The Nature

of
Mathematics
 MODULE 1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• To identify patterns in nature and

regularities in the world.

•To articulate importance of

mathematics in one’s life.

•To argue about the nature of

mathematics, what it is, how it is expressed, represented, and used.

•Express appreciation of mathematics

as a human endeavor.
 Slides

LESSON 1.1 LESSON 1.2 LESSON 1.3

MATHEMATICS OF MATHEMATICS IN MATHEMATICS OF

OUR WORLD OUR WORLD SEQUENCE

APPLICATION RETENTION

•1.1A  The meaning of mathematics •1.2A Wave patterns •1.3A  Sequences

•1.1B  Guide questions for discussion
•1.1C  What is mathematics in modern
world?
•1.2B Spots and stripes Presentations are Presentations
•1.3B  Fibonacci numbers are
•1.2C Patterns in a sunflower •1.3C  Fibonacci sequence
communication tools communication tools
•1.2D Decoding the patterns •1.3D  Fibonacci in nature

that can be used as that can be used as

•1.3E   Fibonacci video link
•1.1D  Do dice play god?

demonstrations. demonstrations.
Mathematics of 
 our world
Lesson 1.1A Mathematics of our World

Human mind and culture have developed a

formal system of thought for recognizing,
classifying, and exploiting patterns. We call it
mathematics.
Stewart, Nature’s Number by Stewart p.1
Lesson 1.1B Mathematics of our World

Guide Questions for Discussion:

1.What is mathematics?

2.Where is mathematics?

3.What is mathematics for?

4.What is mathematics all about?

5.How is mathematics done?

6.Who uses mathematics?

7.Why is mathematics important to know / learn?

Lesson 1.1C Mathematics of our World

Whatever the reasons, mathematics is a

useful way to think about nature. What does it want to tell us about the
patterns we observe? There are many answers. We want to understand how
they happen; to understand why they happen, which is different; to organize
the underlying patterns and regularities in the most satisfying way; to predict
how nature will behave; to control nature for our own ends; to make practical
use of what we have learned about our world. Mathematics helps us to do all
these things, and often, it is indispensable.

STEWART
LESSON 1.1D
MATHEMATICS
OF OUR WORLD

DO DICE PLAY GOD?

MATHEMATICS IN
OUR WORLD
 Waves

Dunes
Spots Stripes
Spirals
Symmetries
Reflection Symmetry
Rotations
Translation Symmetry
Symmetries in Nature

S.
Symmetries in Nature
MATHEMATICS OF
SEQUENCE
Fibonacci Sequence
Fibonacci Sequence