LECTURE 1.

Nature of Mathematics
 introduction
1. What is mathematics?
2. Where is mathematics?
3. what is mathematics for?
4. What is mathematics about?
5. How is mathematics done?
6. who uses mathematics?
7. Why is mathematics important to know/Learn?
 1. What is Mathematics?

Mathematics is the art of

patterns and connections
embedded in nature and in our
environment.
 study of patterns

art Language

Mathematics is
a/an...

Set of problem process of

solving tools thinking
2. Where is Mathematics?

mathematics
1. Patterns and numbers in nature
and the world

patterns are regular, or recurring forms

or design.

example:
layout of the floor tiles,
the way we tie our shoelaces
 Look at this pattern:

What do you think will be the next face in

the sequence?
What comes next?
What comes next?

A B
What number comes next?

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ?
Symmetry occurs when there is exactly
the shape of object around a certain
line which is termed as axis of
symmetry.

in a symmetric pattern, a particular part

of design is repeated again and again in
order to get perfect symmetry.
 Types of Symmetry

1. Reflectional symmetry is a kind of symmetry

in which half of the image is exactly same as the
other half.

in this type of symmetry, one can draw eirher a

horizontal or a vertical line across the image.

it is also known as reflection symmetry, bilateral

symmetry, mirror symmetry or mirror-image
symmetry.
butterfly Human
 Types of Symmetry

2. rotational symmetry is a type of

symmetry in which the image is rotated
to a certain degree about at axis
(generally center) and still look same
as previous.
 θ= angle of rotation
- the smallest angle
that a figure can be rotated
while still preserving the
original formation.

angle of rotation = 360o/n

 snowflakes with six-fold symmetry

spiderwort with three-fold symmetry

 Types of Symmetry

3. translational symmetry is a
symmetry in which A PARTICULAR
PATTERN OR DESIGN IS SHIFTED
FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
honeycombs
 3. what is Mathematics for?

- mathematics help us unravel the puzzles of nature,

organizes patterns and regularities as well as irregularities,
enables us to make predictions.

- Mathematics helps us control weather and epidemics.

- Mathematics provides tools for calculations, and provides

new questions to think about.
 world population

Exponential growth formula

A = Pert
where
A = size of the population after it grows
P = initial number of people
e = Euler's constant (2.718)
t = time
 the exponential growth model
A=30e0.02t describes the population
of the city in the Philippines in
thousands, t years after 1995.

a. what was the population of the city

in the 1995?
b. what will be the population in
2017?
 4. what is Mathematics for about?

- Number, symbols, notations

- operations, equations and functions
- process and "thingification" (the fact or
process of turning something into a
thing; reification)
 5. how is Mathematics done?

mathematics is done with curiosity, with

a penchant for seeking patterns and
generalities, with the desire to know the
truth, with trial and error, without fear or
facing more questions and problems to
solve.
 6. who uses mathematics?

- mathematicians
- scientists
- everyone in this world
7. why is mathematics important to
know/learn?