Module-1-mathematics-in-the-modern-world (nature and importance of mathematics) PDF

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Lecture one describes the nature of mathematics, how mathematics can be perceived in our nature and the world, even in outer space....

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ISU MODULE Subject: GEC 3- Mathematics in the Modern World

1. Title of the Module Chapter 1- Mathematics in our World 2. Introduction Mathematics in the modern world deals with the nature of mathematics appreciation of its practical, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions and applications of mathematical tools in daily life. This module discusses the nature of mathematics as an exploration of patterns and as an application of inductive and deductive reasoning. By exploring topics in this subject students may go beyond the typical understanding of mathematics as merely a set of formulas but as a source of aesthetics in patterns of nature and a rich language im itself governed by logic and reasoning.

3. Learning Outcome After completing this module, the students must be able to: 1.

Identify patterns in nature and regularities in the world.

2.

Articulate the importance of mathematics in one’s life.

3.

Argue about the nature of mathematics, what is it, how it is expressed, represented and used.

4.

Express appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavor.

4. Learning Content TOPIC 1: Nature of Mathematics

WHAT IS MATHEMATICS? ●

Mathematics is the study of pattern and structure. Mathematics is fundamental to the physical and biological sciences, engineering and information technology, to economics and increasingly to the social sciences.

●

Mathematics is a useful way to think about nature and our world.

●

Mathematics is a tool to quantify, organize and control our world, predict phenomena and make life easier for us.

WHERE IS MATHEMATICS? ●

Many patterns and occurrences exists in nature, in our world, in our life. Mathematics helps make sense of these patterns and occurrences.

WHAT ROLE DOES MATHEMATICS PLAY IN OUR WORLD? ●

Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in our world.

●

Mathematics helps predict the behavior of nature and phenomena in the world.

●

Mathematics helps control nature and occurrences in the world for our own ends.

●

Mathematics has numerous applications in the world making it indispensable.

TOPIC 2: PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form found in the natural world and can also be seen in the universe. Nature patterns which are not just to be admired, they are vital clues to the rules that govern natural processes.

Check out examples of some of these patterns and you may be able to spot a few the next time you go for a walk.

1.

Patterns can be observed even in stars which move in circles across the sky each day.

2.

The weather season cycle each year. All snowflakes contains sixfold symmetry which no two are exactly the same.

3.

Patterns can be seen in fish patterns like spotted trunkfish, spotted puffer, blue spotted stingray, spotted moral eel, coral grouper, redlion fish, yellow boxfish and angel fish. These animals and fish stripes and spots attest to mathematical regularities in biological growth and form.

4.

Zebras, tigers, cats and snakes are covered in patterns of stripes; leopards and hyenas are covered in pattern of spots and giraffes are covered in pattern of blotches.

5.

Natural patterns like the intricate waves across the oceans; sand dunes on deserts; formation of typhoon; water drop with ripple and others. These serves as clues to the rules that govern the flow of water, sand and air.

6. mackerel, the v-formation of geese in the sky and the tornado formation of starlings.

Other patterns in nature can also be seen in the ball of

PATTERNS AND REGULARITIES Mathematics is all around us. As we discover more about our environment, we can mathematically describe nature. The beauty of a flower, the majestic tree, even the rock formation exhibits nature’s sense of symmetry. Have you ever thought about how nature likes to arrange itself in patterns in order to act efficiently? Nothing in nature happens without a reason, all of these patterns have an important reason to exist and they also happen to be beautiful to watch.

TYPES OF PATTERNS 1.

SYMMETRY – a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion of balance or an object is invariant to any various transformations (reflection, rotation or scaling.)

a.) Bilateral Symmetry: a symmetry in which the left and right sides of the organism can be divided into approximately mirror image of each other along the midline. Symmetry exists in living things such as in insects, animals, plants, flowers and others. Animals have mainly bilateral or vertical symmetry, even leaves of plants and some flowers such as orchids.

b.)

Radial Symmetry ( or rotational symmetry ): a symmetry around a fixed pointknown as the center and it can be classified as either

cyclic or dihedral . Plants often have radial or rotational symmetry, as to flowers and some group of animals. A five-fold symmetry is found in the echinoderms, the group in which includes starfish (dihedral-D5 symmetry), sea urchins and sea lilies. Radial symmetry suits organism like sea anemones whose adults do not move and jellyfish(dihedral-D4 symmetry). Radial symmetry is also evident in different kinds of flowers.

2.

FRACTALS – a curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole. A fractal is a never-ending pattern found in nature. The exact same shape is replicated in a process called “self similarity.” The pattern repeats itself over and over again at different scales. For example, a tree grows by repetitive branching. This same kind of branching can be seen in lightning bolts and the veins in your body. Examine a single fern or an aerial view of an entire river system and you’ll see fractal patterns.

3.

SPIRALS - A logarithmic spiral or growth spiral is a self-similar spiral curve which often appears in nature. It was first describe by Rene Descartes and was later investigated by Jacob Bernoulli. A spiral is a curved pattern that focuses on a center point and a series of circular shapes that revolve around it. Examples of spirals are pine cones, pineapples, hurricanes. The reason for why plants use a spiral form is because they are constantly trying to grow but stay secure.

TOPIC 3: FIBONACCI SEQUENCE The 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 X n = X n−1 + X n−2

Named after Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa or Leonardo Pisano, Fibonacci numbers were first introduced in his Liber Abbaci (Book of Calculation) in 1202. The son of a Pisan merchant, Fibonacci traveled widely and traded extensively. Mathematics was incredibly important to those in the trading industry, and his passion for numbers was cultivated in his youth.

THE HABBIT RABBIT

One of the book’s exercises which is written like this “A man put a pair of rabbits in a place surrounded on all sides by a wall. How many pairs of rabbits are produced from that pair in a year, if it supposed that every month each pair produces a new pair, which from the second month onwards becomes productive?” This is best understood in this diagram:

GROWTH OF RABBIT COLONY MONTHS

ADULT PAIRS

YOUNG PAIRS

TOTAL

1

1

1

2

2

2

1

3

3

3

2

5

4

5

3

8

5

8

5

13

6

13

8

21

7

21

13

34

8

34

21

55

9

55

34

89

10

89

55

144

11

144

89

233

12

233

144

377

The sequence encountered in the rabbit problem 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, …. is called the Fibonacci sequence and its terms the Fibonacci numbers. GOLDEN RECTANGLE Leonardo of Pisa also known as Fibonacci discovered a sequence of numbers that created an interesting numbers that created an interesting pattern the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34… each number is obtained by adding the last two numbers of the sequence forms what is known as golden rectangle a perfect rectangle. A golden rectangle can be broken down into squares the size of the next Fibonacci number down and below. If we were to take a golden rectangle, break it down to smaller squares based from Fibonacci sequence and divide each with an arc, the pattern begin to take shapes, we begin with Fibonacci spiral in which we can see in nature.

FIBONACCI NUMBERS IN NATURE Flower petals exhibit the Fibonacci number, white calla lily contains 1 petal, euphorbia contains 2 petals, trillium contains 3 petals, columbine contains 5 petals, bloodroot contains 8 petals, black-eyed susan contains 13 petals, shasta daisies 21 petals, field daisies contains 34 petals and other types of daisies contain 55 and 89 petals.

FIBONACCI SEQUENCE IN NATURE The sunflower seed conveys the Fibonacci sequence. The pattern of two spirals goes in opposing directions (clockwise and counter-clockwise ). The number of clockwise spirals and counter clockwise spirals are consecutive Fibonacci numbers and usually contains 34 and 55 seeds.

The Fibonacci sequence can also be seen in the way tree branches form or split. A main trunk will grow until it produces a branch, which creates two growth points. Then, one of the new stems branches into two, while the other one lies dormant. This pattern of branching is repeated for each of the new stems. A good example is the sneezewort. Root systems and even algae exhibit this pattern.

GOLDEN RATIO Fibonacci discovery of Fibonacci sequence happened to approach the ratio asymptotically. He found the interesting and mysterious properties of the Fibonacci sequence that the series has a deep relationship with the golden ratio. 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. This contains the drawings of the five platonic solids and it was probably da Vinci who first called it “section aurea” which is Latin for Golden Secion. In mathematics, two quantities are in the Golden ratio if their ratio is the same of their sum to the larger of the two quantities. The Golden Ratio is the relationship between numbers on the Fibonacci sequence where plotting the relationships on scales results in a spiral shape. In simple terms, golden ratio is expressed as an equation, where a is larger than b,(a+b) divided by a is equal to a divided by b, which is equal to 1.618033987…and represented by φ (phi).

φ = a+b a =

a b

= 1 .618033987. . . .

b

a

a/b

2

3

1.5

3

5

1.666666666…

5

8

1.6

8

13

1.625

13

21

1.615384615...

21

34

1.61905

34

55

1.61765

.

.

.

.

.

.

144

233

1.618055556...

233

377

1.618025751...

GOLDEN TRIANGLE Golden ratio can be deduced in an isosceles triangle. If we take the isosceles triangle that has the two base angles of 72 degrees and we bisect one of the base angles, we should see that we get another golden triangle that is similar to the golden rectangle. If we apply the same manner as the golden rectangle, we should get a set of whirling triangles. With these whirling triangles, we are able to draw a logarithmic spiral that will converge at the intersection of the two lines. The spiral converges at the intersection of the two lines and this ratio of the lengths of these two lines is in the Golden Ratio.

GOLDEN RATIO IN NATURE It is often said that math contains the answers to most of universe’s questions. Math manifests itself everywhere. One such example is the Golden Ratio. This famous Fibonacci sequence has fascinated mathematicians, scientist and artists for many hundreds of years. The Golden Ratio manifests itself in many places across the universe, including right here on Earth, it is part of Earth’s nature and it is part of us.

1. Flower petals number of petals in a flower 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 been 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. The human body is based on Phi and the number 5.The number 5 appendages to the torso, in the arms, leg and head. 5 appendages on each of these, in the fingers and toes and 5 openings on the face. Animal bodies exhibit similar tendencies. 4. Seed heads Typically, seeds are produced at the center, and then migrate towards the outside to fill all the space. Sunflowers provide a great example of these spiraling patterns. 5. Fruits, Vegetables and Trees Spiraling patterns can be found on pineapples and cauliflower. Fibonacci numbers are seen in the branching of trees or the number of leaves on a floral stem; numbers like 4 are not. 3’s and 5’s, however, are abundant in nature. 6. 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. 7. Spiral Galaxies

Spiral galaxies are the most common galaxy shape. The Milky Way has several spiral arms, each of them a logarithmic spiral of about 12 degrees. 8. Hurricanes It’s amazing how closely the powerful swirls of hurricane match the Fibonacci sequence.

GOLDEN RATIO IN ARTS The golden ratio can be used to achieve beauty, balance and harmony in art, architecture and design. It can be used as a tool in art and design to achieve balance in the composition. Check out some examples of golden ratio in arts. 1.

2.

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

In “Timaeus” Plato describes five possible regular solids that relate to the golden ratio which is now known as Platonic Solids. He also considers the golden ratio to be the most bringing of all mathematical relationships.

3.

Euclid was the first to give definition of the golden ratio as “a dividing line in the extreme and mean ratio” in his book the “Elements”. He proved the link of the numbers to the construction of the pentagram, which is now known as golden ratio. Each intersections to the other edges of a pentagram is a golden ratio. Also the ratio of the length of the shorter segment to the segment bounded by the two intersecting lines is a golden ratio.

4.

Leonardo da Vinci was into many interests such as invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, botany, writing, history and cartography. He used the golden ratio to define the fundamental portions in his works. He incorporated the golden ratio in his own paintings such as the Vitruvian Man, The Last Supper, Monalisa and St. Jerome in the Wilderness.

5.

Michaelangelo di Lodovico Simon was considered the greatest living artists of his time. He used golden ratio in his painting “The Creation of Adam” which can be seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. His painting 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.

6.

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino or more popularly known as Raphael was also a painter and architect from the Rennaisance. In his painting “The School of Athens,”, the division between the figures in the painting and their proportions are distributed using the golden ration. The golden triangle and pentagram can also be found in Raphael’s painting “Crucifixion”.

7.

The golden ratio can also be found in the works of other renowned painters such as a.)

Sandro Botticelli (Birth of Venus);

b.)

George-Pierre Surat (“Bathers at Assinieres”, “Bridge of Courbevoie” and “A Sunday on La Grande Jette”), and

c.)

Salvador Dali (“The Sacrament of the Last Supper”).

GOLDEN RATIO IN ARCHITECTURE Some of the architectural structures that exhibit the application of the Golden ratio are the following: 1.

The Great Pyramid of Giza built 4700 BC in Ahmes Papyrus of Egypt is with proportion according to a “Golden Ratio”. The length of each side of the base is 756 feet with a height of 481 feet. The ratio of the base to the height is roughly 1.5717, which is close to the Golden ratio.

2.

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.

3.

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.

4.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres in Paris, France also exhibits the Golden ratio.

5.

In the United Nation Building, the window configuration reveal golden proportion.

6.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, erected in 1889 is an iron lattice. The base is broader while it narrows down the top, perfectly following the golden ratio.

7.

The CN Tower in Toronto, the tallest tower and freestanding structure in the world, contains the golden ratio in its design. The ratio of observation deck at 342 meters to the total height of 553.33 is 0.618 or phi, the reciprocal of phi.

TOPIC 4: Mathematics Helps Predict the Behavior of Nature and Phenomena in the World BEHAVIOR OF NATURE Behavior of nature can be observed around us. Natural regularities of nature: Symmetry

Fractals

Trees

Meanders

Foams

Tessellations Cracks

Stripes

Spirals Waves

Spots

Golden Ratio can be found in the beauty of

3.

Spider webs illustrate a beautiful pattern. The spider creates a structure by performing innate steps.

nature, the growth patterns of many plants, insects, and the universe.

1.

Honeycombs of the bees show specific regular repeating hexagons. It uses the least amount of wax to store the ho...