MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

➤A science of measures
What is Mathematics? - It is an activity that involves interaction with a
- Mathêma "that which is learnt" derived from "manthano", concrete system with the aim of representing
and modern Greek "mathaino" which means "to learn" aspects of that system in abstract terms of
- "The science of structure, order, and relations that has “concrete” implies “real”.
evolved from elemental practices of counting, measuring, ➤Intellectual game
and describing the shapes and objects". (Encyclopedia - Mathematics requires visual imagery. Games and
characteristics Britannica) mathematics both require a strong dose of
patience, restraint, and concentration.
➤A system of logical procedure
- Problem solving is a skill which can enhance our
logical reasoning.
➤An intuitive method
- Mathematics also require the use of intuition, the
ability to see what is reasonable or not and the
ability to put all these together.

PATTERNS IN NATURE
➤Classification Patterns of Visuals.
- generates a series of mental relations through Visual patterns are often unpredictable, never
which objects are grouped according to quite repeatable, and often contain fractals. These patterns
similarities and differences depending specific are can be seen from the seeds and pinecones to the
criteria on such as shape, color, size, etc. branches and leaves. They are also visible in self-similar
replication of trees, ferns, and plants throughout nature.
➤Logical Sequence
- ideas in mathematics need to flow in an order
Patterns of Flow.
makes sense. It that means that each step can be The flow of liquids provides an inexhaustible
derived logically from the preceding steps. supply of nature's patterns. Patterns of flow are usually
found in the water, stone, and even in the growth of trees.
➤Structure There is also a flow pattern present in meandering rivers
- the structure on a particular mathematical set will with the repetition of undulating lines.
allow mathematicians to study the set further and Patterns of Movement.
find its relationship with other objects. In the human walk, the feet strike the ground in a
➤Precision and accuracy regular rhythm: the left-right-left-right-left rhythm. When a
 Accuracy horse, a four-legged creature walks, there is more of a
o Is how close a measured value is to the complex but equally rhythmic pattern. This prevalence of
actual (true) value. It is the degree to pattern in locomotion extends to the scuttling of insects, the
which a given quantity is correct and flights of birds, the pulsations of jellyfish, and also the
free from error. wave-like movements of fish, worms, and snakes.
 Precision
o Is how close the measured valued Patterns of Texture.
values are to each other. A texture is a quality of a certain object that we
➤Symbolism sense through touch. It exists as a literal surface that we can
- This language is uniquely constructed in such a feel, see, and imagine. Textures are of many kinds. It can
way that all mathematicians understand symbolic be bristly, and rough, but it can also be smooth, cold, and
notations and mathematical formulas. hard. Geometric Patterns.
➤Applicability A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern which
- The applicability of mathematics can lie consists of a series of shapes that are typically repeated.
anywhere on a spectrum simple(trivial) to the These are regularities in the natural world that are repeated
utterly complex (mysterious). in a predictable manner. Geometrical patterns are usually
visible on cacti and succulents.
Patterns Found in Nature
Common patterns appear in nature, just like what
we see when we look closely at plants, flowers, animals,
and even at our bodies. These common patterns are all
incorporated in many natural things.
Waves and Dunes
A wave is any form of disturbance that carries
energy as it moves. Waves are of different kinds:
mechanical waves which propagate through a medium ----
air or water, making it oscillate as waves pass by. Wind
waves, on the other hand, are surface waves that create the
chaotic patterns of the sea. Similarly, water waves are
created by energy passing through water causing it to move organism's mirror-image symmetry along its central line.
in a circular motion. Likewise, ripple patterns and dunes Butterflies, starfish, and even cats exhibit this symmetry.
are formed by sand wind as they pass over the sand. Fractal Symmetry
Spots and Stripes This is a more complex type of symmetry found
We can see patterns like spots on the skin of a in nature. It is distinguished by self-similarity at various
giraffe. On the other hand, stripes are visible on the skin of scales, which means that the same pattern repeats itself at
a zebra. Patterns like spots and stripes that are commonly lower and lower magnification levels, in simple terms they
present in different organisms are results of a reaction- look similar at both large and small scales. Some examples
diffusion system (Turing, 1952). The size and the shape of of this are snowflakes and ferns.
the pattern depend on how fast the chemicals diffuse and Human Body
how strongly they interact. The human body is one of the pieces of evidence
The spiral patterns exist on the scale of the that there is symmetry in nature. Our body exhibits bilateral
cosmos to the minuscule forms of microscopic animals on symmetry. It can be divided into two identical halves.
earth. The Milky Way that contains our Solar System is a Animal Movement
barred spiral galaxy with a band of bright stars emerging The symmetry of motion is present in animal
from the center running across the middle of it. Spiral movements. When animals move, we can see that their
patterns are also common and noticeable among plants and movements also exhibit symmetry.
some animals. Spirals appear in many plants such as Sunflower
pinecones, pineapples, and sunflowers. On the other hand, One of the most interesting things about a
animals like ram and kudu also have spiral patterns on their sunflower is that it contains both radial and bilateral
horns. symmetry. What appears to be "petals" in the outer ring are
Symmetries actually small flowers also known as ray florets. These
In mathematics, if a figure can be folded or small flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. On the other
divided into two with two halves which are the same, such hand, the dark inner ring of the sunflower is a cluster of
figure is called a symmetric figure. Symmetry has a vital radially symmetrical disk florets.
role in pattern formation. It is used to classify and organize Snowflakes
information about patterns by classifying the motion or Snowflakes have six-fold radial symmetry. The
deformation of both pattern structures and processes. There ice crystals that make-up the snowflakes symmetrical or
are many kinds of symmetry, and the most important ones patterned. are The intricate shape of a single arm of a
are reflections, rotations, and translations. These kinds of snowflake is very much similar to the other arms. This only
symmetries are less formally called flips, turns, and slides. proves that symmetry is present in a snowflake.
Reflection symmetry Starfish
sometimes called line symmetry or mirror Starfish have a radial fivefold symmetry. Each
symmetry, captures symmetries when the left half of a arm portion of the starfish is identical to each of the other
pattern is the same as the right half. regions.
DaVinci – Vitruvian Man
Mathematics Applications
Rotations - Medicine and health
also known as rotational symmetry, captures - Mathematics in forensic
symmetries when it still looks the same after some rotation - Mathematics in information technology
(of less than one full turn). The degree of rotational - Mathematics in archeology
symmetry of an object is recognized by the number of - Mathematics in social sciences
distinct orientations in which it looks the same for each - Mathematics in political sciences
rotation. - Mathematics in music and arts
Translations
This is another type of symmetry. Translational Some Famous Mathematicians of Modern Time
symmetry exists in patterns that we see in nature and in
man-made objects. Translations acquire symmetries when
units are repeated and turn out having identical figures, like
Albert Einstein
the bees' honeycomb with hexagonal tiles.
Tessellation
The regular arrangement of shapes that fit
together without gaps or overlaps is known as tessellation.
The pineapple and honeycomb are two examples of
tessellation symmetry found in nature. The pineapple's
spiky skin, hexagonal scales fit together perfectly without
any gaps or overlaps, creating a beautiful, symmetric
pattern that can be observed on its surface. Similarly, the
honeycomb is made up of hexagonal cells that fit together
perfectly to form a hive, providing a natural habitat for
bees. Rene Descartes
Bilateral Symmetry
This is the most common type of symmetry
found in nature, namely in animals. It refers to an
 Marie Curie

Johannes Kepler

Euclid

Leonardo Pisano