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CHAPTER 1: MATHEMATICS IN OUR WORLD

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1. Define Mathematics and express its importance in one’s life.
2. Develop a curiosity and enjoyment of mathematics and appreciate its elegance and power.
3. Recognize and identify the occurrence of Fibonacci sequence in nature.
4. Recognize patterns in nature and regularities in the world and become more aware of the
natural beauty that surrounds them.
5. Express appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavor.

TOPICS
I. Brief introduction about Mathematics
II. Patterns and Numbers in Nature
III. Mathematics and the Real World

I. MATHEMATICS

A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language – By Randall Munroe.


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Mathematics resides in the abstract.


Which one is different?
Consider the following illustrations.

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2

Abstraction

Two of the same color.


Two of the same size.

• Circle A is the only one in both


sets!

• Circle A is the most different


because it is the most the
same!
Figure 1. 3

Abstraction

• At the physical/perceptual level, the categories are color and size.

• At a more abstract level, the categories change.


One is different in color. One is different in size, and one is left out!

This chapter is dedicated to nature of mathematics, patterns and numbers in nature and the
world and the uses of mathematics.

What is Mathematics?

Is it Arithmetic?
Is it the study of numbers?
Is it just a body of formulas and rules for solving equations?
A useless obstacle course in school?

“Many people consider Mathematics to be a boring and formal Science. But any good work
in Mathematics always has in it: Beauty, Simplicity, Structure, Imagination, Crazy ideas, just
like Music and Poetry.”

Mathematics is defined in many ways.

• Mathematics is a branch of science, which deals with numbers and their operations. It
involves calculation, computation, solving of problems etc.

• Its dictionary meaning states that, ‘Mathematics is the science of numbers and space’.

• Mathematics is the science of measurement, quantity, and magnitude’. It is exact,


precise, systematic and a logical subject.

• It is a set of problem-solving tools, a language, a process of thinking, and a study of


patterns, among others.
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Whatever point of view is taken, there is no denying the reality that mathematics is
everywhere. It has various applications in the world as individuals from around the world use math
in their daily lives.

Mathematics is a useful way to think about nature and our world. It is not confined in
classroom. We live in a world of mathematical patterns.

Mathematics helps us to organize and systemize our ideas about patterns that it can also be
used to infer some of the underlying principles that govern the world of nature.

II. PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE

Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form found in the natural world. These patterns
recur in different contexts and can sometimes be modeled mathematically. Natural patterns include
symmetries, fractals, spirals, meanders, waves, foams, tessellations, cracks, flow, tiling, spots, trees
and stripes.

They are sequences or designs that are orderly and that repeat, anything that is not random.

Mathematics, physics, and chemistry can explain patterns in nature at different levels.
Patterns in living things express the underlying biological processes. Studies of pattern formation
make use of computer models to simulate a wide range of patterns.

Symmetries

• Symmetry means there's harmony in something's dimensions, proportions, and


arrangement. It provides a sense of harmony and balance. It is portrayed through the
distribution of building components and within the spaces between each element.

• Symmetry is variously defined as "proportion," "perfect, or harmonious proportions," and "a


structure that allows an object to be divided into parts of an equal shape and size."

Classification of Symmetry

1. Bilateral (mirror) symmetry is a symmetrical with respect to its reflection. This means that you
can make an axis of symmetry straight down the center.

The human body is a


perfect example of
bilateral symmetry,
the right side mirrors
the left side.

2. Radial symmetry is also called rotational symmetry where similar parts are regularly arranged
around a central axis and the pattern looks the same after certain amount of rotation. It can either
be cyclic or dihedral. Flowers most often exhibit this type of symmetry.
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Starfish exhibit radial symmetry, with Gumamela has radial symmetry, it can be divided
multiple planes of symmetry radiating from a into 3 or more identical sectors which are related to
central point. each other by rotation about the center of the flower.

3.Translational symmetry, such as repeating tile or wallpaper patterns, means that a particular
translation of an object to another location does not change its pattern.

Something has undergone a movement, a shift, or a slide, in a specified direction through


specified distance without any rotation or reflection, no changes on distances between points within
the figure, angles within the figure and size and shape of the figure. The only thing that changes is
its location.

Banaras silk saree is an Indian Saree Fabric- Hexagonal wood floor tiles, as an example of
Magenta brocade Silk, has a beautiful translation translation symmetry pattern.
symmetry design.

4. Scale symmetry means that if an object is expanded or reduced in size, the new object has the
same properties as the original. This self-similarity is seen in many natural structures such as
cumulus clouds, lightning, ferns and coastlines, over a wide range of scales. Fractals also has this
property of self-similarity.

Cumulus clouds are a convective low level cloud Boracay coastlines, one of the most visited
type composed of liquid droplets and form in an beaches in the Philippines and the pride of Filipinos.
unstable, or conditionally unstable atmosphere. Coastlines are examples of scale symmetry.
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Pulau Padar, labuan bajo indonesia

5. Time symmetry or time translation symmetry is periodic behavior which involves changes in
time. For instance, the period of the Earth’s orbit is one year, and its frequency is one orbit per year.
A tuning fork might have a frequency of 1,000 cycles per second and a period of 1 millisecond (1
thousandth of a second), regular shift between dry and wet seasons in many areas of the world, A
Ferris wheel repeats which completes its revolution or one cycle every 30minutes, and so we say it
has a period of 30 minutes.

A time frame that repeats, typically on a predictable The Rotation of the earth around its axis is from west to
routine, like the clock that goes around and around east with its axis that is tilted at an angle of 23 ½ °, and
and around infinitely, always coming back to the because of this tilt, the northern and southern hemispheres
same numbers it began with. lean in the direction away from the sun. The consequences,
the rotation of the earth divides it into a lit-up half and a dark
half, which gives rise to day and night.

MORE EXAMPLES OF SYMMETRY IN NATURE

Peacock is a beautiful bird with bright colors,


Honeycomb is a perfect hexagonal figure made
large size, an attractive symmetrical tail and
repeated patterns in feathers. An example of by bees by instinct. This pattern is an efficient
bilateral symmetry. way to use space. It is a wallpaper symmetry,
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where a repeated pattern covers a plane.

Sunflower exhibits radial symmetry and The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble
numerical symmetry which is called as mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna
Fibonacci sequence. in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, a perfect example
of a structure with bilateral symmetry.

Some scientists theorize that the orb webs are Acacia tree, a large tree that looks like a collection of
built for strength, and the radial symmetry helps many smaller trees of various sizes. The repetition of
to evenly distribute the force of impact when prey branching that forms the tree also generates the tree's
hits the web, resulting in less rips in the thread. self-similarity, is called scaling symmetry.

Beautiful wallpaper patterns can be created by


repeating geometric and artistic motifs have Bohol’s Pride, the famous Chocolate hills provide
translational symmetry. a breath-taking view of self-similarity especially
when viewed from the top.

Rotational symmetry is found at different


scales among non-living things including the Bricks at the wall of a building is an example of
crown-shaped splash pattern formed when a translational symmetry.
drop falls into a pond.
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FRACTALS
In mathematics, fractal is any class of complex geometric shapes that commonly have
fractional dimension. It derived from Latin word fractus which means fragmented of broken. It is
described as a self-similar object; one whose component parts resemble the whole and remains
invariant under changes of scale or the reduced size copy of the whole. It has scaling symmetry.
Fractal-like patterns occur widely in nature, in phenomena as diverse as clouds, river
networks, geologic fault lines, mountains, coastlines, animal coloration, snowflakes, crystals, blood
vessel branching, lightning, ferns and ocean waves.

The fern is one of many flora that are fractal; Lightning’s terrifying power is both awesome
it’s an especially good example. and beautiful. The fractals created by lightning
are fascinatingly arbitrary and irregular.

Pineapple skin is a fractal pattern BROCCOLLI

Both chemically formed crystals, ice and frost crystals are breathtaking examples of fractals in
nature.
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From the macro view of a leaf to the span of a tree’s branches, fractals turn up frequently.

TESSELLATIONS

A Tessellation (or Tiling) is when we cover a surface with a pattern of flat shapes so that
there are no overlaps or gaps. A pattern of shapes that fit perfectly together.

A Tessellation featuring several polygons: convex


The Banqueting Hall inside Glasgow City octagons-brown, regular hexagons – dark blue,
Chambers, located in Glasgow, Scotland, narrow rhombi -green, regular heptagons – light
blue, medium-width rhombi - orange, equilateral
showing several elegant tessellation designs triangles -pink, convex heptagons - purple, near-
for its entire floor, ceilings and even its wall. square wide rhombi-red, regular enneagons (also
called nonagons)-yellow. By Robert LovePi.

www.pinterest.com Cube Tessellation Snakeskin is tessellation in


www.quora.com nature
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Terracotta red brick tiles, Alibaba.com Soccer ball designs as tesselation.

The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an
ancient volcanic fissure eruption, located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about
three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills. It is a tessellation in nature.

SPIRALS

Spiral is a plane curve that, in general, winds around a point while moving even father from
that point.

Examples of spirals are pinecones, pineapples, hurricanes, spiral staircases. A spiral shape
cause plants to condense themselves while trying to grow and not take up much space, causing it
to be stronger, more durable against element and secured.

Weather pattern over Iceland The Philippine golden snail


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In addition to having a near - perfect mirror


image/symmetry, the Milky Way has another
incredible design similar to nautilus shells and
sunflowers where each “arm” of the galaxy
represents a logarithmic spiral beginning at the
The Great Mosque of Samarra, Iraq, with
center of the galaxy and expanding outwards. spiraling minaret

Logarithmic spirals are common in biological


organisms because it is the most efficient way to The modern 'Bramante' spiral stairs of
grow. By maintaining the same shape through the Vatican Museums, designed by
each successive turn of the spiral, the least Giuseppe Momo in 1932, Vatican city.
amount of energy is used. So, spiralling in plants
is to ensure that its leaves have the maximum
exposure to light.

SPOTS, STRIPES and ROSETTES

Beauty comes in all forms in the animal world. Stripes, patterns, bands, dots, colors, and Spots!
Nature has bestowed some animals with its precious marks in the form of bold but beautiful patterns,
and course spots. Various hypotheses have been suggested to provide a reason as to why some
animals have spots on their bodies. Whether it is to repel insects, to provide camouflage or optical
illusion, to confuse predators, to reduce body temperature, for mating purposes or to help
the animals recognize each other- spots have always been an interesting and attractive feature of
animals.

Zebras are fascinating animals, in large part The leopard, one of the “big cats” living in the
because of their beautiful coats. Their stripes world today is found across parts of Asia and
are as unique as our fingerprints, so no two a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa. Its fur is
zebras share the same stripe pattern. marked with spots called rosettes. They are
jagged black circles resembling roses that are
smaller and grouped closer together.
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Dalmatians are the medium-sized dogs popular for Chital or spotted deer is also known as the axis
their unique black-spotted white coat, which may deer. The species has a golden brown body with
either black or brown in colour, that even inside their white spots mostly located on the upper part of
mouth have spots. the body.

The Holstein-Friesian cow is the most popular


breed and the largest producer of milk. These
Giraffes are most well-known for their long necks cows have a white coat with distinct and big
and legs, the tallest animal on have beautiful spots, black patches. Its origin is in the northern
or patches, cover their bodies from head to toe and provinces of North Holland and West Friesland of
appear in innumerable combinations of shapes, the Netherlands.
patterns, and shades.

BUBBLES AND FOAMS

A soap bubble forms a sphere, a surface with minimal area — the smallest possible surface area
for the volume enclosed. Soap bubbles are physical examples of the complex mathematical problem
of minimal surface. They will assume the shape of least surface area possible containing a given
volume.

A foam is a mass of bubbles; foams of different materials occur in nature. Foams composed of
soap films obey Plateau’s laws, a law that describes the structures formed by films in foams.
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WAVES and DUNES

Waves are disturbances that carry energy as they move. Mechanical waves propagate through a
medium – air or water, making it oscillate as they pass by. Waves can be observed everywhere, in
music with sound waves, in light with light waves and more.

Wind waves (swells) are sea or ocean surface waves that create the characteristic chaotic pattern
of any large body of water, though their statistical behavior can be predicted with wind wave models.
Bigger waves can occur when two tectonic plates rub together and transfer energy to the water.

As waves in water or wind pass over sand, they create patterns of ripples.

A Sand Dune is formed when winds blow over large bodies of sand, usually found in a desert or on
top of a beach. Dunes may form a range of patterns including crescents, very long straight lines,
stars, domes, parabolas, and longitudinal or Seif (‘sword’) shapes.

Ocean waves also known as wind waves, Mentawai


Islands, Indonesia Sand Dunes in Lapaz, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Barchan, also spelled Barkhan,


crescent-shaped sand dune produced
by the action of wind predominately
from one direction, (An aerial view of
Namib Desert, Africa.)

More interesting patterns in nature are rosette patterns, frieze pattern, cracks, and
meanders.
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FIBONACCI SEQUENCE AND THE GOLDEN RATIO

He studied calculation with Arab Master, later went to


Egypt, Syria, Greece, Sicily, and Provence where he
studied numerical systems and methods of
calculation.

He wrote the book Liber Abaci, (1202, “Book of


Abacus”), the first European work on Indian and
Arabian Mathematics.

He introduced the Hindu-Arabic numerals to


European through the translations of writings of the
9th century Arab Mathematician Al- Khwarizmi. By
addressing the applications of both commercial
tradesmen and mathematicians.

Many consider this book the greatest arithmetic


text of Middle Ages, for he was the first
mathematician to demonstrate the superiority of
Leonardo Pisano Bogollo was born late in the Hindu-Arabic Numeral System versus the Roman
twelfth century in Pisa, Italy: Pisano in Italian system.
indicated that he was from Pisa. His father was a
merchant called Guglielmo Bonaccio. When His other book Liber Quadratorum (Book of square
scholars were studying the handwritten copies Numbers,1225) was considered his masterpiece.
of Liber Abaci (as it was published before printing
His name is known to modern mathematicians mainly
was invented), they misinterpreted part of the title
because of the Fibonacci sequence derived from a
– "filius Bonacci" meaning "son of Bonaccio" – problem in the Liber abaci.
as his surname, and so the name Fibonacci was
born. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fibonacci

THE RABBIT PROBLEM

One of the mathematical problems Fibonacci investigated in Liber Abaci was about how fast rabbits
could breed in ideal circumstances.

Suppose a newly born pair of rabbits, one male, one female, are put in a field. Rabbits are able to
mate at the age of one month so that at the end of its second month a female can produce another
pair of rabbits. Suppose that no rabbits will die, and that female rabbit always produces one new
pair (one male, one female) every month from the second month on. The puzzle that Fibonacci
posed was... How many pairs will there be in one year?

ILLUSTRATION:

So, by the end of November (12TH MONTH), there will be __________ pairs of rabbits.

Suggestion: Watch video from www.youtube.com, Math Dude 016 Video Extra! The Fibonacci
Sequence …and the Rabbits!
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Findings:

• The resulting number sequence 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, … (Fibonacci himself omitted
0 and 1), in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers, is the first
recursive number sequence known in Europe. The sequence is infinite.

• Though real rabbits don't breed as Fibonacci hypothesized, but his sequence still appears
frequently in nature.

• The Fibonacci sequence is all about growth; It is a very simple way of generating growth
quickly and explains why the Fibonacci numbers appear in nature so often. The sequence
is applicable to the growth of all living things, from a single plant cell to a honeybee’s family
tree.

• The rule for generating the Fibonacci numbers: add the last two to get the next or each
number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers that precede it, express in simple
formula stated below by French born Mathematician Albert Girard in 1634.

where F0 = 0 and F1 = 1

• In the 19th century, French mathematician Edouard Lucas coined the term Fibonacci
sequence and scientists began to discover such sequences in nature; for example, in the
spirals of sunflower heads, in pinecones, in the regular descent (genealogy) of the male bee,
in the related logarithmic (equiangular) spiral in snail shells, in the arrangement of leaf buds
on a stem, and in animal horns.

• Fibonacci sequence is God’s fingerprint.

• It's been called "nature's secret code," and "nature's universal rule." It is said to govern the
dimensions of everything from the Great Pyramid at Giza, to the iconic seashell that likely
graced the cover of your school math textbook.

Fibonacci numbers in Found in Nature


PINECONES
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SUNFLOWERS

The red lines show 34 spirals of Choosing another slope, the green
seeds lines show 55 spirals of seeds.

MORE FLOWERS FOUND TO CONTAIN FIBONACCI NUMBERS.

Lily with 3 petals Flax with 5 petals

Cosmos with 8 petals Sunflower with 21 petals


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Other flowers found to have Fibonacci number of petals:

Flowers Number of Petals


Lilies, Iris 3
Buttercups, Pinks, Some delphinium 5
Marigold 13
Some Asters, black-eyed susan 21
Daisy 21, 34, 55 and 89

AMAZING FIBONACCI NUMBERS OCCURENCES

The piano has an interesting connection to the


Fibonacci Sequence. In each octave, there are
13 keys, the 7th number in the Fibonacci
Sequence. From the 13 keys in each octave,
there are a set of 2 black keys, a set of 3 black
keys, and 8 white keys, the 3rd, 4th, and 6th
numbers of the Fibonacci Sequence.
Additionally, the group of 2 black keys are
surrounded by 3 white keys, while the group of
3 black keys are surrounded by the remaining 5
white keys, also both numbers in the Fibonacci
Sequence.
The Piano

Branches and root of trees

The number on the diagonals of Pascal’s triangle add to the Fibonacci series
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The proportions of a violin follow the


Fibonacci Sequence perfectly. Antonio
Stradivarius, who lived from 1644 to
1737, was a violin maker who was able to
perfect the violin’s proportions, using
the first 7 numbers of the Fibonacci
Sequence. This proportion is the best
for sound quality as well as sound
projection, which are both necessary
for an optimal performance.

The violinmaker ensured the proportion


of the neck, pegbox and scroll to the body
Same mathematical principle applied to fine cellos,
of the violin (upper bout, waist, and lower
violas, and stringed bass instruments created by bout) achieves the ratio. Also,
the master maker and even in the designs of high- subdivisions of the instrument – waist to
quality speaker to produce harmonious and upper bout, waist, and upper bout to
pleasing to the ear’s music. those sections plus the neck – meet the
1.6 ratio as well.

Suggestion: Watch www.you.tube.com, Fibonacci Sequence in Nature

FIBONACCI SPIRAL

The Fibonacci spiral also known as


golden spiral has an association with
the golden mean, and it is based on the
Fibonacci sequence.

It is also referred to as golden spiral. In


logarithm, it means a logarithmic spiral
which gets wider by a factor of ɸ after
making a quarter turn.

A Fibonacci spiral having an initial radius


of 1 has a polar equation like that of other
logarithmic spirals.

Fibonacci is even connected to the shape of Spiral aloe. Numerous cactuses display the
Chicken egg Fibonacci spiral, where each set of leaves spiral
outward.

Fingerprints have a distinct Fibonacci spiral. A hurricane displays a logarithmic spiral, one
that gets smaller as it goes. Fibonacci Spiral.
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THE GOLDEN RATIO

• The Golden Ratio is a mathematical ratio, approximately 1.618:1, renowned for its
aesthetic appeal. It’s a principle that appears throughout nature and art, suggesting
an inherent balance that the human eye perceives as beautiful, commonly employed
in design, architecture, and art to create visually harmonious compositions.

• It has been the root of countless mysteries over the centuries. Now, an engineer has
found it to be a compelling springboard to unify vision, thought and movement under
a single law of nature's design.

• The Golden Ratio is also called the golden section, golden mean, golden number, divine
proportion, divine section, and golden proportion.

• The Fibonacci sequence is also closely related to a famous number called the golden ratio.
It was noted by mathematician Robert Simson in 1753 that as the numbers increased in
magnitude the ratio between succeeding numbers approached the number called golden
1+√5
ratio, 𝝋 (phi) in which value is 1.618034…, ( 2
).

F(n) F(n-1) F(n)/F(n-1)


1 1 1
2 1 2
3 2 1.5
5 3 1.6666667
8 5 1.6
13 8 1.625
21 13 1.6153846
34 21 1.6190476
55 34 1.6176471
89 55 1.6181818
144 89 1.6179775
233 144 1.6180556
377 233 1.6180258

GOLDEN RATIO IN ART, ARCHITECTURE, GEOMETRY, ENGINEERING AND IN NATURE

• In nature and art golden ratio provides nearly a flawless beauty.


• When the golden ratio is employed in architecture, the structure is referred to as sacred
architecture.
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The CN Tower in Toronto, the tallest


tower and freestanding structure in the
world, has contains the golden ratio in
its design. The ratio of observation
deck at 342 meters to the total height
of 553.33 is 0.618 or phi, the reciprocal
of Phi.

Notre Dame in Paris, which was built


between 1163 and 1250. In architecture,
the golden ratio is visible in any shape
composed by a square and a rectangle
whose combined dimensions roughly
correspond to a 1:1.61 ratio. This ratio is
known to be a dimension of perfection in
art.

The golden ratio lines of the green, blue


and red rectangles conform closely to the
major architectural lines, which represent:

Red – Vertical height of base at ground


level top of first level, top of second floor

Blue – Vertical height of base of second


level, top of second level, Top of third level

Green – Horizontal width of outside of left


top section, inside of top right section,
outside of top right section:

Leonardo da Vinci used golden ratio in


his creation of the “Last Supper”, it
was known during the Renaissance
period as the Divine Proportion.
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The Great Pyramid of Giza (2570 BC)


considered one of the seven wonders of
Ancient World, it was also considered
tallest man-made structure, which took 10
years of preparation and 20 years of
building.

It was said to be one of the most ancient


and the best examples of the use of the
Phi. The ratio of the height of the pyramid
to either of the sides of its base
approximately equals to Phi.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Golden Ratio is used in the Mona


Lisa to portray Leonardo DaVinci’s
philosophy of interdisciplinary art through
human faces. The Golden Ratio in the
Mona Lisa captures the divine simplicity
and harmony of the Holy Trinity. The Mona
Lisa is representative of the
dodecahedron, a twelve-sided polyhedron
that represents perfect mathematical
proportions.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Leonardo-
da-Vincis-Mona-Lisa-and-Golden-Ratio-
Source-Huntley-EH-1970_fig2_364771454
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III. MATHEMATICS AND THE REAL WORLD

Math begins as abstractions, mental playthings, but turns out to be useful in the real world.

✓ The equation below allows us to communicate through cellphones!

Image from www.foxnews.com

✓ Math and the human heart. Mathematical models of the heart help in the
design and implementation of artificial valves.
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✓ Mathematical ecology is an area of interdisciplinary research between


mathematics and ecology, using almost every part of mathematics to
understand and model complex biosystems.

✓ Mathematics can help solve crimes. Probability, combinatorics, graph theory


is used by investigators to solve crime.

thatsmath.com

✓ Waves are solutions of partial differential equations.

www.pictorem.com
www.pixel-crration.com
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✓ Prime numbers and internet security. The study of the prime numbers 2, 3, 5,
7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, ... is important for computer security!

✓ Fitting pieces: Using geometry, combinatorics and statistics, mathematicians


help archaeologists reconstruct artifacts even with missing pieces.

www.cbc.ca

✓ Data compression: The theory of wavelets is used to compress data, allowing


the identification and storage of enormous files, such as fingerprint
databases.

www.702.co.za
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✓ Networks: The human brain is a neural network.

✓ Networks: The Tokyo subway system is a tangle of lines. Graph theory,


network and queuing theory help in the design of a safe and efficient
schedule for the trains.
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✓ Technological advancement in Medicines was produced by pure Mathematics


Research.

3D MRI SYSTEMS FOR FULL BODY TOMOGRAPHY, GENERIC MODEL


Source: http://3dsmolier.com/3d-model-mri-system-for-full-body-tomography-generic

✓ Google uses mathematics for many other of its services: finding directions in
Maps spam detection in Gmail voice recognition on Android text recognition
when scanning books compressing YouTube videos detecting faces in images
or translating text.

Source: https://mathigon.org/applications

Indeed, Mathematics has enormous applications in many human endeavors, it helps


organize patterns and regularities in nature, it predicts the behavior of nature and many phenomena
and even control its occurrences for the good of human being and other living things of the world.

It provides a way of viewing and making sense of the world. It is used to analyze and
communicate information and ideas to address a wide range of practical tasks and real-life problems.

Human culture has developed a formal system of thought for recognizing, classifying, and
making sense of patterns. We call it Mathematics. It is one of the greatest human accomplishments.
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Ending this chapter with following beautiful quotes:

"Neglect of mathematics works injury to all knowledge, since he who is ignorant of it


cannot know the other sciences or the things of the world."

Roger Bacon (1214-1294), English

“Good mathematics must be both beautiful and serious. Its beauty is derived from its
precision, elegance of its results and proofs, and patterns … which, like the painter's or the
poet's … is capable of stirring emotions...”

ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME:

1. Video watching:

a. Science Documentary 2016: The Math Mystery Mathematics in Nature and Universe.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl1N7i5ra7Y

b. Watch in You tube “The Story of Math. The Language of the Universe”

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t6f4t

2. After watching the above videos, assignment no. 1 shall be posted in the MS Teams where your
answers and reactions shall be encoded and recorded.

You will be asked to make your reaction/reflection by considering the following statements:

• Share your impression and experiences.


• Did the video interest you or bother you? Why or why not?
• What did you realize after watching?

BOOKS

Smith, Karl J. The Nature of Mathematics. 12ed. Cengage Learning. 2012

Angel, Abbott, Runde. Survey of Mathematics with Applications. 10ed. Pearson. 2016

Lippman, David. Mathematics in Society. 2ed. 2017

Thomas, Christopher, Schaum’s Outline of Mathematics for the Liberal Arts. McGraw Hill. 2009

Nocon, Rizaldi, Nocon, Ederlina, Essential of Mathematics for the Modern World

Balmaceda, Jose Maria P., Nemenzo Fidel R., Roque, Marian P., Lecture notes, History and Development of
Mathematics, Math 208, Institute of Mathematics, University of the Philippines

OUTCOMES-BASED BOOK LISTINGS (CBBL)


Nocon, Rizaldi and Nocon, Ederlina. Essential Mathematics in the Modern World. 2nd Edition. C & E Publishing,
Inc. 2018
Sobecki, Dave. MATH in our World. McGraw-Hill Education. 2019
Lippman, David. Math in Society. Pierce College. 2017 open source with license to share:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-3a/3.0/us/ [ebook: http://www.opentextbookstore.com/mathinsociety/
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ONLINE REFERENCES

https://www.mathsisfun.commathematicalenquiries.blogspot.com/2016/05/how-prime-numbers-create-
online-banking.html

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-chart-reader-who-called-this-stock-market-sello-says-its-not-over-
yet-2018-02-07

http://www.earthtimes.org/climate/use-biodiversity-combat-climate-change/2748/

http://www.google.com

http://mathworld.wolfram.com

https://www.coursehero.com/file/67488732/Mathematics-in-the-Modern-World28pdf/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taklamakan_Desert#/media/File:Taklamakan_desert.jpg

https://animaldestination.blogspot.com/2011/06/kuhol.html

https://www.momtastic.com/webecoist/2008/09/07/17-amazing-examples-of-fractals-in-nature/

https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/General_Fractals_1280_720.gif

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zpn6n39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmstuIy4zqU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holstein_Friesian_cattle

https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/General_Voronoi_1280_720.gif

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessellation#/media/File:Ceramic_Tile_Tessellations_in_Marrakech.jpg

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/holstein-
friesian-cattle

Natural Patterns are Fantastic/Mathematical Patterns are Frequent in Nature


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

https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/mystique-mathematics-5-beautiful-maths-phenomena

https://www.math.uci.edu/~mzeman/M13-19F/math-13-notes.pdf

Instructional Materials
DMS Faculty. Instructional Materials in GEED 10053 (Mathematics in the Modern World for STEM Strand). PUP Printing Press. 2020
DMS Faculty. Instructional Materials in GEED 10053 (Mathematics in the Modern World for Non-STEM Strand). PUP Printing Press.
2020

Video Materials
Science Documentary. (2016, Jan 8). Science Documentary 2016: The Math Mystery Mathematics in
Nature and Universe. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl1N7i5ra7Y
The Guardian. (2013, July 9). Painted with numbers: mathematical patterns in nature. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7x3LBWn-Ao
Andrew the Arborist. (2016, May 9). Patterns in Nature – Symmetry, Fractals & Geometry. [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mfl2QbSMYY
TED. (2013, Nov 9). The magic of Fibonacci Numbers | Arthur Benjamin. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjSHVDfXHQ4
Be Smart. (2021, Mar 11). The Golden Ratio: Is it Myth or Math?. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jj-sJ78O6M
Srivathsa Joshi. (2015, May 3). Mathematics is the queen of Sciences. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mve0UoSxTo&list=PLRxEhF7If641_4Slm_A30DK8STmSnle01
Scrivial. (2015, Oct 15). Documentary : Top 10 equations that changed the world. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K-t090uvL4&list=PLRxEhF7If641_4Slm_A30DK8STmSnle01&index=2
Mahid Mangotarum. (2020, Oct). GEC 104 Video Lectures - Mathematics in the Modern World. [Video]
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUsAqCDZXl2PXgoQvIyc2ujbF_KUwyK-G

The Story of Math. The Language of the Universe” https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t6f4t


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