Mathematics in the Modern

World (MMW)
Lesson 1-1
WHAT IS MATHEMATICS?
Mathematics
• 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.
PATTERNS AND NUMBERS
• According to the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (1991) defines the nature of mathematics as
follows: Mathematics is a study of patterns and relationship,
a way of thinking, an art, a language, and a tool.
• 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.
• Visible regularities of form found in the natural world.
PATTERNS AND NUMBERS
• Natural patterns include symmetries, fractals, spirals,
meanders, waves, foams, tessellations, cracks, and
stripes
SYMMETRY
• occurs when there is congruence in dimensions, due
proportions and arrangement. It provides a sense of
harmony and balance.
Reflection or Bilateral Symmetry
• Simplest kind of symmetry.
• Also called a mirror symmetry.
• Bilateral-symmetric objects have at least one line or
axis of symmetry.
Reflection or Bilateral Symmetry
Radial Symmetry
• Is a rotation symmetry around fixed point known as
center.
Radial
Symmetry
Classification of Symmetric Pattern
• rosette patterns (those that repeat in no direction),
• frieze patterns ( those that repeat in exactly one
direction) and
• wallpaper patterns (those that repeat in more than
one direction).
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.
• A rosette pattern is cyclic if it only admits rotational
symmetries.
• On the other hand, a rosette pattern is dihedral if it admits
both rotational symmetries and bilateral or reflectional
symmetries.
Rosette Patterns
Frieze Patterns
• 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 of Frieze Patterns
1. Hop. The frieze pattern only admits a translational
symmetry.

2. Step. The frieze pattern only admits a translational and

glide symmetries
3. Sidle. The frieze pattern only admits translations and
vertical reflections.

4. Spinning Hop. The frieze pattern only admits translations

and rotations (half-turns).
5. Spinning Siddle. The frieze pattern only admits translations,
vertical reflections, rotations, and glide reflections.

6. Jump. The frieze pattern only admits translations, a

horizontal reflection, and glide reflection.
7. Spinning Jump. The frieze pattern admits translations,
vertical reflections, horizontal reflections, rotations, and glide
reflections.

Mathematician John B. Conway invented the names of these

frieze patterns.
Wallpaper Patterns

• 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.
Exemplified in works by M. C. Escher and in the patterns created by I. Bakshee in the
Wolfram Language using Artlandia.
Wallpaper Patterns
Tesselations

• Also known as tiling is a repeating pattern of figures that

covers a plane with no gaps or overlaps. It is just like a
wallpaper group in which patterns are created by repeating a
shape to fill the plane.

• It can be created with translations, rotations, and reflections.

Tesselation
s
ASSESSMENT
1. Give five examples each of nature having reflection symmetry and
radial symmetry.
2. Compare and contrast rotation and reflection.
3. Which upper case letters of the English alphabet look the same
after being rotated
a. ?
b. ?
ASSESSMENT (cont’d)
4. Classify the following frieze patterns based on Conway’s
classification.