MODULE ONE

THE NATURE
OF
MATHEMATICS
 LESSON 1.1
THE MATHEMATICS OF OUR WORLD
 WHAT IS MATHEMATICS?

Mathematics is a formal system

of thought that was gradually
developed in the human mind and
evolved in the human culture.
(Stewart)
IAN NICHOLAS STEWART
 British mathematician
 Born: 24 September 1945 (age 74)
England
 Alma mater: University of Cambridge (BA)
University of Warwick (PhD)
 Known for: Does God Play Dice?
The Science of Discworld
 Awards: Michael Faraday Prize (1995)
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
 (1997)
Christopher Zeeman Medal
 Scientific career
Fields: Mathematics
 Institutions: University of Warwick
 Thesis: Subideals of Lie algebras (1969)
 Doctoral advisor: Brian Hartley[
 THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS
Figure 1.1 (FUNCTIONS OF MATHEMATICS)
Illustrated by Rizaldi C. Nocon and Ederlina C. Nocon
 WHAT IS MATHEMATICS?
 …all about the unbelievable patterns of
numbers formed by nature and of the universe
 …all about language in different forms like
patterns, shapes, music and so on..
 …all about what our eyes can see, what our
ears can hear and even what we can perceive
in our physical environment
 a language we understand
 WHAT IS MATHEMATICS?

Common notions associated with

mathematics:
 numbers and counting
(operations)
numeric and geometric patterns
 patterns of movement
 WHAT IS MATHEMATICS?
 A formal system of thought for recognizing,
classifying, and exploiting patterns (Stewart)
 The great secret uncovered by mathematics:
Nature’s patterns are not just there to be
admired, they are vital clues to the rules
that govern natural processes.
Source: Space Telescope Science/NASA
THE UNIVERSE
Figure 1.2
Whirlpool Galaxy - spiral galaxy
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
 UNIVERSE 
describe the collection of all the things that exist in
space
 made of many millions of millions of stars and
planets and enormous clouds of gas separated by a
gigantic empty space

Astronomers can use telescopes to look at very distant

galaxies.
Any person can recognize the beauty of
nature’s mathematical patterns without any
mathematical training.

Recognize
the clues Deduce the
of underlying
patterns rules and
in nature regularities
 MATHEMATICS IS EVERYWHERE
 Use mathematics in their daily tasks and activities
 Important tool in the field of sciences, humanities,
literature, medicine, and even in music and arts .
 In the rhythm of our daily activities, operational in
our communities, and a default system of our
culture.
 Helps us cook delicious meals by exacting our
ability to measure and moderately control of heat.
 Helps us to shop wisely, read maps, use the
computer, remodel a home with constrained budget
with utmost economy.
 THE ESSENTIAL ROLES OF MATHEMATICS
 Helps us to take the complex processes that is naturally
occuring in the world around us and it represents them by
utilizing logic to make things more organized and more
efficient.
 Facilitate not only to weather, but also to control the
weather ; be it social, natural, statistical, political, or
medical.
 Applied mathematics- used for solving problems in physics, -
- useful tool in biological sciences: for instance, the spread of
various diseases can now be predicted and controlled.
 Used by scientists and researchers in doing or performing
researches to solve social, scientific,medical, or even political
crises.
DR. CATHERINE P. VISTRO-YU

 Professor of
Mathematics
Education, Ateneo
de Manila Universit
y

 2012 Metrobank
Foundation
Outstanding
Teacher
According to Vistru-Yu PPT presentation,
 Mathematics, provides new questions to
think about.

In learning and
doing mathematics,
 there will always be new questions to
 answer, new problems to solve, and
new
 things to think about .
 WHERE IS MATHEMATICS?
We see hints or clues of it in nature!
 WHERE IS MATHEMATICS?
We see hints or clues of it in nature!
 WHERE IS MATHEMATICS?
In our daily routine!
 WHERE IS MATHEMATICS?
In our work!
 WHERE IS MATHEMATICS?
In people and communities!
 Where is Mathematics?
In events!
 WHAT IS IT FOR?
Organize patterns and regularities
as well as irregularities
To be able to predict

To help us control weather,

epidemics
Provides tool for calculations
Provides new questions to think
about
 HOW IS MATHEMATICS DONE?
(Vistru-Yu)
With curiosity (Sherlock Holmes analogy)
With a penchant for seeking patterns
and generalities (inquisitiveness)
With a desire to know the truth
With trial and error
Without fear of facing more questions
and problems to solve
 WHO USES MATHEMATICS?

 Mathematics: pure and applied

 Scientists : Natural and Social
 Practically everyone

 Different people use different

mathematics at different times, for
different purposes, using different tools,
with different attitudes (Diversity and
universality)
 MATHEMATICS IS FOR EVERYONE
 Everyone uses mathematics, whoever they
are, wherever they are, and whenever they
need to.
 From mathematicians to scientists, from
professionals to ordinary people, they all use
mathematics.
 For mathematics puts order amidst disorder.
 It helps us become better persons .
 Ithelps make the world a better place to live
in.
(Vistru – Yu)
“Whatever the reasons, mathematics is a useful
way to think about nature.What does it want to
tell us about the patterns we observe? There
are many answers. We want to understand how
they happen; to understand why they happen,
which is different; to organize the underlying
patterns and regularities in the most satisfying
way; to predict how nature will behave; to
control nature for our own ends; to make
practical use of what we have learned about
our world. Mathematics helps us to do all these
things, and often, it is indispensable.”
[Stewart]
 ASSIGNMENT/HOMEWORK

Learning Activity 1.1

Learning Modules in
Mathematics in the Modern
World
Page 17