LESSON 1.

1: PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

Patterns include a repeated or recurring design. It is either natural or human made. Patterns are
everywhere and are encountered everyday - from the layout of the floor tiles, the design of fabrics/textiles,
the blocks played by kids, the arm and leg movements in an exercise, to the arrangement of books in a
library. Studying patterns helps people identify the relationships and logical connections of things that
would allow them to generalize or predict events

Number Patterns
Patters in numbers are sequences in a given set or series of numbers. The pattern usually establishes
a common relationship among all the numbers in the set. In Mathematics, a basic and common number
pattern is called a sequence.

Sequences in Mathematics
1. Arithmetic Sequence - is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two
consecutive numbers or expressions is the same.
Example 1.1.1 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 5, 10, 15, 20, 25

2. Geometric Sequence – is a sequence of numbers in which each term is formed by multiplying

the previous terms by a number called the common ratio.
Example 1.1.2 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 3, 9, 27, 81, 243

3. Fibonacci Sequence – this is a special sequence of numbers where each number in a term is
the sum of the two preceding numbers.
Fibonacci Sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, ….

Logic Patterns
Just like in number patterns, logic patterns also reveal a relationship among the pictures or images.
The ability in logical reasoning and the skill to observe patterns are considered to be the very essence of
Mathematics. Items in logical reasoning are commonly included in standardized tests that are usually
administered in career placement examinations.

Word Patterns
Patterns are also present in language in terms of morphological rules in plurals of nouns, verb
tenses, as well as in metrical rules of poetry. It focuses on the form and syntax of the word, phrase or
sentence.
a. knife – knives wife – wives life – lives
b. fry – fried cry – cried try – tried

Nature Patterns
These are regularities of form found in the natural world and can also be seen in the universe. Look
at the following examples of patterns and you might be able to observe some of these the next time you go
for a walk
Geometric Patterns in Nature and Around Us
Geometric patterns in nature are visible regularities that can be observed from the environment.
These patterns can be modelled mathematically and these includes natural patterns like symmetries,
tessellations, meanders, waves, fractals, stripes, cracks and trees. The early Greek philosophers such as
Plato and Pythagoras used patterns to understand the laws of nature.

Types of Patterns
Symmetry in everyday language refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion of balance. The
common kinds of symmetry are reflection/reflective symmetry and rotational symmetry
1. Reflection (bilateral) Symmetry – This is a symmetry in which the left and right sides of the
organism can be divided into approximately mirror image or reflection of each other along the
midline.
2. Radial Symmetry (or rotational symmetry) – is a symmetry around a fixed point which is
known as the center. Radial symmetry can be classified as either cyclic or dihedral.

3. Fractals – coined by Belgian mathematician, Benoit Mandelbrot, in 1980. Mandelbrot used

the word fractal to denote fraction.

4. Spirals – are patterns that center on a point and move in a circular path farther from the given
point. It was first described by Rene Descartes and was later on investigated by Jacob Bernoulli.
LESSON 1.2: THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE AND THE GOLDEN RATIO

Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where a number is found by adding up the two numbers
before it. Starting with 0 and 1, the sequence goes 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and so forth. Written as a
rule, the expression is 𝑿𝒏 = 𝑿𝒏−𝟏 + 𝑿𝒏−𝟐

The sequence was named after Leonardo

Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa or Leonardo
Pisano. It was first introduced in his Liber Abbaci (Book
of Calculation) in 1202.

“Here is the Fibonacci’s rabbit problem: At the

beginning of a month, you are given a pair of newborn
rabbits. After a month, the rabbits produced no offspring;
however, every month thereafter, the pair of rabbits
produces another pair of rabbits. The offspring reproduce
in exactly the same manner. If none of the rabbits dies,
how many pairs of rabbits will there be at the start of each
succeeding month?”

The solution of the given problem resulted to what we call now as Fibonacci sequence. It is the sequence
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377…and its terms the Fibonacci numbers.

Fibonacci Numbers in Nature

There are lots of flower petals that exhibit the Fibonacci number. Among these are the white calla
lily containing 1 petal, euphorbia with 2 petals, trillium with 3 petals, columbine with 5 petals, bloodroot
with 8 petals, black-eyed susan with 13 petals, shasta daisies with 21 petals, field daisies with 34 petals and
other types of daisies with 55 and 89 petals.
Fibonacci Sequence in Nature
Pine Cone - We can count 13 and 8 spirals in each direction, both Fibonacci numbers

The Fibonacci sequence can also be observed in the way tree branches are formed or split. A main
trunk grows until it has branches and soon creates two growth points.

The Golden Ratio (1:1.6)

The golden ratio (Φ) is the ratio between two numbers, a and b where a is greater than b, if it is also
the ratio between the sum and the larger of the two numbers as in the equation below.

The golden ratio was first called as the Divine Proportion in the early 1500s in Leonardo da Vinci’s
work which was explored by Luca Pacioli entitled “De Divina Proportione” in 1509. Phi is an irrational
mathematical constant.
The Golden Rectangle
A golden rectangle comprises of squares that is represented by the numbers in the Fibonacci
sequence.

The Golden Ratio in Nature

The Golden Ratio manifests itself in many places across the universe, including Earth’s nature and
even to our human body parts.

1. Flower petals. The number of flower petals is often one of the following numbers: 3, 5, 8, 13,
21, 34 or 55. For example, the lily has three petals, buttercups have five of them, the chicory
has 21 of them, the daisy has often 34 or 55 petals, etc.

2. Faces. Faces, both human and nonhuman, abound with examples of the Golden Ratio. The
mouth and nose are each positioned at golden sections of the distance between the eyes and the
bottom of the chin. Similar proportions can be seen from the side, and even the eye and ear
itself.

3. Body parts. The Golden Section is manifested in the structure of the human body. Your hand
creates a golden section in relation to your arm, as the ratio of your forearm to your hand is
also 1.618, the Divine Proportion.

a. The middle of the arch of the foot

b. The widest part of the foot
c. The base of the toe line and big toe
d. The top of the toe line and base of the “index” toe

4. Shells. Snail shells and nautilus shells follow the logarithmic spiral, as does the cochlea of the
inner ear. It can also be seen in the horns of certain goats, and the shape of certain spider’s
webs.
 5. Spiral Galaxies. Spiral galaxies are the most common galaxy shape.

5. Hurricanes. The powerful swirls of hurricane also match the Fibonacci sequence.

The Golden Ratio in Arts and Architecture

The golden ratio can be used to achieve beauty, balance and harmony in art, architecture and
design. It was used as a tool in art and design to achieve balance in the composition. The following are
some of the examples:

1. The exterior dimension of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece embodies the golden ratio.

2. Leonardo da Vinci used the golden ratio to define the fundamental portions in his works. He
incorporated the golden ratio most of his own paintings such as the Vitruvian Man, The Last
Supper, and Monalisa.

3. Michaelangelo di Lodovico Simon also used golden ratio in his painting, “The Creation of Adam”.
This painting can be seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He used the golden ratio showing
how God’s finger and Adam’s finger meet precisely at the golden ratio point of the weight and the
height of the area that contains them.
4. Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino or more popularly known as Raphael was also a painter and architect
during the Renaissance period. In his paintings, the golden triangle and pentagram are found in
“The School of Athens” and “Crucifixion.”

5. The Taj Mahal in India used the golden ratio in its construction and was completed in 1648. The
order and proportion of the arches of the Taj Mahal on the main structure keep reducing
proportionately following the golden ratio.

6. Notre Dame is a Gothic Cathedral in Paris, which was built in between 1163 and 1250. It appears
to have a golden ratio in a number of its key proportions of designs.
Lesson 1.3 IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS IN THE WORLD

We have seen how human knowledge has evolved throughout time. We have observed in previous
lessons how evident Mathematics is in the natural world, not only in patterns, but in how nature
followed logical and mathematical structures. Through Mathematics, people can exert control over the
occurrences of events in the world and enable societal advancement to take place. Mathematics is
indeed applicable in various applications fields. Some of these include forensic science, medicine,
engineering, information technology, cryptography, archaeology, social sciences, political science, and
other fields.

In forensic science, mathematics is applied specifically in collection, measurement, analysis, and

documentation of evidence. Forensic scientists use proportions in their analyses
Trigonometry is also useful in forensic science. It is used by a blood spatter analyst to study how
blood from a human injury splatter on a wall or other surface

In the medical field, Mathematics is applied in developing medicines to cure diseases. Probability
and statistics are used to validate the effectiveness of new drugs and estimate the survival rate of cancer
patients undergoing certain treatments. They also use mathematics when drawing up statistical graphs
of epidemics or success rates of treatments. Mathematics applies to x-rays and Computerized Axial
Tomography (CAT) scan.

In Fluid dynamics, calculus and numerical analysis are used by engineers in understanding
phenomena involving heat, electricity and magnetism, relativistic mechanics, gravity currents, quantum
mechanics, viscous motions and others.

In Computer Science, applications of different mathematical concepts such as Boolean algebra,

logic, relations, functions, basic set theory, counting techniques, graph theory, combinatorics, discrete
probability, recursion, number theory, computer-oriented numerical analysis and Operation Research
techniques are necessary in writing complicated software.
Discrete Mathematics and algorithms are considered as the lingua franca for computer scientists
and software developers.

Cryptography is a combination of mathematics and computer science and is affiliated closely with
information theory, computer security and engineering. It is used in applications present in
technologically advanced societies which includes the security of ATM cards, computer passwords and
other electronic or digital commerce.

In archaeology, archeologists used mathematical and statistical techniques to present data from
archaeological surveys. They also use patterns to try to understand past human behavior and to carbon-
date artifacts.

In Social Sciences, mathematical models in economics, sociology, psychology and linguistics are
necessary tools to understand societal dynamics. Social scientists use calculus, probability, game
theory, and network theory to understand social phenomena.

In Economics, mathematical concepts such as matrices, probability and statistics are used to
generate models that try to capture the present or future economic status of a country. Models such as
stochastic or deterministic, linear, or non-linear, static or dynamic, continuous or discrete are derived.
Constructing such models requires knowledge on algebraic, differential, and integral equations to
derive these models.

In music and arts, the rhythm that is found in all music notes is the result of permutations and
combinations. Music theorists apply set theory, abstract algebra, and number theory to understand a
musical structure.