Mathematics in the

Modern World
GEED 10053

Prof. C. Equiza
TOPIC OUTLINE

• Patterns and Numbers in Nature

• Fibonacci Sequence

• Mathematics for Our World

What is Mathematics?
• Mathematics is a branch of science, which deals with numbers
and their operations.

• It involves calculations, computation, solving of problems and

etc.

• Mathematics helps us to organize and systemize our ideas

about patterns, in so doing, not only can we admire and enjoy
these patterns, we can also use them to infer some of the
underlying principles that govern the world of nature.
Patterns and Numbers
in Nature
 “Mathematics is a study of patterns
and relationship, a way of thinking,
an art, a language, and a tool. It is
about patterns and relationships.
Numbers are just a way to express
those patterns and relationships.”

—National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1991)

A pattern is an arrangement
which helps observers anticipate
what they might see or what
happens next.

A pattern also shows what may

have come before.
Natural patterns include symmetries, fractals, spirals, meanders,
waves, foams, tessellations, cracks, and stripes. Studying patterns
allows one to watch, guess, create, and discover. The present
mathematics is considerably more than arithmetic, algebra, and
geometry.
Symmetry
Symmetry can be found everywhere. It can be seen
from different viewpoints namely; nature, the arts and
architecture, mathematics; especially geometry and
science.

Symmetry occurs when there is congruence in

dimensions, due proportions and arrangement. It
provides a sense of harmony and balance.
Types of Symmetry
1. Bilateral or reflection symmetry is the simplest kind of symmetry. It can also be called mirror
symmetry because an object with this symmetry looks unchanged if a mirror passes through its
middle.
Types of Symmetry
2. Radial symmetry is rotational symmetry around a fixed point known as the center. Images with
more than one lines of symmetry meeting at a common point exhibits a radial symmetry.
Other classification of Symmetric Pattern:

Rosette patterns
consist of taking
motif or an element
and rotating and/or
reflecting that
element. There are
two types of rosette
patterns namely
cyclic and dihedral.
Frieze pattern is a pattern in which a basic motif repeats itself over and over in one direction. It extends
to the left and right in a way that the pattern can be mapped onto itself by a horizontal translation.
7 types :

1. Hop - only admits a translational symmetry.

2. Step - only admits a translational and glide symmetries.

3. Sidle - only admits translations and vertical reflections.

4. Spinning Hop - only admits translations and 180◦ rotations (half-turns).

5. Spinning Siddle - only admits translations, vertical reflections, rotations, and glide reflections.

6. Jump - only admits translations, a horizontal reflection, and glide reflection.

7. Spinning Jump - admits translations, vertical reflections, horizontal reflections, rotations, and glide
reflections.
Wallpaper pattern is a pattern with translation symmetry in two directions. It is, therefore,
essentially an arrangement of friezes stacked upon one another to fill the entire plane.
Additional Topics: Natural patterns
Include symmetries, tessellations, fractals, spirals, meanders, waves, foams and
bubbles, stripes & spotted, and cracks.
Symmetry
 in everyday language refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In m
athematics, "symmetry" has a more precise definition, and is usually used to refer to an object that
is invariant under some transformations; including translation, reflection, rotation or scaling. Altho
ugh these two meanings of "symmetry" can sometimes be told apart, they are intricately related
.
 Waves are yet another common pattern found in
A tessellation is a pattern of one or more shapes where the
nature
shapes do not overlap or have space between them.
As waves in water or wind pass over sand, they
create patterns of ripples. When winds blow over
large bodies of sand, they create dunes, sometimes
in extensive  ...
Fractals are never-ending patterns. The beauty of fractals is that their infinite complexity is formed
through the repetition of simple equations. These repeating patterns are displayed at every scale.
 
A fractal is a kind of pattern that we observe often in nature and in art. As Ben Weiss explains,
“whenever you observe a series of patterns repeating over and over again, at many different scales,
and where any small part resembles the whole, that’s a fractal.

A spiral is a curved pattern that focuses on a center point and a series of circular shapes that revolve around it.
Examples of spirals are pine cones, pineapples, hurricanes. The reason for why plants use a spiral form like the
leaf picture below is because they are constantly trying to grow but stay secure.
 
Chaos, flow, meanders
The relationship between chaos and fractals is that strange
attractors in chaotics ystems have a fractal
dimension. ... Meanders are bends in a sinuous form that
appears as rivers or other channels, which form as a fluid, most
often water, flows around bends. Chaos is the study of how
simple patterns can be generated from complicated underlying
behavior.
 
many events were considered to be chaotic, unpredictable and
random. The dripping of a tap, the weather, the formation of
clouds, the fibrillation of the human heart, the turbulence of
fluid flows or the movement of a simple pendulum under the
influence of a number of magnets are a few examples.
Meander Formation and
Features of Meandering Streams
Spots, stripes
Leopards and ladybirds are spotted; angelfish and
zebras are striped.
These patterns have an evolutionary explanation:
they have functions which increase the chances that
the offspring of the patterned animal will survive to
reproduce.
One function of animal patterns is camouflage; for
instance, a leopard that is harder to see catches
more prey.
Cracks are linear openings that form in materials to relieve
stress. When a material fails in all directions it results
in cracks. The patterns created reveal if the material is
elastic or not. The stripe pattern is evolutionary in that in
increases the chances of survival through camouflage.
 
Cracks are overlooked because they are so common. It is
often a pattern engineers want to avoid, for example a crack
in a bridge or a road or a glass. Engineers spend a lot of time
trying to determine when a crack can become a
catastrophe. 
Foam is a mass of bubbles; foams of different materials occur in
nature
- A foam is a substance made by trapping air or gas bubbles inside a
solid or liquid. Typically, the volume of gas is much larger than that
of the liquid or solid, with thin films separating gas pockets.  
- bubble is a spherically contained volume of air or other gas,
especially one made from soapy liquid while foam is a substance
composed of a large collection of bubbles or their solidified remains.
Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci sequence was invented by the Italian Leonardo Pisano Bigollo
(1180-1250), who is known in mathematical history by several names: Leonardo of
Pisa (Pisano means “from Pisa”) and Fibonacci (which means “son of Bonacci”).

To formally, define the Fibonacci sequence, we start by defining F1 = 1 and

F2 = 1. For n > 2, we define
Fn = Fn−1 + Fn−2

The sequence F1, F2, F3,… is then the Fibonacci sequence. Such a
definition is called a RECURSIVE definition because it starts by defining
some initial values and defines the next term as a function of the previous
terms.
One of the exercises in Fibonacci’s book :
“A man put a pair of rabbits in a place surrounded on all sides by a wall. How many pairs of rabbits
are produced from that pair in a year, if it is supposed that every month each pair produces a new
pair, which from the second month onwards becomes productive?”

Rabbit Habit
Growth of Rabbit Colony
Months Adult Pairs Young Pairs Total

1 1 1 2
2 2 1 3 The Fibonacci sequence is the sequence f1, f2, f3, f4, …
3 3 2 5
4 5 3 8 which has its first two terms f1 and f2 both equal to 1 and
5 8 5 13 satisfies thereafter the recursion formula fn = fn–1 + fn–2.
6 13 8 21
7 21 13 34 The sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89,
8 34 21 55 144, 233, 377, … is called the Fibonacci
9 55 34 89 sequence and its terms the Fibonacci numbers.
10 89 55 144
11 144 89 233
12 233 144 377
 Luca Pacioli
Luca Pacioli found the relationship between Fibonacci sequence and the
golden ratio.

The golden ratio was first called as the Divine Proportion in the early
1500s in Leonardo da Vinci’s work was explored by Luca Pacioli (Italian
mathematician) entitled “De Devina Proportione” in 1509.

Da Vinci’s drawings of the five platonic solids and

it was probably da Vinci who first called it the
“section aurea” Latin for Golden Section
Two quantities are in the Golden ratio if their ratio is the same of their sum to the larger of the
two quantities.

The Golden Ratio is the relationship between numbers on the Fibonacci sequence where
plotting the relationships on scales results in a spiral shape
The Fibonacci numbers can be applied to the proportions of a rectangle, called the Golden rectangle.

Golden Rectangle is known as one of the most visually satisfying of all geometric forms – hence, the
appearance of the Golden ratio in art.
The Golden rectangle is also related to the Golden spiral, which is created by making adjacent squares of
Fibonacci dimensions. 

A Fibonacci spiral which approximates the golden spiral, using Fibonacci

sequence square sizes up to 34.
The Fibonacci numbers can be applied to the proportions of a rectangle, called the Golden rectangle.

Golden Rectangle is known as one of the most visually satisfying of all geometric forms – hence, the
appearance of the Golden ratio in art.
The Golden rectangle is also related to the Golden spiral, which is created by making adjacent squares of
Fibonacci dimensions. 

A Fibonacci spiral which approximates the golden spiral, using Fibonacci

sequence square sizes up to 34.
Golden Rectangle

A golden rectangle can be broken into squares the

size of the next Fibonacci number down and below.

Fibonacci spiral – Take a golden rectangle,

break it down into smaller squares based from
Fibonacci sequence and divide each with an arc.
 Fibonacci numbers appear in nature in various places.

 Pinecones, Speed  Flowers and Branches  Honeybees The family

Heads, Vegetables Most flowers express tree of a honeybee
and Fruits Spiral the Fibonacci sequence perfectly resembles the
patterns curving from if you count the number Fibonacci sequence. A
left and right can be of petals on these honeybee colony
seen at the array of flowers. Some plants also consists of a queen, a
seeds in the center of a
exhibit the Fibonacci sequence few drones and lots of
in their growth points, on the
sunflower. places where tree branches
workers.
form or split.
 Human body has many elements that show the
Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio. Most of your
body parts follow the Fibonacci sequence and the
proportions and measurements of the human body can
also be divided up in terms of the golden ratio.

Geography, Weather and Galaxies Fibonacci numbers

and the relationships between these numbers are evident
in spiral galaxies, sea wave curves and in the patterns of
stream and drainages.
The Golden Ratio and/or the Golden Spiral can also be observed in music, art, and designs.
Appearing in many architectural structures, the presence of the golden ratio provided a sense of
balance and equilibrium.

ARCHITECTURE
The Great Pyramid of Giza: The Great
Pyramid of Giza built around 2560 BC is
one of the earliest examples of the use
of the golden ratio.

The Greek sculptor Phidias sculpted

many things including the bands of
sculpture that run above the columns of
the Parthenon.
Arts
Mona-Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci: It is believed that
Leonardo, as a mathematician tried to incorporate of
mathematics into art.
Mathematics for our World

“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)

Mathematics is everywhere; whether it is on land, sea or air, online or on
the front line, mathematics underpins every nook and cranny of modern
life.

Math helps us understand or make sense of the world - and we use the
world to understand math. It is therefore important that we learn math
contents needed to solve complex problems in a complex world
Applications of Mathematics in our world
 Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in the world;

 Mathematics helps predict the behavior of nature and many phenomena;

 Mathematics helps control nature and occurrences in the world for our
own good;

 Mathematics has applications in many human endeavors.

ADDITIONAL TOPICS:

Arithmetic Sequences and Series

Arithmetic Sequences

Sequence is a list of numbers typically with a pattern.

Each number in the list called a term.

2, 4, 6, 8, …
a1, a2, a3, a4, …
The first term in a sequence is denoted as a1, the second
term is a2, and so on up to the nth term an.
 Sequence – a set of numbers in a specific order.
Terms – the numbers in the sequence
Arithmetic sequence – if the difference between successive
terms is constant.
Common difference – the difference between the terms

Identify Arithmetic Sequences:

Ex. 1) 7, 12, 17, 22, 27 Ex.2) 1, 2, 4, 8, . . .
+5 +5 +5 +5 +1 +2 +4

Since this sequence has a This is not an arithmetic

sequence because the difference
common difference it is an between terms is not constant
arithmetic sequence.
 An arithmetic sequence can be found as follows
a1, a1+d, a2+d, a3+d,…

Ex. 3) 74 67 60 53 ? ? ?
-7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7
The common difference is -7

Add -7 to the last term of the sequence to find the next

three terms. (a4+d)=53+(-7)= 46
(a5+d)=46+(-7)= 39
(a6+d)=39+(-7)= 32
Ans: 46, 39, 32
 • How do you find any term in a sequence?
• To find any term in an arithmetic sequence, use the formula
•
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
• where d is the common difference.
a1  First term nth term of arithmetic sequence  an  a1  n  1 d
an  nth term n
sum of n terms of arithmetic sequence  Sn  a1  an 
n  number of terms 2
d  common difference
Sn  sum of n terms
Ex. 4) Find the 14th term in the arithmetic sequence
9, 17, 25, 33,…
Write an equation/formula for a sequence
Sol.
Ex. 5) Write an equation for the nth term of the sequence,
First step: get the common difference (d)
12, 23, 34, 45, …
d= (a2 – a1 )= 17-9 = 8
(a3 – a2 )= 25-17=8 an = a1 + (n – 1)d a1 = 12, d = 11
(a4 – a3 )= 33-25= 8 an = 12 + (n -1)11
The common difference is +8
an = 12 + 11n – 11 Distributive property
Given: a1 = 9, n = 14, d = 8
an = 11n + 1
Use the formula for the nth term Use the equation to solve for the 10th term
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
a14 = 9 + (14 – 1)8 an = 11n + 1 n = 10
a10 = 11(10) + 1 replace n with 10
a14 = 9 + 104
a14 = 113 ans.
a10 = 111 ans.
 Writing Terms of Sequences

Ex. 6) Write the first five terms of the sequence an = 2n + 3.

SOLUTION

a 1 = 2(1) + 3 = 5 1st term

a 2 = 2(2) + 3 = 7 2nd term

a 3 = 2(3) + 3 = 9 3rd term

a 4 = 2(4) + 3 = 11 4th term

a 5 = 2(5) + 3 = 13 5th term Ans: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13

 Ex. 7). Write the first five terms of the sequence f (n) = (–2) n – 1 .
SOLUTION

f (1) = (–2) 1 – 1 = 1 1st term

f (2) = (–2) 2 – 1 = –2 2nd term
f (3) = (–2) 3 – 1 = 4 3rd term
Answers: 1, -2, 4, -8, 16
f (4) = (–2) 4 – 1 = – 8 4th term
f (5) = (–2) 5 – 1 = 16 5th term
 Geometric Sequence
A sequence is geometric if the ratios of consecutive terms are the same.

a2 a3 a4
   .....  r
a1 a2 a3 r - is the common ratio.

Finding the nth term of a Geometric Sequence

Formula: an = a1r(n – 1)

a1  First term r ➤ is the common ratio an ➤ nth term

Are these geometric?

Ex 1) 2, 4, 8, 16, …
4/2, 8/4, 16/8, Yes, r =2

Ex 2) 12, 36, 108, 324

36/12, 108/36, 324/108, Yes r =3 Ex 3) 1, 4, 9, 16, …
This is not a geometric sequence because the ratio between
terms is not constant
Ex. 9) Find the 15th term of the geometric sequence whose first term is 20 and whose
common ratio is 1.05

r = 1.05, a1=20, a15=?

an = a1r(n – 1)

a15 = (20)(1.05)(15 – 1)

a15 = (20)(1.05)14

a15 = (20)(1.979931...)

a15 = 39.599 or 39.60 ans.

Ex. 10) Find a formula for the nth term 5, 15, 45, …
Sol. compute r=?
15/5=3
45/15=3
r=3
Given: a1 = 5, r=3 and What is the 9th term?

an = a 1r n–1 a9 = 5(3)9 – 1

an = 5(3)n – 1 formula a9 = 5(3)8

a9 = 5(6,561)

a9 = 32,805 ans.
Ex. 11) Find the common ratio and the seventh term Given the five terms, so the sixth term is the very next
of the following sequence: 2/9, 2/3, 2, 6, 18,.. term, the seventh will be the term after that.

To find the common ratio, divide a successive pair of a6 = (18)(3) = 54. ( 54/18 =3, r =3)
terms.
Sol. a7 = (54)(3) = 162 ( 162/54 =3, r =3)
(2/3)/(2/9)=(2/3) x ( 9/2)= 3/1 or 3
Answers:
2/(2/3)=(2/1) x (3/2)=3 common ratio: r = 3

6/2=3 seventh term: 162

18/6=3

The ratio is, r = 3.

Note: A geometric sequence goes from one term to the next
by always multiplying (or dividing) by the same value.
Additional topic: Difference table

A difference table shows the differences between successive terms of the sequence. The differences in
rows maybe first, second and third differences. Each number in the first row of the table is the differences
between the closest numbers just above it. If the first differences are not the same, compute the
successive differences of the first differences .

The following examples will show how to predict the next term of a sequence and we look for a pattern in
a row differences.

Ex. : Construct the difference table to predict the next term of

each sequence.
a. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ?
b. 2, 4, 9, 17, 28, ?
c. 6, 9, 14, 26, 50, 91, ?
Solutions:
a. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ? b. 2, 4, 9, 17, 28, ?

Sequence 3 7 11 15 19 ? Sequence 2 4 9 17 28 ?
V V V V V V V V
First differences 4 4 4 4 First differences 2 5 8 11
V V V
The next term is 23 ans. Second differences 3 3 3

add all the last digits, 3+11+28= 42

The next term is 42 ans.

Solution:
c. 6, 9, 14, 26, 50, 91, ?

Sequence 6 9 14 26 50 91 ?

V V V V V
First differences 3 5 12 24 41
V V V V
Second differences 2 7 12
17
V V V
Third differences 5 5 5

add all the last digits, 5+17+41+91=154

The next term is 154 ans.

 ASSESSMENTS 1:
Part 1.

1. Look for patterns Inside or outside of your house then take

pictures of the patterns explored using smart phones or digital camera. Explore, take photos, make list
and identify what patterns can be seen in nature inside your house, at the garden or park nearby or any
part of the neighborhood.

Answer the ff. questions

2.    How do you find the golden ratio of your face?

3. In relation to golden ratio, give 3 examples of Celebrities with almost perfect faces,
explain why?
4. Will the universe exist without mathematics or vice versa?
 Part 2:
A) Construct a difference table to predict the next term of each sequence.
1) 6, 9, 14, 26, 50, 91, ?
 
2) 4, 8, 14, 22, 32, 44, ?
 
B) Use the given nth-term formula to compute the first three terms of the given sequence.
 
1) an= 2n3-n2

2) an= 5n2-3n
 
 C) Geometric sequence, using an=ar(n-1) compute the next term.
1) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, ?

2) 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, ?

 
D) Essay
a) Will the universe exist without mathematics or vice versa?
 
The essence of mathematics is not to make
simple things complicated, but to make
complicated things simple. 

~S. Gudder ~