QUITEVIS, JOVELYN R.

OCTOBER 20, 2021

ACT. 2 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

A Reaction Paper on Nature’s Numbers: The Unreal Reality of Mathematics

Nature's Numbers: The Unreal Reality of Mathematics (New York: Basic Books, 1995) by Ian
Stewart is a book that changes the way we see the world by allowing us to see it through the eyes
of a mathematician. The book begins with an introduction to natural patterns that humans may
see. In nature, numerical patterns, form patterns, movements (translation, rotation, reflection),
and shapes are so common that it's difficult not to notice them. The stripes on zebras and tigers,
the spots on leopards and hyenas, the movement of stars across the sky, the number of seeds in a
sunflower's head, the shape of a snowflake, and even the colored arcs of light that adorn the sky
in the form of rainbows all follow a pattern.

Ian Stewart further emphasizes that mathematics is not only about numbers, but also about
operations (also known as functions or transformations), logical links between facts, and
evidence. He gives an excellent example of how to discover a symptom. A section on the
"trinification of processes" as a basic mathematical operation is also included.

It's evident here what a general abstraction method this may be, and it's not only for arithmetic.
Painting, sculpting, and writing poems are all respectable and important ways to communicate
our views about the world and ourselves. Every one of us has a little of each of these impulses,
and each instinct has both positive and bad aspects. The scientist's instinct is to try to
comprehend it in order to figure out what's going on. The inherent impulse of an entrepreneur is
to exploit the natural world. The impulse of a mathematician is to structure that understanding
process by looking for generalizations that cut through the evident subdivisions. Nature
communication is beneficial to all of us because it reminds us of why we are here.

I enjoyed reading his book since it is very fascinating, enlightening, and educational in the way
he presented and provided clear instances of mathematics in nature, and he writes with clarity
and precision. We don't notice certain patterns, but after reading the book, I understood they do
exist and that we simply ignore them.
I've also discovered that patterns of form and motion reveal deep regularities in the world around
us, such as the six fold symmetry of snowflakes, which led Kepler to the conclusion that all
matter is made up of atoms; patterns of waves and dunes reveal laws of fluid flow; and tiger
stripes and hyena spots reveal biological growth processes. In some ways, it appears that science
and mathematics are linked.

How are domain specialists, such as physicists, chemists, and scientists, consulted on related
questions? Mathematicians focus on why, which offers up a lot of possibilities for individuals to
QUITEVIS, JOVELYN R. OCTOBER 20, 2021
ACT. 2 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
work on how. It was being used successfully in Physics, but mathematicians were concerned
about what it truly meant. They are more likely to inquire as to why rather than how. As a result,
there is a fundamental difference in how a mathematician thinks. A lot of physics progressed
without any great mathematical breakthroughs. Calculus was in a different place for 200 years.

I'm not a big fan of reading books that aren't illustrated. This work, however, is an exception.
When I read Chapter 5, I was blown away. I had no clue that the vibration of a single violin
string would set off a chain of events that would eventually lead to the invention of television. I
never considered the possibility that a simple vibration of a linear object could lead to the
creation of something completely distinct from that object.
The 1D wave equation of a violin string was cracked by a team of physicists and
mathematicians. Jean Le Rond d'Alembert, Leonhard Euler, and Daniel Bernoulli all contributed
to the development of the 1D wave solution. The 1D wave solution was made possible by Jean
Le Rond d'Alembert, Leonhard Euler, and Daniel Bernoulli.

This was expanded to include the vibrations of the drum's 2D surface. It finally manifested itself
in the fields of electricity and magnetism. Electromagnetic forces were invented by Michael
Faraday and later by James Clerk Maxwell, and they were a huge step forward in scientific
understanding. Distinct frequency of visible electromagnetic waves yields different hues.

However, linear object vibrations are universal, appearing in many forms all over the globe. It's
possible that the discovery of electromagnetic waves was inspired by a spider struggling in its
web. The point is that if you want to have an epic discovery, you must start with something
basic. Mathematics reveals nature's intricacies and allows us to generalize from basic instances to
the real world's complexities.

The creator provides a series of animations showing several mathematical ideas in this intriguing
video, beginning with a magnificent animation of the Fibonacci sequence. According to Ian
Stewart's book Nature by Numbers, the universe is organized in a deeply mathematical fashion.
The video successfully conveys how everything is constructed using mathematical concepts. It
demonstrates how even insects are formed up of these distinct mathematical formulas. However,
while mathematics is not the first subject that springs to me when I think of nature, many
researchers have attempted to describe nature in mathematical terms, with some success. And
after watching the film, I've come to the conclusion that It made me understand that when I dig
closely into nature, I find answers that help me notice the beauty hidden beneath those wonderful
sculptures in some way. It also transforms how I see the world, making me appreciate it more
now that I know it is made up of or centered on numbers. I adore how the world appears to be
full of mathematically connected objects. It's incredible that I've given you the opportunity to be
QUITEVIS, JOVELYN R. OCTOBER 20, 2021
ACT. 2 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
informed about such a minor topic. We should respect everything that surrounds us because it
became an eye-opener.

REFERENCES:
Books and Boots (2019). Nature’s Numbers by Ian Stewart (1995). Retrieved from
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2019/03/31/natures-numbers-ian-stewart/
Los Angeles Times (2020). OOK REVIEW / SCIENCE: Math and the Hunt for Patterns in
Nature: NATURE’S NUMBERS: The Unreal Reality of Mathematics by Ian Stewart. Retrieved
from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-15-ls-46039-story.html
J.E. Cremona (2017). Natures Number. Retrieved from
https://www.ams.org/notices/199711/comm-cremona.pdf
RKBOOKREVIEWS (2007) Nature’s Numbers: Book Summary. Retrieved from
https://rkbookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/natures-numbers-book-summary-2/
Campillanos, Denise. (2017). Nature's Number by Ian Stewart. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/Girlnamed_denise/natures-number-by-ian-stewart