Lesson 1 - Mathematics in The Modern World

LESSON 1: MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
MATHEMATICS IN NATURE
"The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God" – Euclid
PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

1. GEOMETRICAL SHAPES
 PERFECT
- Earth is the perfect shape for minimizing the pull of gravity on its outer edges – a sphere (although
centrifugal force from its spin actually makes it an oblate spheroid, flattened at top and bottom).
Geometry is the branch of Math that describes such shapes.
 POLYHEDRA
- For a beehive, close packing is important to maximize the use of space. Hexagons fit most closely
together without any gaps; so hexagonal wax cells are what bees create to store their eggs and
larvae. Hexagons are six-sided polygons, closed, 2-dimensional, many-sided figures with stratigh
edges.
 CONES
- Volcanoes form cones, the steepness and height of which depends on the runniness (viscosity) of
the lava. Fast, runny lava forms flatter cones; thick, viscous lava forms steep-sided cones. Cones
are 3-dimensional solids whose volume can be calculated by 1/3 x area of base x height.
2. SYMMETRY – indicates that you can draw an imaginary line across an object and the resulting parts are
mirror images of each other.
TYPES:
1. Bilateral symmetry – in which an object has two sides that are mirror images of each other.
 Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man showing the proportion and symmetry of the human body.
2. Radial symmetry – This is where there is a center point and numerous lines of symmetry could be
drawn.
- Radial symmetry can be classified as either cyclic or dihedral. Cyclic symmetries are represented
with the notation Cn, where n is the number of rotations. Each rotation will have an angle of 360/n.
 Spiderwort with three-fold symmetry
 This starfish has a five-fold symmetry.
 Hibiscus – C5 symmetry. The petals overlap, so the symmetry might not be readily seen.
 It can be observed that the patterns on a snowflake repeat six times, indicating that there is a
six-fold symmetry.
3. FIBONACCI SPIRAL – If you construct a series of squares with lengths equal to the Fibonacci numbers
(1,1,2,3,5, etc) and trace a line through the diagonals of each square, it forms a Fibonacci spiral. Many
examples of the Fibonacci spiral can be seen in:
 SUNFLOWER – you will notice that there is a definite pattern of clockwise and counterclockwise arcs
or spirals extending outward from the center of the flower.
 THE SNAIL’S SHELL – These shapes are called logarithmic spirals, and Nautilus shells are just one
example.
 FIBONACCI IN FRUITS (Banana – 3 distinct sections; Apple – 5 distinct sections)
 First discovered in India about 1,300 years ago
 Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci)
o A mathematician in 1202
 Flowers often have 3, 5, 8, or 13 pedals
 The “Golden Ratio”
4. FRACTALS – a curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the
whole. Fractals are useful in modeling structures (such as eroded coastlines or snowflakes) in which similar
patterns recur at progressively smaller scales, and in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such
as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.
 TREES – are perfect examples of fractals in nature. You will find fractals at every level of the forest
ecosystem from seeds and pinecones, to branches and leaves, and to the self-similar replication of
trees, ferns, and plants throughout the ecosystem.
 RIVER DELTAS – This aerial footage from NASA of the Ayeyarwady Ri ver Delta (also referred to as
Irrawaddy) in Myanmar is a great example of the fractal branching patterns of river delta ecosystems.
 GROWTH SPIRALS – You will also find fractal patterns in growth spirals, which follow a Fibonacci
Sequence (also referred to as the Golden Spiral) and can be seen as a special case of self-similarity.
 FLOWERS – Observe the self-replicating patterns of how flowers bloom to attract bees. Gardens are
amazing places to explore the fractal nature of growth.
 ROMANESCO BROCCOLI – You won’t find it in the forest, but this edible flower bud of the species
Brassica oleracea (broccoli) from Italy is a wholesome and delicious example of fractal geometry.
MATHEMATICS FOR OUR WORLD

MATHEMATICS FOR OUR WORLD
Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in the world. Mathematics helps predict the behavior of
nature and phenomena in the world, as well as helps humans exert control over occurrences in the world for
the advancement of our civilization.
MATHEMATICS FOR ORGANIZATION

A lot of events happen around us. In the blink of an eye, several children have already been born, liters of
water have been consumed, or thousands of tweets have been posted. For us to make sense of all available
information, we need mathematical tools to help us make sound analysis and better decisions.
MATHEMATICS FOR PREDICTION

As much as we can use Mathematical models using existing data to generate analysis and interpretations, we
can also use them to make predictions. They work in the sense that predictions are based upon a careful
analysis of patterns which are essentially recurring events. Patterns can be found in languages, sciences and
even the arts. The key to being recognize patterns can provide the basis for us to later make predictions based
on our observation of the repetition of patterns and then making a subsequent prediction based on the data.
MATHEMATICS FOR CONTROL

Through the use of Mathematics, man is also able to exert control over himself and the effects of nature.
PATTERNS AND SEQUENCES

PATTERNS AND SEQUENCES
 We often need to spot a pattern in order to predict what will happen next.
 In Math, the correct name for a pattern of numbers is called a SEQUENCE.
 The first number in a SEQUENCE is sometimes called the FIRST TERM; the second is the SECOND
TERM and so on.
 For any pattern it is important to try to spot what is happening before you can predict the next number.
 The first 2 or 3 numbers is rarely enough to show the full pattern - 4 or 5 numbers are best.
o 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, …
o 5, 8, 12, 17, 23, 30, …
 +3, +4, +5, +6, +7

Lesson 1 - Mathematics in The Modern World

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lesson 1 - Mathematics in The Modern World

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lesson 1 - Mathematics in The Modern World

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

LESSON 1: MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

MATHEMATICS FOR OUR WORLD

MATHEMATICS FOR ORGANIZATION

MATHEMATICS FOR PREDICTION

MATHEMATICS FOR CONTROL

PATTERNS AND SEQUENCES

You might also like