The Nature of Mathematics
Topic 1
Learning outcomes
• Discuss and argue about the nature, definition, and application of
mathematics;
• Explain how Fibonacci Sequence are formed and showed that a
mathematical operation performed between consecutive Febonacci
numbers will develop Golden Ration (Phi).
• Critically investigate patterns in life, number patterns, and in numbers
in nature, especially how Fibonacci sequence appears in nature
including the human body by exploring real-life models.
• Express the appreciation of mathematics as a human endeavor
through calculation, application, and inspiration.
Write a word or phrase that comes to your
mind as you answer the following questions.
1. Where do you see 2. For you, what is Mathematics?
Mathematics?
What is Mathematics?
The study of quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves logical
reasoning and quantitative calculation, and is used in diverse fields like
natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences. It deals with
numbers, shapes, and relationships between them, using abstract
concepts and logical deduction to understand the world and solve
problems.
The origin of mathematics can be traced to the history and
significance of patterns and numbers. It deals with ideas translated to
objects and concepts created by humans. They are invented to link the
meaning of pattern which result experiences associated with the
counting, sequences, and regularities.
Like any other languages, mathematics has its own symbols,
syntax, and rules characterized as precise, concise, and powerful
mathematical language. It distinguishes expressions from sentences. It
discusses the conventions in the mathematical language. It gives
emphasis on four basic concepts: sets, functions, relations, binary
operations. It includes elementary logic, connectives, quantifiers,
negation and variables with formality.
Mathematics in Our World
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but
habit”
- Aristotle
For Aristotle, what are patterns in life?
1. Number patterns
Lists of numbers that follow a specific rule or pattern. These
patterns can involve adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing by a
certain number, or they can be based on more complex relationships
between terms.
Arithmetic Sequences:
These sequences have a constant difference between
consecutive terms. For example, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 is an arithmetic sequence
with a common difference of 2.
Geometric Sequences:
These sequences have a constant ratio between consecutive
terms. For example, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 is a geometric sequence with a
common ratio of 2.
Other Patterns:
There are many other types of number patterns, such as those
based on squares, cubes, Fibonacci numbers, or prime numbers.
Arithmetic Sequence
To find the next term in an arithmetic sequence, you need to determine the
common difference and add it to the last known term. An arithmetic
sequence is a sequence where the difference between consecutive terms is
constant.
Where:
𝑎𝑛 = nth term
𝑎1 = 1st term
𝑛=number of term
d = common difference
Example 1: Using the arithmetic sequence formula, find the 13 th term
in the sequence 1, 5, 9, 13...
Example 2: Find the first term in the arithmetic sequence where the
35th term is 687 and the common difference 14.
Example 3: Find the sum of the following arithmetic series: 3 + 7 + 11 +
....... (up to 25 terms).
Example 4: (continued): 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, ...
a) Find the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence:12,16,20,24,28 ,…,𝑘𝑛
b) Find the 7th term of the arithmetic sequence: 6,2,-2,-6 ,…,𝑘𝑛
c) Find the 20th term of the arithmetic sequence: 16,36,56,76,96 ,…,𝑘𝑛
d) Find the 5th term of the arithmetic sequence: 72, 54, 36 , 18 ,…,𝑘𝑛
e) Find the 9th term of the arithmetic sequence: 33,76,119,162 ,…,𝑘𝑛
f) Find the 9h term of the arithmetic sequence: 21,77,133,189,…,𝑘𝑛
Geometric Sequence
Is a sequence where each term is multiplied by a constant value
(the common ratio) to get the next term. The formula for the nth term
of a geometric sequence is an = a1 * r(n-1),
where an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, r is the common ratio, and
n is the term number.
• Example 1: Find the 10th term of the geometric sequence 1, 3, 9, 27,
.....
• Example 2: Find 15th term of the geometric sequence 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8,
.... Round your answer to 5 decimals.
• Example 3: Find the 13th term of the infinite geometric sequence 1,
1/4, 1/16, 1/64, ...
Other Patterns
• Pascal’s Triangle
• Square numbers
• Cube numbers
Logic patterns
• Recurring arrangements or sequences that follow a specific rule or
relationship. These patterns can be found in numbers, shapes,
objects, or even in sequences of events or ideas. Identifying these
patterns is a key skill in understanding and reasoning about various
concepts.
NUMBER SERIES
• a collection of numbers in which all the terms are formed according
to some particular rule or pattern.
[Link] SERIES
-the terms are prime numbers in order
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, __
[Link] PRIMES
-the terms are prime numbers alternating patterns.
2, 5,11, 17, 23, __ , 41
• 3 . THIRD NUMBER IS THE SUM OF TWO PRECEDING NUMBERS
3, 5, 8, 13, 21, __
4 . THIRD NUMBER IS THE PRODUCT OF THE TWO PRECEDING
NUMERS
1, 2, 2, 4, 8, 32, __
Patterns in Nature and the Regularities in the
World
Patterns and counting are correlative. Counting happens when
there is pattern. When there is counting, there is logic. Consequently,
pattern in nature goes with logic or logical set-up.
Most people say that mathematics is the science behind
patterns. Mathematics exist s everywhere as patterns do in nature.
Regularity
- when a same thing happens in the same circumstances
(Predictable).
Pattern
-is a discernible regularity in the world or in a man-made design.
As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner.
Symmetry
An agreement in dimensions , due proportion and arrangement. In
everyday language, it refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful
proportion and balance. In mathematics, symmetry means than an
object is invariant to any various transformations including reflection,
rotation or scaling.
Symmetry
a. Bilateral symmetry
- the property of being divisible into symmetrical halves on either
side of a unique plane.
- also called “mirror symmetry”
b. Radial symmetry
-a type of symmetry where parts are arranged around a central
axis, like slices of a pie.
c. Translational Symmetry
-the property of a shape or pattern remaining unchanged after
being shifted or translated (moved) by a certain distance in a specific
direction, without any rotation or reflection
FRACTALS
A never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns
that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by
repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop.
Driven by recursion, fractals are images of dynamic systems – the
picture of chaos.
Fractal patterns are extremely familiar, since nature is full of
fractals. For instance: trees, rivers, coastlines, mountains, clouds,
seashells, hurricanes, etc.
Tessellation
Is the tiling of a plane using one or more geometric shapes called tiles,
with no overlaps and no gaps. In mathematics, tessellations can be
generalized to higher dimensions and a variety of geometries.
Spirals
A curve that emanates from a point and winds around it, either
continuously moving closer to or farther away from the center.
The Fibonacci Numbers
Fibonacci Numbers
Fibonacci observed numbers in nature. His most popular
contribution perhaps is the number that is seen in the petals of
flowers. A calla lily flower has only 1 petal, trillium has 3, hibiscus has 5,
cosmos flower has 8, corn marigold has 13 and other flowers has 21,
34, 55, or 89. These are the first eleven numbers in the Fibonacci
Sequence, not all flowers abide with this however other flowers do.
Golden Ratio
In mathematics, the irrational number (1 + Square root of√5)/2, often
denoted by the Greek letter ϕ or τ, which is approximately equal to 1.618. It
is the ratio of a line segment cut into two pieces of different lengths such
that the ratio of the whole segment to that of the longer segment is equal to
the ratio of the longer segment to the shorter segment.
The origin of this number can be traced back to Euclid, who mentions
it as the “extreme and mean ratio” in the Elements. In terms of present day
algebra, letting the length of the shorter segment be one unit and the length
of the longer segment be x units gives rise to the equation (x + 1)/x = x/1;
this may be rearranged to form the quadratic equation x2 – x – 1 = 0, for
which the positive solution is x = (1 + Square root of√5)/2, the golden ratio.
The Greeks had observed that the golden ratio provided the most
aesthetically pleasing proportion of sides of a rectangle, a notion that
was enhanced during the Renaissance by, for example, the work of the
Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci and the publication of De divina
proportione (1509; Divine Proportion), written by the Italian
mathematician Luca Pacioli and illustrated by Leonardo.