GE 4 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

TOPIC 1: NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

Mathematics is about recognizing, classifying and exploiting patterns. It is innate for us to recognize such
patterns. Recognizing patterns like the interval of day and night, the changing of seasons, the rising and falling of
tides helped humans to survive.

But first, what are patterns? Patterns are regular, repeated, or recurring forms or designs. Patterns could
be seen in the arrangement of bricks, the design of buildings, the way people weave fabric and etc. Patterns could
also be seen in nature – the way spiders make their webs, the honeycomb, to the way how leaves are arranged.
Studying patterns enables you to identify relationships and connections so that you can make generalizations or
conclusions.

Look at the pattern below:

Can you predict what is next in the sequence? It is clearly seen that the pattern has two objects – an arrow
pointing upward and an arrow pointing downward. The arrows are arranged alternately, starting with the arrow
pointing upward followed by the arrow pointing downward. Thus, the object that should

follow is

Symmetry indicates that you can draw an imaginary line across an object and the resulting parts are mirror
images of each other. For example:

The figure above is symmetrical about the axis drawn by the dashed line. Take note that the left and right
portions of the figure are the same. This type of symmetry is known as line or bilateral symmetry.

The type of symmetry may vary depending on the number of symmetrical sides or faces.

This lily has three-fold symmetry The starfish has five-fold A snowflake has six-fold symmetry
symmetry
 THE ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

Sequence - is an ordered list of numbers, called terms that may have a repeated values. The arrangement of the
terms in a sequence follows a definite rule or pattern. The sum of the terms of a sequence is called a series.

If the difference between two consecutive terms is constant the sequence is called an Arithmetic Sequence or
Arithmetic Progression. The difference between these terms is called the common difference. For example this
sequence: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,… is an Arithmetic Sequence with a common difference of 2 ( 3 – 1 = 2 ; 5 – 3 = 2; 7 – 5 = 2;
9 – 7 = 2).

EXAMPLE: Identify the common difference (d).

1) 3, 6, 9, 12, 14,…

Solution:
Find the difference between the terms
6–3=3 9–6=3 12 – 9 = 3 14 – 12 = 2
Each term of the sequence differs from its preceding term by 3, thus the common difference (d) is 3.

5 7
2) 2, 2 , 3, 2 , …

Solution:

Find the difference between the terms

5 1 5 1 7 1
−2= 3− = −3=
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1
Each term of the sequence differs from its preceding term by , thus the common difference (d) is .
2 2

General Term of an Arithmetic Sequence – The nth term (the general term) of an arithmetic sequence with first
term 𝑎1 and common difference d is

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
EXAMPLE:

1) Find 𝑎20 , the 20th term, in the sequence: -4, -1, 2, 5, …

Solution:

Find the common difference: 𝑑 = 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = −1 − (−4) = −1 + 4 = 3

Use the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 with 𝑎1 = −4, 𝑛 = 20 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑 = 3

𝑎20 = −4 + (20 − 1)3
𝑎20 = −4 + (19)3 = −4 + 57 = 53
2) In the previous sequence, what is n if 𝑎𝑛 is 593?

Solution:

Use the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 to find the value of n

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
593 = (−4) + (𝑛 − 1)3
593 = (−4) + 3𝑛 − 3
593 = −7 + 3𝑛
600 = 3𝑛
3𝑛 600
3
= 3

𝑛 = 200 (this means that the term 593 is the 200th term of the sequence)
 3) Given 𝑎12 = −45 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎10 = −37, find 𝑎1 .

Solution: Substitute 𝑎12 = −45 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎10 = −37 in the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 to make two
equations.

𝑎12 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 𝑎10 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑

−45 = 𝑎1 + (12 − 1)𝑑 −37 = 𝑎1 + (10 − 1)𝑑
−45 = 𝑎1 + 11𝑑 −37 = 𝑎1 + 9𝑑
𝑎1 = −45 − 11𝑑 (equation 1) 𝑎1 = −37 − 9𝑑 (equation 2)

Then, equate the two equations: equation 1 = equation 2, to get the common difference (d).

−45 − 11𝑑 = −37 − 9𝑑

−2𝑑 = 8
2𝑑 8
− =
−2 −2
𝑑 = −4
Now, substitute the common difference (d) to either equation 1 or equation 2. Using equation 1:

𝑎1 = −37 − 9𝑑
𝑎1 = −37 − 9(−4)
𝑎1 = −37 − (−36) = −37 + 36 = −1

Thus the 1st term of the sequence is -1 (𝑎1 = −1).

4) Given 𝑎5 = 7 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎9 = 19, find 𝑎15 .

Solution: Substitute 𝑎5 = 7 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎9 = 19 in the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 to make two equations.

𝑎5 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 𝑎9 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
7 = 𝑎1 + (5 − 1)𝑑 19 = 𝑎1 + (9 − 1)𝑑
7 = 𝑎1 + 4𝑑 19 = 𝑎1 + 8𝑑
𝑎1 = 7 − 4𝑑 𝑎1 = 19 − 8𝑑

Then, equate the two equations: equation 1 = equation 2, to get the common difference (d).

7 − 4𝑑 = 19 − 8𝑑
4𝑑 = 12
4𝑑 12
=
4 4
𝑑=3
Now, substitute the common difference (d) to either equation 1 or equation 2 to get 𝑎1 . Using
equation 2:

𝑎1 = 19 − 8𝑑
𝑎1 = 19 − 8(3) = 19 − 24
𝑎1 = −5

To get 𝑎15 or the 15th term of the sequence, use the formula 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 and substitute
𝑎1 = −5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑 = 3.
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
𝑎15 = (−5) + (15 − 1)3
𝑎15 = (−5) + (14)3 = −5 + 42
𝑎15 = 37

Arithmetic Series – The sum 𝑆𝑛 of the first 𝑛 terms of an arithmetic sequence is given by
𝑛 𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = 2 (𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛 ) or 𝑆𝑛 = 2 [2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]

where 𝑎1 is the first term and 𝑎𝑛 is the 𝑛th term.

EXAMPLE: Find the sum of the first 15 terms of the arithmetic sequence 3, 6, 9, 12, …

Solution: Solve for the common difference (d).

𝑑 = 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 6 − 3 = 3
𝑛
Next, substitute d to the formula: 𝑆𝑛 = 2 [2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
2
15
𝑆15 = [2(3) + (15 − 1)3]
2
15
𝑆15 = [6 + (14)(3)]
2
15
𝑆15 = (6 + 42)
2
15
𝑆15 = (48) = 360
2

Therefore, the sum of the first 15 terms of the given sequence is 360.

THE GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

A geometric sequence or a geometric progression is a sequence in which each term after the first is
obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a nonzero constant. This nonzero constant is called the common
ratio (r).

EXAMPLE: Identify the common ratio.

1) 2, 8, 32, 138, …

Solution: Get the ratio of the consecutive terms.

𝑎2 8 𝑎3 32 𝑎4 138
= =4 = =4 = =4
𝑎1 2 𝑎2 8 𝑎3 32

Thus, the common ratio is 4 (r = 4).

1
2) 9, 3, 1, 3 , …

Solution: Getting the common ratio, r.

1
3 1 1 1 3 1
= = =
9 3 3 3 1 3
1
The common ratio is .
3

General Term of a Geometric Sequence – The 𝑛th term (or the general term) of a geometric sequence with first
term 𝑎1 and common ration 𝑟 is
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
EXAMPLES:

1) Find the fifth term of the geometric sequence : 64, -32, 16, -8, …

Solution: First, identify the common ratio of the given sequence

𝑎2 −32 1
𝑟= = =−
𝑎1 64 2
Then, substitute the common ratio in the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
1 5−1
𝑎5 = 64 ( )
2
1 4
𝑎5 = 64 ( )
2
1
𝑎5 = 64 ( )
16
𝑎5 = 4
The 5th term of the sequence is 4.

2) If 𝑎4 = 40 and 𝑎6 = 160 and 𝑟 > 0, find 𝑟.

Solution: Substitute 𝑎4 = 40 and 𝑎6 = 160 in the formula 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 to get two equations.

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
40 = 𝑎1 𝑟 4−1 160 = 𝑎1 𝑟 6−1
40 = 𝑎1 𝑟 3 160 = 𝑎1 𝑟 5
40 160
𝑎1 = 3 (equation 1) 𝑎1 = 5 (equation 2)
𝑟 𝑟

Then, equate the two equations to solve for r.

𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1 = 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2
40 160
= 5
𝑟3 𝑟
40𝑟 5 = 160𝑟 3
40𝑟 5 160𝑟 3
=
𝑟3 𝑟3
40𝑟 2 = 160
40𝑟 2 160
=
40 40
𝑟2 = 4
√𝑟 2 = √4
𝑟=2

3) Find the first term of the geometric sequence with a common ratio of -3 and an eighth term
of -81.
Solution: Substitute 𝑟 = −3 and 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎8 = −81 in the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
−81 = 𝑎1 (−38−1 )
−81 = 𝑎1 (−37 )
−81 = −2187𝑎1
−81 1
𝑎1 = =
−2187 27
 1
Therefore, the first term of the sequence is 27.

Geometric Series – The sum 𝑆𝑛 of the first 𝑛 terms of a geometric sequence is given by

𝑎1 (1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 =
1−𝑟

EXAMPLE: Find the sum of the first six terms of the geometric sequence: 2, -8, 32, -128, …

Solution: First, determine the common ratio, r

𝑎2 −8
𝑟= = = −4
𝑎1 2
𝑎1 (1−𝑟 𝑛 )
Then, substitute 𝑟 = −4, 𝑎1 = 2 in the formula: 𝑆𝑛 =
1−𝑟

𝑎1 (1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 =
1−𝑟
2[1 − (−4)6 ]
𝑆6 =
1 − (−4)
2(1 − 4096)
𝑆6 =
5
2(−4095) 8190
𝑆6 = =− = −1638
5 5
Therefore, the sum of the first six terms of the sequence is -1638.

Sum of an Infinite Geometric Sequence – If 𝑎 is the first term and 𝑟 is the common ratio of an infinite geometric
sequence, and if |𝑟| < 1, then the sum of the terms of the sequence is given by the formula

𝑎
𝑆=
1−𝑟

EXAMPLE: Find the sum of the terms of the infinite geometric sequence 125, 25, 5, …

Solution: First, determine the common ratio

25 1 1 1
𝑟= = ; |𝑟| < 1 → | | < 1 → < 1
125 5 5 5
𝑎
Substitute the common ratio in the formula: 𝑆 = 1−𝑟
𝑎
𝑆=
1−𝑟

125
𝑆=
1
1−
5

125
𝑆=
4
5

5 625
𝑆= (125) =
4 4
 THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

The sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … in which the next term can be obtained by adding the two previous
terms is called the Fibonacci Sequence. It is named after the Italian Mathematician Leonardo of Pisa whose
nickname was Fibonacci. The sequence was said to be discovered at how rabbits bred and reproduced.

The problem involved having a single pair of newborn rabbits and then finding out how many pairs of
rabbits will be born in a year. We assume that the initial pair of rabbits is one month old and that the rabbits are
counted just before newborns arrive. After a month, the rabbits have produced no offspring. However, every
month thereafter, the pair of rabbits produces another pair of rabbits. The offspring reproduce in the same
manner.

Fibonacci Sequence Newborn Rabbits

0+1=1 0,1,1
Mature Rabbits
1+1=2 0,1,1,2
1+2=3 0,1,1,2,3
2+3=5 0,1,1,2,3,5
3+5=8 0,1,1,2,3,5,8
5 + 8 = 13 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13
... 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,...

Fibonacci discovered that the number of rabbits for any month after the first two months can be
determined by adding the number of pairs of rabbits in each of the previous two months. For example, the
number of pairs of rabbits end the fifth month is 2 + 3 =5.
The Fibonacci numbers can also be seen in nature.

If we would look closely on how the seeds of this

sunflower are arranged, we can observe that the
seeds form 34 spirals clockwise and 55 spirals
counterclockwise. 34 and 55 are consecutive
Fibonacci numbers.

Some plants branches in the manner that the

number of branches follows the Fibonacci Sequence.
The plant Achillea ptarmica (sneezewort) is observed
to grow in this pattern.

The Fibonacci sequence can also be observed in the arrangement of leaves in a stem, the spirals on a
nautilus shell, the way ferns curl and many more.
EXAMPLE: Let Fib(n) be the nth term of a Fibonacci sequence, with Fib(1) = 1, Fib(2) = 1, Fib(3) = 2, and so on.

1) Find Fib(8)
Solution: The eight term, Fib(8) can be determined by further adding terms on the sequence until the
sequence will have 8 terms. The next term can be determined by adding the previous two terms. The
sequence becomes:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, …

Looking at the sequence, the eight term, Fib(8) is 21.

2) Find Fib(15)

Solution: The fifteenth term, Fib(15) can be determined by further adding terms on the sequence until
the sequence will have 8 terms. The next term can be determined by adding the previous two terms.
The sequence becomes:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, …

Looking at the sequence, fifteenth term, Fib(15) is 610.

3) Evaluate : 𝐹𝑖𝑏(1) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(2) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(3) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(4) = _________________

Solution: We know that Fib(1) = 1, Fib(2) = 1, Fib(3) = 2 and Fib(4) = Fib(2) + Fib(3) = 1 + 2 = 3.

Substituting these in the equation:

𝐹𝑖𝑏(1) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(2) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(3) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(4) = 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 7

4) If Fib(22) = 17, 711 and Fib(24) = 46, 368, what is Fib(23)?

Solution: We know that the next term of a Fibonacci Sequence can be determined by adding the previous
two terms. Thus we can conclude:

𝐹𝑖𝑏(24) = 𝐹𝑖𝑏(22) + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(23)

Substituting the given values:

46,368 = 17, 711 + 𝐹𝑖𝑏(23)

𝐹𝑖𝑏(23) = 46,368 − 17,711 = 28, 657
Therefore, 𝐹𝑖𝑏(23) = 28, 657 .
 MATHEMATICS FOR OUR WORLD

Specifically, Mathematics is used for:

1. Organization
- To organize patterns and regularities as well as irregularities
- Mathematical tools organize data to help us make analysis and decisions
o Social media analysts can generate a map of words that are most talked about
in social media using software to measure the netizens’ sentiments on
particular issues or personalities.

2. Prediction
- To be able to predict the behavior of nature
- Applying the concept of probability, we can calculate the chance of an event
occurring.

3. Control
- Mathematics helps humans exert control over occurrences in nature.
o It is believed that the effect like the rising of sea levels brought by climate
change is due to high concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
To ensure that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are kept at levels
(controlled) that would not cause climate change, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) was signed in 1992.

Prepared by: GDDAYWAN