wane ‘ iinl=The Nature of Mathematics Introduction Mathematics has been part of human's everyday life. It is everywhere. It is on the things we create and admire, in the activities we do, in the decisions we make. Mathematics is present in everything that surrounds us. It could be seen on the patterns and sequences exhibited by nature from its landscapes, plants and animals, including humans to series of events and phenomena. Recognizing these patterns gives us understanding on how nature works and helps create things that human may benefit from. Through this, advancement of science and technology could be done. Mathematics could help predict the behavior of nature especially the naturally-occurring phenomena and create intervention to safeguard the lives of human. This could provide necessary answers to the questions that puzzles humankind that may create a much better world. In this chapter, we shall look at mathematics as a science of pattern and order to encourage you to go beyond the typical understanding of mathematics as merely as ‘science of calculations but as a source of aesthetics in patterns of nature and a rich language in itself governed by logic and reasoning, Learning Outcomes: 5 ‘Al the endof this module, you are expected to: «identify the different types of patterns in mathematics. * Use inductive and deductive reasoning to predict patterns. + write expressions and statements in mathematical symbols, '* explore on the different patterns found in objects, plants, and animals that can be modelled mathematically. LESSON 1: NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICS What is Mathematics? Traditionally, mathematies is presented deductively at school. And is often perceived as well structured and problems are algorithmically approachedMathematics ie derived from the ancient word manthneln meaning “to eam". The Greek root mathesis means “knowiedge” or Its form mathema meaning science, knowledge, or learning, and mathematikos or mathemala means “fond of learning” These might have been the notion of the early mathematicians and philosophers that is why they continue to seek for knowledge and the truth. Hence, what is really mathematics? What is it exactly that mathematicians do when they are doing mathematics? Encyclopedia Britannica defines mathematics as the “science of structure, order, and relations that has evolved from the elemental practices of counting, Measuring, and describing the shapes and characteristics of objects.” This definition is one of the closest to mathematics that is evident in the modem world today. Characteristics of Mathematics What are the characteristics of mathematics? Among the characteristics of mathematics are: Classification Within logical-mathematical knowledge is the Process 7 represents the first step towards learning more complex ee ergata Glassifcation brings about a series of mental relations through when obpecte ate grouped according to similarities and diferences depending on eormen conn much as size, color, shape, etc. 9 on specific criteria suchLogical Sequence Ideas in mathematics need to flow in order that makes sense. Logic patterns are related to geometric and number patterns. It helps us classify objects or figures. One kind of logic sequence deal with characteristics of various objects. Another kind deals with orders: there is a sequence of objects and a pattern in the attributes the objects possess. Structure Astructure on a set is an additional mathematical object that is related to that given set in some particular characteristic or manner, and attaches (or relates) to that set to endow it with some additional meaning or significance. The structure on a particular mathematical set will allow mathematicians to study the set further and find its relationship with objects. Preci mand Accuracy Accuracy is how close a measured value is equal to the actual value. It is the degree to which a given quantity is correct and free from error. Precision, on the other hand, is how close the measured values are to each other. Abstractness Abstractness can be anything from strings of numbers or letters to geometric figures to measurements to set of equations. Inquiries such as “Does the interval between composite numbers from a pattern?” “Is there an expression for the change in the surface area of any regular solid as its volume approaches zero?”; needs investigatory approaches of patterns. ‘Symbolism The language of mathematics is the system used by the mathematicians to communicate mathematical ideas using symbols instead of words. This language is uniquely constructed in such a way that all mathematicians understand symbiotic notations and mathematical formulas. Applicability The applicability of mathematics can lie anywhere on a spectrum from the completely simple to utterly complex. Mathematics can be used in all fields of human endeavour. According to Kant, “in any special doctrine of nature, there can be only as much proper science as there is mathematics therein.” Many agree that the problem of understanding the significant link between mathematics and modern science is an interesting and significant challenge for the philosopher of mathematics.Generalizations Making generalizations is fundamental 10 mathematics. It is a skill that must be developed among students. Itis ofvital importance in a functioning society. ‘The Webster Dictionary defines generalization 0% the process of “finding and singling out [of properties] in a whole class of similar objects.” LESSON 2 MATHEMATICS AS A SCIENCE OF PATTERNS ‘A pattern is a visible regularity in the universe oF 11 @ man-made design. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. Patterns, in a mathematical sense, refer to the study of “tlings” "and wall-papet symmetries.” This Connotes order, regularity, and lawfulness. In the modem world, the patterns of counting, measuring, reasoning, motion, shape, position. and prediction, reveal the powerful influence mathematics has over people's perception of reality. Pattern recognition is a key determinant of logical, verbal, mathematical, and spatial abiliies. The most commonly used patterns today: the logic patterns, symbol patterns, number patterns, and word patterns. Logic Patterns Logie patterns deal with the characteristics of various objects, order, sequence and some possess similar attributes. These types of pattern are common in aptitude tests. To construct or solve @ pattern: 1) find the rule for the pattern, 2) Understand the nature of the sequence, and 3) analyze the difference between two successive terms. Example Answer: The lines rotate in a counter- clockwise manner from the uppermost box down to the fourth box. The fourth box in the preceding object is the first box in the next object The pattem continues so the answer isExample 2: Answer: The second figure is just the double of the first figure, so ithas two circles. The third figure is the double of the second figure, thus it has four circles. The fourth must be the double of the third 80 it should have eight. Answer is D. Example 3: Answer: Look at the movements of the arrows inside the triangles. ‘The arrow starts from a vertex and the arrowhead points towards the opposite side. So, the missing figure should be B. Example 4: Ifthe word MODERN can be encrypted as OGFGTP, how can you code the word WORLD? YOSNF cc. YQUNF b. YOTNF d. YOPNF Answer: The correct answer is b. Each letter in the original word MODERN is forwarded two places (+2) in the alphabetical order to get the encrypted word Example 5: |n some code language, the word PATTERNS can be written TRTRTRTR, how would you write ALGEBRA in the same code language? a. RGGRRRG ©. GRGRGRG b. GRRGGR d. RRGGRR Answer: The correct answer is c. Each letter in the third, sixth, ninth, etc. (muttiples of 3) positions is reported according to the length ofthe given wordNumber Patterns ‘Anumber oattem is a list or set of numbers that follow a certain arrangement It is where the numbers are arranged in either increasing or decreasing order, and have with it basic operations of mathematics or a certain series of arithmetical operation like addition or subtraction repeatedly done. The first step in determining the rule that defines the pattern is to look for differences between the two consecutive numbers. The number pattern helps make a generalization of how the numbers are arranged in a sequence. If there is no logic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, squares, cubes, primes, etc) in the differences, find other operations used in the pattem. Try these examples; guess what the next number in the sequence. Example 6: 44, 13, 17, 19, 23, 2 Answer: Notice that the differences between two consecutive numbers are 2, 4,2, 4. However, this is not a pattern. Look upon the numbers again and guess what? They are all consecutive prime numbers. So the next number must be 29. Example 7: 5, 7, 10, 15, 22, ? Answer: The differences between each pair of consecutive terms in the sequence are as follows: 2, 3, 5, 7. These primes are added to the previous number to get the next number. 5+2=7, 7+3=10, 10+5=15, 15+7=22. So you know that the next prime is 11. Hence, the next number in the pattern is 22+11=33. Example 8: 5,6, 10, 19, 35, ? ‘Answer: The differences between each number is 1, 4, 9, 16. These numbers are squares of 1, 2, 3, and 4. So, the difference between 35 and the next number should be the square of 5, which is 25. Thus, 35+25=60. Word Patterns Patterns can also be found in language. The metrical patterns of poems and the syntactic patterns of how nouns are made plural or how verbs are changed to past tense are both word patterns. Word patterns are used in decoding like: consonant blends (words with a group of two or three consonants that each make its own sound: grow, blend, sleeve, stair, sweet, free, blood, clothes), consonant digraphs (words with two or three letters that come together to create a single sound, e.g. chest, shop. 6sheep, brush, shirt, shade), vowel diphthongs (vowels that glide in the middle: boil, ‘now, soil, brown, cloud, rain, meat, bout, cow), and vowel digraphs (a spelling pattern in which two or more adjoining letters represent a single vowel sound: school, clean. each, feet, moon, cheese) LESSON 3 THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE The Finonacci Sequence Leonardo of Pisa is also known as Fibonacci (1170 ~ 1250). He is one of the best - known mathematicians of medieval Europe. In 1202, after a trip that took him to several Aran and Eastern countries, Fibonacci wrote the book Liber Abaci. In this book Fibonacci explained why Hindu Arabic numeration ‘system that he had learned about the his travels was a more sophisticated and efficient system than the Roman numeration This book also contains a problem created by Fibonacci that concems the birth of rabbits. Here is the statement of Fibonacci's rabbit problem At the beginning of a month, you are given a pair of newborn rabbits. 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 exactly the same manner. If none of the rabbits dies, how many pairs of rabbits will be there be at the start of each succeeding month? Legend: 2 & Infertile pair Fectile pair ‘The pair becomes fertile The pair survives ‘The pair generates another pair (i‘The solution of this problem is a sequence of numbers that we now call the Fibonacci sequence. 2 The Fibonacci sequence is the series of numbers: 4,1, 2,3, 5,8, 13, 21, 34. ‘The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it(1#1), The 3'is found by adding the two numbers before it (2+1), And so on! Sore The Fibonacci sequence can be written as a rule as: X=Xn-1 + Xn-2 where: Xs term number *n’ in the Fibonacci sequence Example 9: Find the seventh and eighth Fibonacci numbers. Solution: For seventh Fibonacci number Xn=Xn-1tXn~2 X= Xp Xy—2 Xr=Xo+Xs Xy=845 Xy=13 For eighth Fibonacci number: Xn=Xn-1t+Xn-2 Xq=Xq-1+Xe—2 Xe=X1+Xo Xe=134+8 Xe=21When we take any two successive Fibonacci numbers, their ratio is very close to the Golden Ratio “p" which is approximately 1.618034... In fact, the bigger the pair of Fibonacci numbers, the closer the approximation. For example, A B BIA 2 3 15 3 5 1.66666. 5 8 16 144 233 1.618055556. 233 377 1618025751 Itis even more surprising that we can calculate any Fibonacci number using the Golden Ratio: Example 10. Find the sixth Fibonacci number. Solution: ‘ yr- 1-9)" " v5 1.618034 ...* ~ (1 ~ 1.618034 ...)* X= vs X= 8.00000033 ~ 8 or Xn =n aX Q 26 = Xe-1 X 1.618034 X6= 5 X 1.618034 .. x «= 8.09017 ~8LESSON 4 MATHEMATICS FOR OUR WORLD Millions of pattems can be found in the environment. These patterns occur in various forms and in different contexts which can be modelled mathematically, Some examples are symmetries, trees, spirals, waves, tessellations, stripes, meanders, cracks, and many more. The German biologist Ernst Haeckel painted marine organisms to show their symmetry. Scottish biologist D’Archy Thompson studied the growth patterns in plants and animals. Beehives are one of the examples of pattems in nature that can be modelled mathematically. They are made of walls of the same size, enclosing small hexagonal cells where honey and pollen are stored and bees are raised. Honeycombs are examples of wallpaper symmetry Scientists theorize that sunflowers can pack in the maximum number of seeds if each seed is separated by an irrational-numbered angle. In mathematics, the most irrational-number is known as the Golden Ratio, or Phi. It is a mathematical ratio that’s commonly found in nature. It can be used to create visually-pleasing, organic-looking compositions in your design projects or artwork. Here are some examples of patterns in nature HoneycombSovee eons Water It could be noted that mathematics exists in the natural world. It is specifically ‘on how nature behaves and the pattems it follows through logical and mathematical structures. It is important that these concepts and ideas be used to further advance what we know and provides substantial and effective solutions to some underlying problems we faced nowadays Mathematics is an important tool in generating models, analysis and interpretations that could be used in predicting the possible outcomes of a certain event. Like for examples, to predict the probability of a storm to occur, the possible return period of an event having the same magnitude, determine the trend of social media users, predict the increase of the world's population after 10 years, and others. This may give a clearer picture to innovators, scientists, engineers and other professionals, even common people, on the possible scenarios that may happen. This. may lead to creating strategies to lessen the impact and several interventions to addressed the possible outcomes. In recent years, global warming and climate change, are hot topics that leads to several debates, protests and legislations. Scientists warns that if man will not change his behavior towards the environment, the effects of climate change is "inevitable. Through the use of mathematics, man is able to exert control over himself and possibly reverses the effects of climate change on nature. We have identified some of the applications of mathematics and that it plays a bigger role in the societal context. We know that mathematics is with us in everything we do. Although we may not notice it. Knowledge of mathematics is helpful in every endeavor. So, it is better to embrace it to have a better understanding of the world we live in and be part of the crusade in protecting and conserving our one and only natural world Module Exercises ee NAME: Course/Year/Section: ‘Student Number: Test I: Write the letter of the correct answer. Justify your answer. 1. What figure should come next in this sequence? O° 20] 5 AREEE : A 2 D 20] [ooo] [83] ooo 99} Jooo} |88| ooo) 88} ooo 1990 (O00) 2. Which figure is next in the sequence? I 3. Which figure can be used to continue the series? O} OF] |? O- A O- c D O} LO 124. What figure should come next in this sequence? 5. Which figure is next in the sequence? XQ a) ie Aa& Test Il. Identify the next number in the pattern, 1. 100, 98, 96,94, 2, 12, 19,15, 18,22, 3 3. 7,20, 47, 94, 167,__ 4.1,4,2, 8,6, 24,22, 5.11, 23, 48,99, 6. 6, 13, 27, 55, 111, 7. 8, -24, 72, -216, 648,-1994, 8.5, 27, 137, 687,3437,__ 9. 34, 7,37, 14, 40,28, 10. 16384, 8192, 2048, 256, 16,__ TEST Ill. Find the n” term of the Fibonacci sequence. Round off to whole numbers (@ = 1.618034) 1X6 3.Xn 2X» 4. Xe 135. Xs 8. Xx 6X 9. X27 7x0 10. x18 TEST IV. Find the ratio of the two consecutive Fibonacci numbers. . Round off to 7 decimal places 1. Xeand X; 2. Xwand Xun 3. Xivand Xi 4. Xyand Xs 5. Xnand Xi Test V. Reflection Paper Direction: Explore and take photos of different patterns found in objects, plants, and animals are present in your surroundings that can be modelled mathematically. After such, make a reflection paper on the nature of mathematics. You may include your photos in your reflection paper. You will be graded with your reflection paper using the rubrics below. oa Pee ele Mechanics Well-written and well- 2 | Well written, clear organization, | organized uses standard English grammar, | Inadequate due to lack of + contains minor, ifany, spelling | organization, grammar, | errors and/or major spelling : | errors ____ Mechanics - Highest Possible Score Evidence of Critical Thinking | Demonstrates oritical Critical thinking includes | thinking and the ability to 3 analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation. Arguments show clear and depth of insight into | thinking and application of 2 theoretical issues, originality of | concepts treatment, and relevance. May | Shows minor or incorre . include unusual insights, | Arguments are well supported application of concepts 1 __Evidence of Critical Thinking- Highest Possible Score 3 14Well developed; shows ‘evidence of reflection Well-developed thoughts, ideas, | andlor metacognition; new | and details, which shows ideas introduced and evidence of reflection, new reflects a good grasp of ideas, and grasp of concepts. | concepts presented. ‘Shows some evidence reflection, but not well- developed; few new ideas introduced but reflects a | | grasp of concepts presented. | Not much thought or detail; shows little evidence of reflection or grasp of concepts; no new ideas introduced. ey Development of ideas ‘| Development of Ideas- Highest Possible Score Total Possible Score rading Rubrics for Reflection Journal Entries retrieved from https://people richland.edu/forenner/syllabus/reflectrubric. html 15