The Nature of Mathematics

What is Mathematics?
Most of us have a skewed relationship with math: we

hate it for its drudgery or love it for its consistency, but usually
we don’t have a sense of the whole picture. In truth,
mathematics is an art. It’s easy to lose sight of the elegance
in the midst of technical details, especially when aesthetics,
motivation, and simplicity – the core values of mathematics
– are absent from typical math courses.
Mathematics is the art of patterns and connections
embedded in nature and in our environment. There is an
organized pattern to explain such phenomena and this is
through mathematics. It explains not only regularities but also
irregularities and complexities in our world. It simplifies
complex things by organizing patterns. It shows that there is a
line that connects everyone to one another and to nature.
We can use the following concept map in defining Mathematics.
Study of
patterns
Language
Art
Mathematics is
a/an…
Set of
problem Process of
solving tools thinking
Where is Mathematics?
We can see mathematics everywhere in this world though we sometimes
ignore its presence. Everybody enjoys nature, however, not everyone is
interested in exploring more intensely the mathematical idea in it.
According to Ian Stewart (1995), we live in a universe of patterns. Every night

the stars move in circles across the sky. The seasons cycle at yearly intervals.
Tigers and zebras are covered in patters of stripes, leopards and hyenas are
covered in patterns of spots. Spherical drops of water fall from the clouds.
Human mind and culture have developed a formal system of thought for
recognizing, classifying, and systematize our ideas about patterns, we have
discovered a great secret: nature’s patterns are not just there to be admired,
they are vital clues to the rules that govern natural processes.
 Indicates that you can draw an
imaginary line across an object and the
resulting parts are mirror images of each
other. This line is called the line of
symmetry.
 There are two types of symmetry: (a)

BILATERAL SYMMETRY and (b) RADIAL
SYMMETRY.
 A symmetry in which an
object has two sides
that are mirror images
of each other.
 There is a center point and
numerous lines of symmetry could
be drawn.
 Radial symmetry is rotational
symmetry around a fixed point
known as the center.
 The smallest angle that a figure
can be rotated while still
preserving the original formation is
called the ANGLE OF ROTATION.
 It is a common way to describe a rotational symmetry.
360°
FORMULA: Angle of rotation = n
To be able to see mathematics, we have to observe
to notice hints and clues: in nature, in our daily routine,
in our work, in people and communities, and in events.
Here are some examples of mathematical patterns
that we can see in our nature:
1. Nautilus Shell
2. Meander
3. Starfish
4. Romanesco Broccoli
5. Snowfalakes
6. Tree Branches
7. Sunflower
8. Faces
8. Honeycombs
This involves finding the
optimum method of
filling up a given space
Square Packing
such as a cubic or
spherical container.
Hexagonal Packing
Let us illustrate this mathematically. Suppose you have
circles of radius 1 cm, each of which will then have an area of
π cm2. We are then going to fill a plane with these circles
using square packing and hexagonal packing.
A = π cm2
r =1 cm
Step 1: FIND THE AREA OF THE SQUARE. The formula in
finding the area of the square is A=s2, where s is the
measurement of the side. But we only have the
measurement of the radius and the area of the circle,
as stated above. To get the measurement of the side of
a square, see the figure on the right. So, we can say that
s = 2cm.
𝐴 = 𝑠2
𝐴 = 2𝑐𝑚 2
𝑨 = 𝟒𝒄𝒎𝟐
Each square will have an area of 4 𝑐𝑚2 .

Step 2: FIND THE AREA OF THE CIRCLE. From the given figure, each square can only
have one circle (4 quarters, ¼) inside of it. The formula in solving the area of a circle
is A=πr2, where r is the measurement of radius. As given earlier, the radius is 1 cm,
so,
We have 1 circle inside the square, so we

𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
can say that:
¼ ¼ = 𝜋 1𝑐𝑚 2
(Area of each circle)(Number of circle fits
𝐴 = 𝜋 𝑐𝑚2 inside the square)
¼ ¼
A= (𝜋 𝑐𝑚2 )(1)
A= 𝝅 𝒄𝒎𝟐 is the area of each circle
Step 3: COMPUTE FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF THE SQUARE’S AREA COVERED BY CIRCLES that
will be:
Area of the Circles π cm2

× 100% = × 100% = 0.7854 × 100% = 78.54%
Area of the Square 4cm
2
Step 1: FIND THE AREA OF THE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLES AND HEXAGON. We can think that
each hexagon is composed of six equilateral triangle, and we should find first the area of
each equilateral triangle before solving for the area of the hexagon.
2
1 3
6 4
5
𝒔𝟐 √𝟑
1.1 To compute the area of an equilateral triangle, we have 𝑨 = ,
where s is
𝟒
the measurement of the side of the triangle. The side measures 2 cm, adding the
measurement of radius of the circle that formed the side of the triangle.
1.2 We can now solve for the area of hexagon using the area of each equilateral
triangle. On the figure given above, we have 6 equilateral triangle inside the hexagon,
so we can say that:
Area of hexagon = (area of each equilateral triangle) (Number of equilateral triangle

inside the hexagon)
𝐴= 3𝑐𝑚2 6
𝑨 = 𝟔√𝟑𝒄𝒎𝟐 is the area of the hexagon.
Step 2: FIND THE AREA OF CIRCLE. From the given figure, each hexagon can only have 3
circles, six 1/3 and 1 whole circle, inside of it. The formula in solving the area of a circle is 𝑨 =
𝝅𝒓𝟐 , where r is the measurement of radius. As given earlier, the radius is 1 cm, so,
𝐴 = 𝜋 𝑟2
2
= 𝜋 1𝑐𝑚
1/3 1/3
𝐴 = 𝜋 𝑐𝑚2
We have 3 circles inside the hexagon, so we can say 1/3 1 1/3

that:
(Area of each circle)(Number of circle fits inside the 1/3 1/3
hexagon)
A= (𝜋 𝑐𝑚2 )(3)
A=3 𝝅 𝒄𝒎𝟐 is the area of each circle
Step 3: COMPUTE FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF THE HEXAGON’S AREA COVERED BY CIRCLES
that will be:
Area of the Circles 3 π cm2

× 100% = × 100% = 0.9069 × 100% = 90.69%
Area of the Hexagon 6√3cm 2
Comparing the two percentages, we can clearly see that using

hexagons will cover a larger area than when using squares.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 …
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 …
Leonardo of Pisa
a.k.a Fibonacci
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 …
1 1 4 9 25 64 169 441 1156 3025 …
1+1+4=6 =2˟3
1 + 1 + 4 + 9 = 15 = 3 ˟ 5
1 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 25 = 40 = 5 ˟ 8
1 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 25 + 64 = 104 = 8 ˟ 13
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 …
1 1 4 9 25 64 169 441 1156 3025 …
1+1+4=6=2˟3
1 + 1 + 4 + 9 = 15 = 3 ˟ 5
1 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 25 = 40 = 5 ˟ 8
1 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 25 + 64 = 104 = 8 ˟ 13
12 + 12 + 22 + 32 + 52 + 82 = 𝟖 × 𝟏𝟑
1 1
3
2
8
8
5
(5+8)
What is the area of the rectangle?

˟
Area = 12 + 12 + 22 + 32 + 52 + 82 = 𝟖 × 𝟏𝟑
(𝟓 + 𝟖)
13 ÷ 8 = 1.625
21 ÷ 13 = 1.615…
The Golden Ratio:
34 ÷ 21 = 1.619…
1.618033…
55 ÷ 34 = 1.6176… Phi “𝝋”
89 ÷ 55 = 1.61818…
’

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What is Mathematics?

Most of us have a skewed relationship with math: we

According to Ian Stewart (1995), we live in a universe of patterns. Every night

 There are two types of symmetry: (a)

Each square will have an area of 4 𝑐𝑚2 .

We have 1 circle inside the square, so we

Area of the Circles π cm2

Area of hexagon = (area of each equilateral triangle) (Number of equilateral triangle

We have 3 circles inside the hexagon, so we can say 1/3 1 1/3

Area of the Circles 3 π cm2

Comparing the two percentages, we can clearly see that using

What is the area of the rectangle?

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