MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

MODULE 1
NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

I. INTRODUCTION

The term “Mathematics” has been interpreted and explained in various ways. This is due to our
empirical knowledge and various types of experiences. But ultimately all types of explanations
conclusively end at some kinds of relationship with number and space. Thus, mathematics deals with
quantitative facts and relationships as-well-as with problems involving space and form.

Mathematics enables the man to study various phenomena in space and establish different types
of relationship between magnitudes of quantitative and quantitative facts. Therefore, it may be
concluded that mathematics is the enumerative and calculative part of human life and knowledge the
person to give an exact interpretation.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, “Mathematics is the science of numbers and their operations,
interrelations, combinations, generalizations and abstractions and of space configuration and their
structure, measurement, transformations and generalizations.”

According to Roger Bacon, “Mathematics is the gate and key of the sciences. Neglect of
mathematics work injury to all knowledge, since who is ignorant of it cannot know the other sciences
or the things of the world. And what is worse, men who are thus ignorant are unable to perceive their
own ignorance and so do not seek a remedy.”

This module deals with the nature of mathematics, appreciation of its practical, intellectual, and
aesthetic dimensions, and application of mathematical tools in daily life.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing this module, learners will be able to:

1. Understand the nature of mathematics;
2. Articulate the importance of mathematics in their daily lives;
3. Identify patterns and regularities in their environment or in the nature; and
4. Express their appreciation for mathematics as human endeavor.

III. LEARNING CONTENTS

A. Pattern and Numbers in Nature and the World

Mathematics is all about numbers and involves the study of different patterns. Patterns are
related to any type of events, objects, recurring forms, or designs. If the set of numbers are related to
each other in a specific rule, then the rule or manner is called a pattern. Sometimes, patterns are also
known as a sequence. Patterns are finite or infinite in numbers.

Try to look at this pattern:

What do you think will be the next figure in the above sequence?

Notice that the previous pattern is consist of two (2) figures, the star, and the sun. The pattern begins
with the star figure then next figure is the sun then alternate.

Therefore, the next figure should be “the star”:

Prepared By: LUKE MARK P. RIVERA

Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
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 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Example A.1: What is the next figure in the pattern as shown below?

Solution:
By analyzing the above given figures, notice that the arrow inscribe in the circle rotates at 90-degrees
in clockwise direction at every step and the relationship of the two (2) dots and the arrow is the same
position. Therefore, the answer is:

Example A.2: What number comes next in 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, __?

Solution:
Notice that sequence of the given numbers is increasing by seven: 1 + 7 = 8; 8 + 7 = 15; 15 + 7 = 22;
22 + 7 = 29; 29 + 7 = 36. Therefore, the next term should be 36 + 7 which is equivalent to 43.

Types of Patterns

1. Symmetry is a type of invariance which is the property that a mathematical object remains
unchanged under a set of operations or transformations (rotation, reflection, or scaling).
a. Bilateral Symmetry: A symmetry in which similar anatomical parts are arranged on opposite
sides of a median axis so that only one plane can divide the individual into essentially identical
halves.

Samples: The Butterfly The Human Face The Hearth Shape

b. Rotational Symmetry: Also known as radial symmetry in biology, is the property a shape has
when it looks the same after some rotation by a partial turn. An object's degree of rotational
symmetry is the number of distinct orientations in which it looks exactly the same for each
rotation. The order of rotational symmetry is that an object has the number of times that it
fits on to itself during a full rotation of 360 degrees.
Angle of Rotation formula:
360°
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑛

Samples: The Snowflake The Starfish

On the above sample images, snowflakes and starfish are six (6) and five (5) fold lines,
respectively. The snowflake fits its original position six (6) times in a complete turn, so its order of
reflective symmetry is six (6) and its order of rotational symmetry is six (6) while the starfish fits
its original position five (5) times in a complete turn, so its order of reflective symmetry is five (5)
and its order of rotational symmetry is five (5) also.

Prepared By: LUKE MARK P. RIVERA

Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
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 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Example A.3:

What is the order of rotational symmetry of an equilateral triangle?

Solution:
As explained in the definition, we must check how many times an equilateral triangle fits on to
itself during a full rotation of 360 degrees. Please look at the images of the equilateral triangle in
the order A, B and C. A is the original image. The images B and C are generated by rotating the
original image A.

When we look at the above images of equilateral triangle, it fits on to itself 3 times during a full
rotation of 360 degrees. So, an equilateral triangle has rotational symmetry of order 3.

2. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. Fractal is a
never-ending pattern that are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing
feedback loop. Driven by recursion, fractals are images of dynamic systems. Geometrically, they
exist in between our familiar dimensions. Fractal patterns are extremely familiar since nature is
full of fractals. For instance: trees, rivers, coastlines, mountains, clouds, seashells, hurricanes, etc.

3. Spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the
point. A logarithmic spiral or growth spiral curve which often appear in nature.

Samples: The Snail Shell Hurricane Fern Plant

B. The Fibonacci Sequence

The Fibonacci sequence is named for Leonardo Pisano (also known as Fibonacci), an Italian
mathematician who lived from 1170 – 1250. He used the arithmetic series in 1202 to illustrate a
problem based on a pair of breeding rabbits (see below illustration), although the sequence had been
described earlier in Indian mathematics.

Illustration of a pair of breeding rabbits:

Prepared By: LUKE MARK P. RIVERA

Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
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 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...
The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it:
➢ the 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1);
➢ the 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2);
➢ the 5 is (2+3), and so on.
➢ Therefore, the next number in the sequence above is 21+34 = 55

When we make squares with those widths, we get a spiral pattern as show below:

The Rule of Fibonacci Sequence

First, the terms are numbered from 0 onwards as indicated on below tableau:

Where n is the term number and x is the equivalent value of the given term number. For example, the
term number 7 is x7 which is equivalent to 13 based on the above tableau. The equivalent value of the
term is simply adding the equivalent value of the two previous term and this simplify into this equation
by xn = xn-1 + xn-2. By using this equation, the term number 8 is calculated like this:

xn = xn-1 + xn-2 Where n = 8

x8 = x8-1 + x8-2 Substitute the value of n
x 8 = x7 + x6 Refer the values of x7 and x6 on the above tableau
x8 = 13 + 8 Substituting the value of x7 and x6
x8 = 22

Example B.1: As given on the above tableau, compute for x15.

Solution: xn = xn-1 + xn-2 Where n = 15

x15 = x15-1 + x15-2 Substitute n to the formula
x15 = x14 + x13 Refer the values of x14 and x13 on the above tableau
x15 = 377 + 233 Substituting the value of x14 and x13
x15 = 610

Example B.2: Referring to previous example, compute for x16.

Solution: xn = xn-1 + xn-2 Where n = 16

x16 = x16-1 + x16-2 Substitute n to the formula
x16 = x15 + x14 Refer the values of x15 and x14 on Example B.1.
x16 = 610 + 377 Substituting the values of x15 & x14
x16 = 987

Prepared By: LUKE MARK P. RIVERA

Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
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 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

The Golden Ratio

The golden ratio is also called the golden mean or golden section. Two quantities are in the golden
ratio if their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities.

Line segment in the golden ratio A golden rectangle with long side “a”
and short side “b” adjacent to a square
with sides of length “a” produces a
similar golden rectangle with long side
“a + b” and short side “a”.

The figure above illustrates the geometric relationship. Expressed algebraically, for quantities a and b
𝑎+𝑏 𝑎
with a > b > 0, 𝑎 = 𝑏 = 𝜑; where the Greek letter phi (ϕ) represents the golden ratio. The golden
ration is an irrational number that is a solution to the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 1 = 0, with a value
1+√5
of: 𝜑 = 2
= 1.6180339887 …

The Use of Golden Ratio to Fibonacci Numbers

The easy way to calculate any Fibonacci number using the golden ratio:
𝜑𝑛 − (1 − 𝜑)𝑛
𝑥𝑛 =
√5

Example B.3: Compute for the Fibonacci number, 𝑥16 .

Solution:

𝜑𝑛 − (1 − 𝜑)𝑛
𝑥𝑛 =
√5

(1.618034. . . )16 − (1 − 1.618034. . . )16

𝑥16 =
√5

𝑥16 = 987

Example B.4: Compute for the Fibonacci number, 𝑥25 .

Solution:

𝜑𝑛 − (1 − 𝜑)𝑛
𝑥𝑛 =
√5

(1.618034. . . )25 − (1 − 1.618034. . . )25

𝑥25 =
√5

𝑥25 = 75,025

Prepared By: LUKE MARK P. RIVERA

Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
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 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

IV. LEARNING ASSESSMENT

1. Which answer figure will continue the same series as established by the problem figures?
Explain your answer.

Problem figures;

Answer figures;

2. What is the order of rotational-symmetry of a rhombus? Draw a demonstration.

3. What is the order of rotational symmetry of an isosceles triangle? Draw a demonstration.

4. What is the order of rotational-symmetry of an ellipse? Draw a demonstration.

5. What number comes next in 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, ____? Show your solution.

6. What number should come next in this sequence: 22, 21, 25, 24, 28, 27, __ , __? Show your
solution.

7. What letter comes next in this pattern: O T T F F S S E… Explain your answer.

8. What completes the following pattern: CSD, ETF, GUH, ___, KWL? Explain your answer

9. Starting with the first Fibonacci number, Fib(1) = 1 and the second Fibonacci number,
Fib(2) = 1, what is the 21th Fibonacci number, Fib(21)? Show your complete solution.

10. Given Fib(30) = 832,040 and Fib(28) = 317,811, what is Fib(32)? Show your complete
solution.

Prepared By: LUKE MARK P. RIVERA

Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cagayan State University – Carig Campus
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