GE6114

Math in the Modern World

Module 1- Nature of Mathematics
 NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

Objectives:
1. Recognize the patterns in nature and be able to identify and follow patterns
in Mathematics.
2. Apply the rules in determining the terms of sequences.
3. Enumerate terms of Fibonacci sequence.
 Mathematics is all around us. As we discover,
mathematics is a science of pattern and order. Its domain is
not molecules or cells, but numbers, chance, form,
algorithms, and change. As a science of abstract objects,
mathematics relies on logic rather than on observation as
its standard of truth, yet employs observation, simulation,
and even experimentation as means of discovering truth.
 Math is beautiful, elegant.
Consider the tidiness of proofs about concepts. How beautifully
science uses math to explain the world
Patterns in math – prime numbers 
There is something about prime numbers and the
nature of math that is endlessly interesting. Let’s look
as some discoveries to see why. Goldbach’s conjecture
Goldbach was a mathematician who claimed that
every even number could be demonstrated to be a
sum of two prime numbers.
Let’s try it: 2 = 1 + 1; 4 = 2 + 2; 6 = 3 + 3; 8 = 5 + 3;
10 = 5 + 5; 12 = 7 + 5; 14 = 7 + 7; 16 = 13 + 3
 WHAT IS SYMMETRY?
SYMMETRY – From the Greek words sun (meaning with) and metron (meaning
measure) later adopted by the Latin word symmetria (meaning “proportion
between parts”). It is the GEOMETRIC REGULARITY that is possessed by an
image/object.

Images from google search Credits to Earvin Borromeo

 MAIN TYPES OF SYMMETRIES
1.) REFLECTION SYMMETRY – Also known as line symmetry, happens when there
exists one line that divides a figure/object into two halves such that one half is
the exact mirror of the other

3 - FOLD REFLECTION 4 - FOLD REFLECTION 5 - FOLD REFLECTION

SYMMETRY SYMMETRY SYMMETRY
(3 LINES OF SYMMETRY) (4 LINES OF SYMMETRY) (5 LINES OF SYMMETRY)

Note: The number of sides of a figure does not necessarily

indicate how many lines of symmetry it has.

LINE OF SYMMETRY

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 2.) ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY – A shape/object has rotational
symmetry when it still looks the same after some rotation not exceeding 360 o
  ORDER OF ROTATION – is how many times the   ANGLE OF ROTATION – Is the minimum angle
image/object repeats its form when rotated not required for an image/object to repeat its form
exceeding

  ORDER OF ROTATION = 8   ORDER OF ROTATION = 4

  ORDER OF ROTATION = 3

ANGLE OF ROTATION ANGLE OF ROTATION ANGLE OF ROTATION

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3.) POINT SYMMETRY – When every part of an image/object has a matching part
with the same distance from a particular point of reference in the opposite
direction

Credits to Earvin Borromeo

 Fibonacci sequence 
WHO IS FIBONACCI? • Leonardo Bonacci was born around 1170 into the
Bonacci/Bonaccio family of Pisa

• Also known as “Leonardo of Pisa”, “Leonardo Pisano

Bigollo” and “Leonardo Fibonacci

• Studied under a Muslim schoolmaster in his younger years

where he learned the Hindu-Arabic system of counting
and computation

Born: 1170 • Published a book in 1202 entitled “Liber Abaci” (The book
Died: 1250 of Calculations/Abacus) Credits to Earvin Borromeo
Fibonacci shows up in nature 
Where?
• Rabbit births
• Honeybees and family trees
• Petals on flowers
• Seed heads
• Pine cones
• Leaf arrangements
 THE “PROBLEM OF THE RABBITS”
A person has two new born rabbits of
each gender. We are asked to
determine the number of pairs of
rabbits that can be bored from the
said pair (inclusive of the initial pair).
ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE PROBLEM

Credits to Earvin Borromeo

Credits to Earvin Borromeo
 THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

0,1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, . . .

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it.

Credits to Earvin Borromeo

 EXAMPLE: Term 9 is calculated as

F9 = F9–1 + F9–2 = F8 + F7
= 21 + 13
= 34
Credits to Earvin Borromeo
Credits to Earvin Borromeo
 THE
THEFIBONACCI
FIBONACCI SEQUENCE IN THE REAL WORLD
SEQUENCE IN
THE REAL
WORLD

Images from google search

Images from google search

 Math in art and nature 

The golden ratio (phi) = 1 + [(sqrt(5) – 1)] / 2]

Leonardo Da Vinci  Used this proportion in his

artistic work representing the body
It shows up in ancient architecture  Parthenon
 THE GOLDEN SPIRAL
When we make squares with those widths, we get a nice spiral.

Do you see how the squares

fit neatly together?

For example:
5 and 8 make 13;
8 and 13 make 21;
13 and 21 make 34;
and so on.

Images from google search Credits to Earvin Borromeo

Images from google search Credits to Earvin Borromeo
 THE GOLDEN RATIO
When we take any two successive Fibonacci Numbers, their
ratio is very close to the Golden Ratio "φ" which is
approximately 1.618034... In fact, the bigger the pair of Fibonacci Numbers, the
closer the approximation. Let us try a few:
φ=1.618034… Fn Fn+1 ϕ = Fn+1 / Fn
2 3 1.5
  𝐹 𝑛 +1 3 5 1.666666666…
1 𝝋= 1
𝐹𝑛 5 8 1.6
…. …….. ……
φ=1.618034… 144 233 1.618055556…
233 377 1.618025751…
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 The golden ratio can also be derived from the ratios of most of
our body parts
Images from google search Credits to Earvin Borromeo
 THE GOLDEN RATIO AND THE FIBONACCI
SEQUENCE
And even more surprising is that we can calculate any
Fibonacci Number using the Golden Ratio:

𝑛 𝑛
 
𝜑 −(1− 𝜑)
𝑭 𝒏=
√5
The answer comes out as a whole number, exactly
equal to the addition of the previous two terms.

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 EXAMPLE
Calculate for F6:

𝑛 𝑛
 
𝜑 −(1− 𝜑) 𝑛 𝑛  
(1.618034 …) −(1− 1.618034 …)
𝑭 𝒏= 𝑭𝟔 =
√5 √5
¿ 𝟖 . 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟑
 

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 PRACTICE EXAMPLE
Now try F12:

 
𝜑 𝑛 −(1− 𝜑)𝑛
𝑭 𝒏=
√5

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