Mathematics in the Modern World

Assignment 1
TOTAL POINTS: 50 points
Provide an answer to each question.
1. In your own words, what is Mathematics? What application of Mathematics are you most
interested in? (3-5 sentences only) (10 pts)
Ans.: Mathematics is the study of numbers, formulas, shapes, patterns, etc. It also
involves counting, calculation, measurement and such. Mathematics is the building block
of everything in our daily lives, which includes the gadgets, software, sports, arts, money,
engineering, and architecture. And of course, I am most interested in the application of
Mathematics in Civil Engineering career, that’s why I am pursuing it. ^_^

2. In your own words, what are patterns? Give 3 examples of patterns in real life. (Don’t
include the examples in the class like floor tile designs and the way we tie our shoelaces.)
(10pts)
Ans.:
Patterns are things like numbers, colors, size, shapes, arts/designs, and other
sequences that undergoes repetition in such a way that they are related to each
other within a specific rule.
Examples:
i. Pineapples
ii. Spider webs
iii. Hurricane shape

3. Create your own number patterns using the previous three terms to get the succeeding
term. State the rule of your pattern and list the first 10 terms (including the three initial
terms.) BE CREATIVE! (15 pts)
Example:
Rule: Get the three previous terms. Add the first two terms and then subtract the
third term. (Don’t use this rule anymore as your answer!)
Initial terms: 1, 1, 2
Next term: 1 + 1 – 2 = 0
Sequence: 1, 1, 2, 0, 3, -1, 4, -2, 5, -3
Ans.:
Rule: Get the three previous terms. From the previous three terms, subtract the
third term from the first term, then add the second term in order to get the
succeeding term.
Initial Term: −1 , 2, 4
Next Term: −1−4+ 2
Sequence: −1 , 2, 4 ,−3 , 9 ,−8 ,14 ,−13 , 19 ,−18 ,

4. Give an example of an arithmetic sequence (or geometric sequence). List the first 15
terms and give the common difference (or common ratio) of your pattern. (15 pts)
Ans.:
Geometric Sequence:
1 −1 1
, , ,−1 , 2 ,−4 , 8 ,−16 , 32 ,−64 ,128 ,−256 ,512 ,−1024 , 2048
8 4 2
Common Ratio: −2