problem solvers, and have a better sense and appreciation of
the nature and the world.
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 2

In general sense of the word PATTERNS are regular, repeated, or recurring forms or designs. We
see patterns every day. Studying patterns help you in identifying relationship and finding logical
connections to form generalizations and make predictions.
Let’s take a look at this pattern:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVGmbIkKm-k
alistair apale

GEOMETRIC PATTERNS:
https://www.mvorganizing.org/what-is-the-meaning-of-geometric-patterns/
A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated like a
wallpaper design. In art and architectures, decorations or visual motifs may be combined and repeated to
form patterns designed to have a chosen effect on the viewer.

HAHA YAY WOW SAD ANGRY

A

What comes next in the pattern?

Answer:
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 3

How about in this sequence, what’s next?

Answer: Two squares are

removed to get the succeeding
block

If the pattern continues, what would be the next figure in the pattern?

Answer:
If you observe, in the first figure there is a square inside a triangle. That means, the outer polygon has 3
sides and the inner polygon has 4 sides.

In the second figure, there are 4 sides for the outer polygon and 5 sides for the inner polygon.

In the third figure, there are 5 sides for the outer polygon and 6 sides for the inner polygon.

So, the rule for the patter is to add one side for both inner and outer polygons to obtain the next figure in
the pattern.

So, the next figure should contain 6 sides as the outer polygon and 7 sides for the inner polygon.
So, Figure 4 is the next figure in the pattern.
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 4

Name the missing polygon in increasing order of number of sides

Answer:

In the series, first polygon is having 3 sides, second polygon is having 4 sides and the fourth polygon is
having 6 sides

The third polygon should have 5 sides

The polygon with 5 sides is known as pentagon

So, the missing polygon is PENTAGON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7An1mcFHBU&list=RDCMUCJhnuTiKL2KmhrOTh3KsU0g&index=1

ALGEBRAIC PATTERN
algebraic patterns are number patterns with sequences based on addition or subtraction. In other
words, we can use addition or subtraction to predict the next numbers in the pattern, as long as two or
more numbers are already given to us.
Let’s look an example:

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ____, _____

We can use addition to figure out he next two numbers in this pattern.

3, 5, 8, 13, ____, _____

3+5 = 8

5, 8, 13, ____, _____

5+8 = 13

8, 13, ____, _____

8+13 = 21
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 5

13, 21, _____

13+21 = 34

21, 34 (answer)
We could say that the rule for this algebraic pattern is “add the previous two numbers in the pattern
together to find the next number.

Look at each number sequence below. Use the number given to find the next numbers in the sequences’

4, 8, ____, 16, 20, 24, ___

What numbers complete this pattern? (Separate the two numbers with a comma)

47, 43, 40, 38, 37, 33, ___, ____

What numbers compete this pattern? (Separate the two numbers with a comma)

Everything in our life has only mathematical patterns. Let’s watch this video to appreciate more on
patterns.

https://youtu.be/ZQElzjCsl9o

Mathematics organize and systematize ideas about patterns in nature. Patterns possess utility and
beauty. Pattens in stars which move in circles across the sky each day.
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 6

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

Snowflakes contain six-fold symmetry which no two are exactly the same. There are evidences that
hexagonal snowflakes have an atomic geometry of ice crystals
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 7

Animals and fish stripes and spots attest to mathematical regularities in biological growth and form.
Evolutionary and functional arguments are explained by the patterns of animals.
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 8

With more than twenty – five years’ experience in public garden design
and master planning W. Gray Smith has distinguished himself as
Landscape architect who celebrates plants and the connection they
offer between people and nature. Mr. Smith first book was published
in 2010. From Art to Landscape: Unleashing Creatively in Garden
Design. Working almost exclusively in public botanic gardens and
Arboreta, he is sought after nationally for his unique approach
combining art, horticulture, and architectural features to explore the
intersection between ecological design and Artistic abstraction. W.
Gary Smiths adopts eight patterns in his Landscape work; namely
Scattered, Fractured, Mosaic, Naturalistic Drift, Serpentine, Spiral,
Radial and Dendritic. These patterns occur in plants, animals, rock
formations, river flow, stars or in human creation.

Eight patterns by W. Gary Smith

1. Scattered spread or dispersed in an untidy or irregular way

Scattered flowers leave berries seamless vector background. Abstract nature pattern pink red orange
black. Repeating texture. Scandi fall leaf. Seasonal art for fabric.

https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/scattered-flowers-leaves-berries-seamless-vector-background-
abstract-nature-pattern-gm1179534550-330085786
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 9

Background brown concept design dry fall for ground irregularly leaves nature off pattern scatted season
texture warm.

https://stock.adobe.com/ph/images/background-brown-concept-design-dry-fall-for-ground-
irregularly-leaves-nature-off-pattern-scattered-season-texture-warm/236221260

2. Spiral In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as if
revolves around the point.

A spiral is curved pattern that focuses on a center point and a series of circular shapes that revolve
around it. Examples of spirals are pine cone, pineapples, hurricanes. The reason for why plants used a
spiral form like the leaf picture above is because they are constantly trying to grow but stay secure. A
spiral shape causes plants to condense themselves and not take up as much space, causing it to be
stronger and more durable against the elements.

https://www.fi.edu/math-patterns-
nature#:~:text=A%20spiral%20is%20a%20curved,to%20grow%20but%20stay%20secure.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/AahHFnGPnmj6q76e_RP3vThR6wtfQzOd037in9IUPt1FSpJlaDNq4-Q/

3. Radial (reɪdiəl) adjective (usually ADJECTIVE, noun). Radial refers to the pattern that you get when
straight lines are drawn from the center of a circle to a number of points round he edge. The white
marble floors were in laid in radial patterns of brass.

Radial symmetry describes living and non-living forms; these forms can be equally divided into three
or more sections that, when rotated through a center of rotation by more than 0° and less than 360°,
exactly match each other in orientation and shape. Radial symmetry does not deal with mirror images
but near-perfect matches, for example the five equidistant arms of a starfish that circle its central body
and are of the same size and shape.
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 10

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/radial
https://biologydictionary.net/radial-symmetry/

This centered top view of a barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) clearly shows the circular shape, radial
pattern of ribs and regular repetitive patterns of ribs and thorns.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Radial_patterns_in_nature#/media/File:Top_view_of_
a_mature_Echinocactus_grusonii.jpg

4. Dendritic patterns so called because of their similarity to branching organic forms are most common
where rocks or sediments are flat-lying and preferential zones of structural weakens are minimal.

Dendritic patterns, which are by far the most common, develop in areas where the rock (or
unconsolidated material) beneath the stream has no particular fabric or structure and can be eroded
equally easily in all directions. Examples would be granite, gneiss, volcanic rock, and sedimentary rock
that has not been folded.
https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/13-2-drainage-basins/

Dendritic drainage: the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet, seen from space: snow cover has melted in the
valley system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_system_(geomorphology)#/media/File:Yarlung_Tsangpo_river
_tibet.jpg

https://www.wvca.us/envirothon/pdf/Drainage%20Patterns.pdf

5. Fractured
6. Mosaic
7. Naturalistic Drift
8. Serpentine
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 11

The remaining pattern adopted by W. Gary Smiths will be your assignment. Look for the definition
and with corresponding images. Site from where you got your Definitions (Journal, Books, or website
page. Etc.).
Draw using your pencil and crayons in a long bond paper. Follow this pattern. Divide into four parts
number as TEMPLATE NO. 1
These are the examples from my previous students

Numbers are everywhere in nature. Mathematicians noticed that Numbers appear in many
different patterns in nature.

Birds’ two wings Clovers’ three leaflets

Deer’s four hooves Buttercups’ five petals

Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 12

As we go along, for number pattern 5, 6, 7, 8 this will be your additional assignment. Look for ang image
that represents a number pattern of 5, 6, 7, and 8. anything that will show us ang image that no matter
happens it will represent the exact number they have (5, 6, 7 or 8)

These are guide from my previous students

Early Greek philosophers studied pattern, with Plato, Pythagoras and Empedocles attempting to explain order in
nature. The modern understanding of visible patterns developed gradually over time.
Continue reading Plato, Pythagoras and Empedocles, how do they discovered numbers and patterns.
“control+click to follow the link”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterns_in_nature

https://vimeo.com/9953368
Mathematics in the Modern World – Module 1 Page 13

Plato and Aristotle:

Plato and Aristotle as the founding fathers of pattern
recognition. There are hardly references to them in the text books
and review papers. Nevertheless, it is my strong opinion that
understanding the basis of their philosophical discussion is a big help
in understanding the scientific basis of patterns recognition. In the
previous discussions on the knowledge and observations and on the
and on the four approaches to pattern recognition we touched
already their approaches.
Plato was initiated in Egypt. He is engaged with the esoteric
world. /his thinking starts with ideas, with concepts, with the spiritual
elements. His struggle is to bring them down to earth, to physical
observations. Aristotle never visited one of he esoteric schools. He was
Plato’s student but developed his own philosophy that starts with the
physical observations. His struggle is to combine these observations
and to generalize them to rules. In contrast to Plato he searching,
perhaps even creating the proper concepts.

In short, Plato has the concepts, but is in need for formulations and observations that can relate
them to the physical world. Aristotle observes the physical world and is in search for concepts that
generalizes them. A debate between these two people may be very fruitful, like the two philosophers in the
School of Athens in the above picture, a part of a philosophers in Raphael in the Vatican Museum. Looks at
where their hands point to the older philosopher, possibly representing Plato points to heaven, the world
of ideas and concepts. The younger friend points to the world to where he finds the observations.
Plato was a student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle.

Prepared by : Yolanda P. Evangelista