MODULE 2: MATHEMATICS IN NATURE

This module would give you a perspective that mathematics is not plainly numbers
and operations. It is more than that. We have been emphasizing that God created the
universe mathematically. Everything you see around you is Mathematics.

The target learning outcomes of Module 2 are: a) Identify patterns in nature and
regularities in the world; b) Articulate the importance of mathematics in one’s life; c)
Express appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavor.

To start with, please watch the videos entitled Nature’s Mathematics (Part 1 and 2)
available at the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE_RU0fNjt0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WHNMfRmHE&t=643s

Mathematics in Nature

Euclid said that "The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God."
Galileo affirmed by stating that “Mathematics is the language in which God has written the
Universe.”

Mathematics is everywhere, it is seen anywhere in the universe. With the

development of a formal system of thought for recognizing, classifying, and exploiting
patterns; one could systematize and organize these ideas of patterns. It would be here that
we could discover great secrets of nature’s patterns. They are not just there to be admired;
they are vital clues to the rules that govern the natural process.

Analyzing thoroughly, having the essentials of mathematics as our basis, we could

further discover mathematics in our world and unravel the mystery of the universe. The
majority of our knowledge of mathematics and modern science is strictly based and
supported by our observations of our environment. What was once seen as the
randomness of nature is now distinguished as the intricate applications of mathematics
and illustrates the complexities of our natural world. Here are a very few properties of
mathematics that are depicted in nature.

A. SHAPES

Geometry is the branch of mathematics that basically describes shapes and

establishes the relationships between them. Figures with regular shapes are categorized as
polygons. Polygons are fascinating, especially when they are approximated in nature.
When looking carefully, one can see them all around us.

Spatial patterns can be represented by a fairly small collection of fundamental

geometrical shapes and relationships that have corresponding symbolic representation. To
make sense of the world, the human mind relies heavily on its perception of shapes and
patterns. The artifacts around us (such as buildings, vehicles, toys, utensils and basic things

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 we use in life) and the familiar forms we see in nature (such as animals, leaves, stones,
flowers, and the moon and sun) can often be characterized in terms of geometric form.
Some of the ideas and terms of geometry have become part of everyday language.
Although real objects never perfectly match a geometric figure, they more or less
approximate them. The properties and characteristics about geometric figures
and relationships can be associated with objects. For many purposes, it is sufficient to be
familiar with points, lines, planes; triangles, rectangles, squares, circles, and ellipses;
rectangular solids and spheres; relationships of similarity and congruence; relationships of
convex, concave, intersecting, and tangent; angles between lines or planes; parallel and
perpendicular relationships between lines and planes; forms of symmetry such as
displacement, reflection, and rotation; and the Pythagorean theorem.

Both shape and measurement (magnitude) or scale can have important

consequences for the performance of systems. For example, triangular connections
maximize rigidity, smooth surfaces minimize turbulence, and a spherical container
minimizes surface area for any given mass or volume. Changing the size of objects while
keeping the same shape can have profound effects owing to the geometry of scaling:
Area varies as the square of linear dimensions, and volume varies as the cube. On the
other hand, some particularly interesting kinds of patterns known as fractals look very similar
to one another when observed at any scale whatever—and some natural phenomena
(such as the shapes of clouds, mountains, and coastlines) seem to be like that.

Some Common Shapes Visible in Nature

Sphere. A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object

in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a
round ball. The shape of the Earth is very close to that of
an oblate spheroid, a sphere flattened along the axis
from pole to pole such that there is a bulge around the
equator.

Hexagons. A hexagon is a Two-dimensional six-sided

closed polygon. 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.

Cones. A cone is a three-dimensional geometric shape

that tapers smoothly from a flat, usually circular base to
a point called the apex or vertex. Volcanoes 2.5 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.

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 Parallel lines. In mathematics, parallel lines stretch to
infinity, neither converging or diverging. The parallel
dunes in the Australian desert aren't perfect - the
physical world rarely is.

Interesting Figures in Nature

Fractals. Like other figures, fractals are also geometric figures. Fractals involve
dilation. They are objects with fractional dimension and most have self-similarity. Self-
similarity is when small parts of objects when magnified resemble the same figure. The
boundaries are of infinite length and are not differentiable anywhere (never smooth
enough to have a tangent at a point). Thus, fractals have basic components that are
similar to the whole. This means that you can find similar shapes even if you zoom the
figure. However, fractals involve a complex process because it goes through an infinite
number of iterations.

Fractals can also be observed in nature such as the trees, the flowers, clouds, ocean
waves, etc. Even the human body also has fractal structure. Fractals possess the following
characteristics: self-similarity, fractional dimension and formation by iteration.

Natural objects exhibit scaling symmetry, but only over a limited range of scales.
They also tend to be approximately self-similar, appearing more or less the same at
different scales of measurement. Sometimes this means that they are statistically self-similar;
that is to say, they have a distribution of elements that are similar under magnification.
Below are some manifestations of fractals in nature.

Ferns Clouds Bacterial Colony

Lightning Waterfalls Mountains

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 The world around us seems to make up several distinct patterns, evolving various
complex steps of formation. However, looking more deeply we see many similarities and
resemblances. The numerous models explained above have no experimental proof and
may not be correct, but they definitely show linkages between patterns formed under
highly contrasting natural conditions e.g. a zebra coat and sand dunes and also show that
the mechanisms between the formations of these patterns need not necessarily be
complex.

B. SYMMETRY

Symmetry is a type of invariance: a property that something does not change under
a set of transformations. It is a mapping of the object onto itself which preserves the
structure. Symmetry in everyday language refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful
proportion and balance. Although these two meanings of "symmetry" can sometimes be
told apart, they are related. Plainly, symmetry is when a figure has two sides that are mirror
images of one another. It would then be possible to draw a line through a picture of the
object and along either side the image would look exactly the same. This line would be
called a line of symmetry.

Two Kinds of Symmetry

One is bilateral symmetry in which an object has two sides that are
mirror images of each other. The human body would be an excellent
example of a living being that has bilateral symmetry.

The other kind of symmetry is radial symmetry. This is where there is a center
point and numerous lines of symmetry could be drawn. The most obvious
geometric example would be a circle.

C. PATTERNS

Though every living and non-living thing of the world may seem to follow a pattern
of its own, looking deeply into the geometry and mechanism of the pattern formation can
lead you to broadly classify them into merely two categories:
1. Self-organized patterns/ Inherent organization
2. Invoked organization

Self-Organized patterns

A self-organizing pattern follows a simple set of rules and they use only local
information to determine how a particular subunit evolves. They are represented by
successive patterns. This pattern can be represented as successive horizontal rows; the
'successor' pattern is just under its predecessor. When the basic rule just defined is applied
to that row (the active row) and then to subsequent rows, a complex pattern develops.

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 Thus, self-organization is a process in which patterns at the global level of a system emerge
solely from numerous interactions among the lower level components of the system.
Moreover, the rules specifying interactions among the system’s components are executed
using only local information, without reference to the global pattern. In other words, the
pattern is an emergent property of the system, rather than a property imposed on the
system by an external influence.

Therefore, if rules are to be useful for understanding the patterns in life, such as the
stripes on a zebra's coat, there must be a specific rule. The zebra's coat alternates in
contrasting areas of light and dark pigmentation. Hence the patterns of the zebra's coat
reflect the early interaction of chemicals as they diffused through the embryonic skin.

Invoked Organization

Not all patterns that occur in nature arise through self-organization. A weaver bird
uses its own body as a template as it builds the hemispherical egg chamber of the nest. A
spider when creating a web follows a genetically determined recipe in relation to its sticky
orb and the various radii and spirals it creates. A similar invoked organization is that of the
honeycomb made by bees. In these cases, the structures are built by an architect that
oversees and imposes order and pattern. There are no subunits that interact with one
another to generate a pattern. Each of the animals acts like a stonemason or laborer,
measuring, fitting, and moving pieces into place.

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 This is an example of a social insect architecture. The wasp nests, an example of
invoked organization in nature.

More than this biological system existing on the patterns created in nature, there is a
great mathematics embedded in it aside from the plain geometric figure. The geometry of
the patterns could also be linked to mathematical numbers directly or indirectly. The series
of numbers seem to have been forced on them. The Fibonacci numbers or sequence and
the Golden ratio are but the basic example of them.

Activity 2-1: (20 points)

Search or take pictures of revelations of Mathematics in nature, specifically:
5 pictures that exhibit Golden Ratio; and
5 pictures that exhibit Fibonacci Sequence.
Explain in not more than 5 sentences how each picture exhibits the said pattern. Cite
your references. Place your images with the explanation and your source/reference
in a docx file and attach this to the submission bin for this activity in our Google
classroom.

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