MATHEMATICS

IN THE MODERN
WORLD

MATH035- Prof. Arlene Rosal

PATTERNS & NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD
 Objectives
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 it is,
how it is expressed, represented, and used.
4) Express appreciation for mathematics as a human
endeavor.
What is Mathematics?

- the science of numbers and their operations,

interrelations, combinations, generalizations,
and abstractions and of space, configurations
and their structure, measurement,
transformations, and generalizations.
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Where is Mathematics?
What is Mathematics for?
What is Mathematics about?
What is Mathematics for?
How is Mathematics done?
Definition
Patterns – are regular, repeated, or
recurring forms or designs.
Ex. layout of floor tiles, design of
skycrapers, the way we tie our
shoelaces
TYPES OF PATTERN
 1.Symmetry in Patterns
Patterns indicate a sense of structure and
organization that it seems only humans are
capable of producing these intricate, creative,
and amazing formations. It is from this
perspective that some people see an
“intelligent design” in the way that nature
forms.
Human body
Line or
Bilateral Symmetry
• Each body half is a mirror image
of the other half
• This is also evident in most
animals
Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man showing
The proportions and symmetry of the human
body
Snowflakes and Honeycombs

Line or Bilateral Symmetry

 Rotational Symmetry

Spiderwort with three-fold Starfish with five-fold symmetry

symmetry
2.Trees/ Fractals
2.Trees/ Fractals
3. Spirals
4.Chaos, flow, meanders
5. Waves/ Dunes
6. Bubbles/ Foam
7. Tessellations
8. Cracks
9.Spots
10.Stripes
11.Pattern Formation
Pattern Formation
In the 1st row, what’s the next pattern?
Choose the answer in the 2nd row.
1)
Examples

2)
Examples
Examples

3)
Examples
What’s next?

1) 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36,__, __, …

2) 8, 5, 2, -1, -4, -7, __, __, …