Chapter 1.1

Nature of Mathematics
Chapter 1
Nature of Mathematics
The emergence of digital technology has sparked a monumental rise
in the rate at which we consume and produce data.
We will be looking at patterns and regularities in the world and how

mathematics comes into play, both in nature and in human endeavor.
Patterns and Numbers in Nature and the World
In the general sense of the word patterns are regular, repeated or
recurring forms or designs. Patterns are commonly observed in natural
objects such as six-fold symmetry of snowflakes.
Lets take a look at this pattern
What is the next figure in the pattern below?
What is the next figure in the pattern below?
Snowflakes and Honeycombs
Symmetry – the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing
each other or around an axis.
Snowflakes and Honeycombs
The figures on the previous slide is symmetric about the axis
indicated by dotted line. The left and the right is exactly the same. This
is known as line or bilateral symmetry.
Take a look of these images:
Order of Rotation
•To compute the angle of rotation
Angle of rotation =
Consider the image of snowflakes
Honeycombs
Another marvel of nature’s design is the structure of a honeycomb.
People have long wondered how bees, despite of their very small size,
are able to produce such arrangement while humans would generally
need the use of a ruler and compass to accomplish the same feat.
Honeycombs
Square Packing
•x 100% = x 100% = 78.54%
Hexagonal Packing
•A = = = =
Hexagonal Packing
• This gives the area of hexagon as . There are 3 circles that could fit
inside the hexagon (the whole circle in the middle, and 6 one-thirds of
a circle), which gives the total area of . The percentage of the hexagon’s
area covered by circles will be
x 100% = x 100% = 90.69%
Tigers’ Stripes and Hyenas’ Spots
Patterns are also exhibited in the external appearances of animals.
We are familiar with how the tigers looks – distinctive reddish-orange
fur and dark stripes. Hyenas, another predator from Africa, are also
covered in pattern of spots. These seemingly random design are
believed to be governed by mathematical equations.
The Sunflower
Another demonstration of how natures works to optimize the
available spaces. This arrangement allows the sunflower seed to occupy
the flower head in a way that maximize their access to sunlight and
necessary nutrients
The Snail’s Shell
The Snail’s Shell
Flower Petals
Flowers are easily considered as things of beauty. Their vibrant
colors and fragrant odor make them very appealing as gifts or
decorations. If you look more closely, you will note that different
flowers have different numbers of petals.
Flower Petals
Flowers with five petals are said to be most common (buttercup,
columbine and hibiscus). Among those flowers with eight petals are
clematis and delphinium, while ragwort and marigold are thirteen.
World Population
•
Where: A is the size of population after it grows

P is the initial number of people
r is the rate of growth
t is the time
e is Euler’s constant with an approximate value of 2.718
Population growth
• The exponential growth model describe the population of the city in

the Philippines in thousand, t years after 1995.
a. What was the population of the city in 1995?
b. What will be the population in 2017?
Population growth
• The exponential growth model describe the population of the city in
the Philippines in thousand, t years after 1995.
a. What was the population of the city in 1995?
b. What will be the population in 2017?
Solution:
a. Since our exponential growth model describes the population t
years after 1995, we consider 1995 as t=0 and then solve for A, our
population size.
b. We need to find A for the year 2017 . To find t, we subtract 2017 and
1995 to get t = 22 which we then plug in to our exponential growth.
Exercise
• The exponential growth model describe the population of
the city in the Philippines in thousand, t years after 1997.
a. What is the population after 20 years?
b. What is the population in 2037?
Exercise Set
•Determine
what comes next in the given patterns
1. A, C, E, G, I, __
2. 15 10 14 10 13 10 __
3. 3 6 12 24 48 96 __
4. 27 30 33 36 39 __
5. 41 39 37 35 33 __
Substitute the given value in the formula to find the missing
quantity
6. P= 680,000, r = 12% per year, t = 8 years
7. A = 1,240,000, r = 8% per year, t = 30 years

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Chapter 1.1

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Nature of Mathematics

We will be looking at patterns and regularities in the world and how

Where: A is the size of population after it grows

• The exponential growth model describe the population of the city in

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