GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Module: Mathematics in Modern World

*MATHEMATICS AS PREDICTOR OF BEHAVIOR OF NATURE AND PHENOMINA IN THE WORLD

It is sometimes said that the history repeats itself, as much we can use mathematical models using
existing data to generate analyses and interpretations, we can also use them to make predictions.
Applying the concept of probability:” Experts can calculate the chance of an event occurring. The
weather is prime example. Based on historical patterns, meteorologist can make forecast to help us
prepare to our day to day activities. They can also warn us of weather disturbance that can affect our
activities for a week or months. Astronomers use also patterns to predict the occurrence of meteor
shower or eclipses. In 2017, announcements were made about heavenly phenomena such as the
draconic meteor shower and “the great American eclipse,’’ they were able to tell when this
phenomenon would occur and where would be the best place to view them.

OBJECTIVES:
As the end of the module the student will be able to:
a. Know the importance of mathematics in predicting phenomena
b. Articulate the importance of mathematics in one’s life
c. Express appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavor
Pre-activity:
1. What are phenomena?
2. Is phenomena affect our daily live? And why mathematics a big help?
3. Why mathematics a big help to our day to day activities?
4. How math help us understand the world?

1. CALAMITIES
Predicting the size, location, and timing of natural hazard is virtually impossible, but because of
the help of mathematics we are able to forecast calamities such as hurricane, floods,
earthquake, volcanic eruption, wild fires, and landslides etc. Using mathematical tools, we
create models which correspond to what we can measure and observe in the world of reality.
 Example of Calamities:

2. WEATHER FORECAST
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of the
atmosphere for given a location and time. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather
informally for millennia and formally since 19 th century.

Example of weather forecast; Source: Data Foreca

Mathematicians play important role in this process, working with a set of equations that
describe the atmosphere, taking into account temperature, pressure and humidity. Global
Circulation Models (GCMs) describe the interaction between oceans and atmosphere to look up
what the average conditions would be in decades to come.

Meteorologist at NOAAs national weather service have always monitored the condition of the
atmosphere that impact the weather, but overtime the equipment they used has changed. As
technology advance, our scientist began to use more efficient equipment to collect and use
 additional data. These technological advances enable meteorologist to make better predictions
faster than ever before.

TOOLS USE BY METEROLOGIST TO FORECAST WEATHER

1. Doppler Radar- is the meteorologist’s window into
observing severe storms. With 159 radar towers across the
United States, NOAA’s National Weather Service has
comprehensive coverage of the continental U.S. and partial
coverage of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam. Doppler
radar detects all types of precipitation, the rotation of
thunderstorm clouds, airborne tornado debris, and wind
strength and direction.
2. Satellite Data- weather satellite monitor earth from space,
collecting observational data our scientist analyzes. NOAA
operates three types of weather satellites. Polar orbiting
satellites orbit the earth close to the surface, taking six or
seven detailed image a day. Geostationary satellites stay
over the same location on earth high above the surface
taking image of the entire earth ask frequently as every
thirty seconds. Deep space satellites face the sun to monitor
powerful solar storms and space weather. NOAA also uses
data from satellites operated by the other agencies and
countries.
3. Radiosondes- are our primary source of upper-air data. At
least twice per day, radiosondes are tied to weather
balloons and are launched in 92 locations across the United
States. In its two hour trip, the radiosondes floats to the
upper stratosphere where it collects and send back data
every second about air pressure, temperature, relative
humidity, wind speed and wind direction. During severe
weather, we usually launch weather balloons and more
frequently to collect additional data about the storm
environment.
4. Automated Surface-observing System (ASOS) – constantly
monitor weather conditions in the earth’s surface. More
than 900 stations across the U.S. report data about sky
condition, surface visibility, precipitation, temperature and
wind up to 12 times an hour. Nearly 10 thousand volunteers
NWS Cooperative Observers collect and provide as
additional temperature, snowfall and rainfall data. The
observational data our ASOS and volunteers collect our
essential for improving forecast and warnings.
5. NOAAs Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputer
Sytem (WCOSS)- is the backbone of the modern forecasting
 with 5.78 petaflop computinf capacity it can process
quadrillions of calculation per seconds. Our supercomputers
are almost six million times more powerful than your
average desktop computer. Observational data colected by
Dapler radar, rodiosendes, weather satellites, buoys and
otjher instruments are fed into computerized NWS
numerical forecast models. The models use equations along
with new and past weather data, to provide forecast
guidance to our metoerologist.
6. AWIPS (NOOAs Advanced Weather Information Processing
System)- is a computer processing system that combines
data form all the previous tools into a graphical interface
that our forecasters use to analyzed data and prepare and
issue forecast, watches, warnings. This system uses NOAA
supercomputers to process data from Doppler radar,
radiosondes, weather satellites, ASOS, and other source
using models and forecast guidance product. After
meteorologist prepares the forecast, AWIP generates
weather graphic and hazardous weather watches and
warnings. All these helps our meteorologists create more
accurate forecast and faster than ever before.

*MATHEMATICS AS CONTROLLER OF NATURE AND OCCURRENCES IN THE WORLD OF OWN

ENDS

MATHEMATICS
HELPS CONTROL
NATURE AND
OCCURENCES IN
THE WORLD FOR
OUR OWN ENDS.
Mathematics is a mother of
science that deals in
numbers, scales and the
likes. Many people find
that this subject
MATHEMATICS
HELPS CONTROL
NATURE AND
OCCURENCES IN
 THE WORLD FOR
OUR OWN ENDS.
Mathematics is a mother of
science that deals in
numbers, scales and the
likes. Many people find
that this subject
Mathematics helps us to become interconnected, also with the nature that we and
other living and non- living things are on it. It can also help us to organize things to find a better one
that is compatible with one another, to help predict and find answers that make our lives
better. Mathematics can also help us to think rationally and deal with various things
systemati cally and smoothly, and mathemati cs can help us to control nature and occurrences in
the world for our own ends.
Mathematics can help us control nature and occurrences in the world for our own good through
mathematical modelling. By mathematical modelling we see the inputs to the events and their most
likely outcomes. Math could not even predict these disasters, let alone control them or reduce the
damage. Knowing these inputs and seeing their consequences and establishing their relationship
defined quantitatively, we can prepare for untoward consequences, or better yet, maybe we can stop
them from happening. Mathematics is the basic of all modern science and technology, which help in
almost every second of your life:

Examples: From a house that is not bound to be destroy in the next storm.

To a vehicle that helps you go places

To medicines and equipment that keep you alive and healthy.
To the means of communicating with almost anybody in the world, so on.

It is almost impossible to control nature, but mathematics can help understand why nature is such a
powerful force, and how things develop and form there is the Fibonacci sequence that shows how things
increase in the number in nature, such as the number petals on a flower or the coils on a shell. The
understanding of these can help us make small changes in the specific organisms, but nature cannot be
controlled. Using mathematical tools, we create models which correspond to what we can measure and
observe in the world of reality. Models that work really well, that predict behavior. In the counterpart to
the model which has not yet been observed, these are taken as "laws of nature". Occasionally, the
mathematics of laws describing phenomena not considered related reveal surprising unanticipated
relationship. Mathematics provides the framework within which our observations of the physical world
can be encoded. It goes beyond being merely descriptive when it exposes relationship that integrate
disparate subject. The body of knowledge and practice known as mathematics is derived from the
contributions of thinkers throughout the ages and across the globe. It gives us way to understand
patterns, to quantify relationship, and to predict the future. Math helps us understand the world- and
we use the world to understand Math. Mathematics can be used to explain how something recurs in
nature. Mathematics is used to explain why the Sun set, where it went, and why it returned because it
was easier to count these events in numbers than to put them into words. Similarly, formulas became a
way of using numbers to show how things in nature happen together or oppose one another.
Mathematics is helpful especially when seeking to explain the limitless feeling one gets when
contemplating the natural world that exist outside us. The logic of any idea that can be explained in
words can be in reinforced mathematically to reach and persuade a larger audience about its
concurrency with natural phenomena, its economic applicability and its business potential. It can simply
provide help such as giving us a way to calculate or compute distances without doing it manually and
making it easier therefore we can continue to do other things to like for example were building a
reforestation, also the climate problems, math we then can warn residents in a specific place when to
evacuate or not. These two are just basic examples but look at what BIG help this is to us.

APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICS AS INDISPENSABLE

MATHEMATICS
HELPS CONTROL
NATURE AND
OCCURENCES IN
THE WORLD FOR
OUR OWN ENDS.
Mathematics is a mother of
science that deals in
numbers, scales and the
likes. Many people find
that this subject
MATHEMATICS
HELPS CONTROL
NATURE AND
OCCURENCES IN
 THE WORLD FOR
OUR OWN ENDS.
Mathematics is a mother of
science that deals in
numbers, scales and the
likes. Many people find
that this subject
It was highlighted how mathematics plays a huge role in the underpinnings of our world. We
seen it in living creatures and natural phenomena. We have also looked at examples of how
mathematical concepts could be applied. Whatever you are on your way to becoming a doctor, an
engineer, an entrepreneur, or a chef, a knowledge of mathematics will be helpful. At the most basic
level, logical reasoning and critical thinking are crucial skills that are needed in any endeavor. As such,
the study of mathematics should be embraces as it paves the way, bring us closer to understand the
natural world.

Post Activity:
Write an essay about “Why Mathematics is Important?”.