LEYTE COLLEGES

San Jose, Tacloban City

First Semester
S.Y 2020-2021

Module 1
in
Mathematics in the Modern World

Topic: NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

(PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD)

Objectives:
 Identify the patterns in nature and regularities in the world
 Determine the next patterns and numbers in the sequence
 Explain the patterns and numbers in nature and the world

Discussion:
PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

In the general sense of the word, patterns are regular, repeated, or recurring forms or
designs. We see patterns every day ---- from the layout of floor tiles, designs of
skyscrapers, to the way we tie our shoelaces. Studying patterns help students in
identifying relationships and finding logical connections to form generalizations and
make predictions.
Let's take a look at this pattern:

What do you think will be the next face in the sequence? It should be easy enough to note that
the pattern is made up of two smiling faces ----- one without teeth and one with teeth.
Beginning with a toothless face, the two faces then alternate. Logically, the face that should be
followed is

EXAMPLE 1:
What Comes Next?
What is the next figure in the pattern below?

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Solution
Looking at the given figures, the lines seem to rotate at 90 – degree intervals in a
counterclockwise direction, always parallel to one side of the square. Hence either A or B
could be the answer. Checking the other patterns, the length of the lines inside the square
follow a decreasing trend. So again, either A or B could be the answer. Finally, looking at
the number of the lines inside the box, each succeeding figure has the number of lines
increase by 1. This means that the next figure should have five lines inside. This leads to
option A as the correct choice.

Example 2:
What Number Comes Next?
 What number comes next in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, __?
Solution:
Looking at the given numbers, the sequence is increasing, with each term being two more than
the previous term: 3 = 1 + 2; 5 = 3 + 2; 7 = 5 + 2; 9 = 7 + 2.
Therefore, the next term should be11 = 9 + 2

SNOW FLAKES AND HONEYCOMBS

Recall that symmetry indicates that you can draw an imaginary line across an object and
the resulting parts are mirror images of each other.

The figure above is symmetric about the axis indicated by the dotted line. Note that the left and
right portions are exactly the same. This type of symmetry, known as line or bilateral symmetry,
is evident in most animals, including humans. Look in a mirror and see how the left and right
sides of your face closely match.

Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man showing the proportions and symmetry of the human
body

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There are other types of symmetry depending on the number of sides or faces that are
symmetrical. Take a look at these images.

Spiderwort with three – fold symmetry Starfish has a five – fold symmetry

Note that if you rotate the spiderwort and starfish above by several degrees, you can still
achieve the same appearance as the original position, this is known as rotational
symmetry. The smallest angle that a figure can be rotated while still preserving the
original formation is called the angle of rotation. For the spiderwort, the angle of rotation
is 120° while the angle of rotation for the baby starfish is 72°.

A more common way of describing rotational symmetry is by order of rotation.

Order of Rotation
A figure has a rotational symmetry of order n (n– fold rotational symmetry) if 1/n of a
complete turn leaves the figure unchanged. To compute for the angle of rotation, we use
the following formula:
Angle of Rotation = 360°/n

Consider this image of a snowflake. It can be observed that the patterns on a snowflake
repeat six times, indicating that there is a six – fold symmetry. To determine the angle of
rotation, we simply divide 360° by 6 to get 60°. Many combinations and complex shapes
of snowflakes may occur, which lead some people to think that “no two are like “. If you
look closely, however, many snowflakes are not perfectly symmetric due to the effects of
humidity and temperature on the ice crystal as it forms.

Another marvel of nature’s design is the structure and shape of 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. It is observed that such formation enables the bee colony to
maximize their storage of honey using the smallest amount of wax.

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 You can try it out for yourself. Using several coins of the same size, try to cover as much
area of a piece of paper with coins. If you arrange the coins in a square formation, there
are still plenty of spots that are exposed. Following the hexagonal formation, however,
with the second row of coins snugly fitted between the first rows of coins, you will notice
that more area will be covered.

Translating this idea to three-dimensional space, we can conclude that hexagonal

formations are more optimal in making use of the available space. These are referred to
as packing problems. Packing problems involved finding the optimum method of filling
up a given space such as a cubic or spherical container. The bees have instinctively found
the best solution, evident in the hexagonal construction of their hives. These geometric
patterns are not only simple and beautiful, but also optimally functional.
Let us illustrate this mathematically. Suppose you have circles of radius 1cm, 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

For square packing, each square will have an area of 4 cm2 . Note from the figure that for
each square, it can fit only one circle (4 quarters). The percentage of the square’s area
covered by circles will be
2
areaof the circles πcm
× 10 %= 2
× 100 % ≈ 78.54 %
area of the square 4 cm

For hexagonal packing, we can think of each hexagon as composed of six equilateral
triangles with side equal to 2 cm.

side √ 3
2❑
A= =¿ ¿
4

This gives the area of the hexagon as √ 3 c m2. Looking at the figure, there are 3 circles
that could fit inside one hexagon (the whole circle in the middle, and 6 one-thirds of a
circle), which gives the total area as 3π cm2. The percentage of the hexagon’s area
covered by circles will

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 2
area of the circles 3 π cm
×10 %= ×100 % ≈ 90.69 %
6 √ 3 cm
2
area of thehrxagon

Comparing the two percentages, we can clearly see that using hexagons will cover a larger area
than when using squares.

TIGERS’ STRIPES AND HYENAS’ SPOTS

Patterns are also exhibited in the external appearances of animals. We are familiar with
how a tiger looks---distinctive reddish-orange fur and dark stripes. Hyenas, another
predator from Africa, are also covered in patterns of spots. These seemingly random
designs are believed to be governed by mathematical equations. According to a theory by
Alan Turing, the man famous for breaking the Enigma code during World War II,
chemical reactions and diffusion processes in cells determine these growth patterns. More
recent studies addressed the question of why some species grow vertical stripes while
others have horizontal ones. A new model by Harvard University researchers predicts
that there are three variables that could affect the orientation of these stripes the substance
that amplifies the density of stripe patterns; the substance that changes one of the
parameters involved in stripe formation; and the physical change in the direction of the
origin of the stripe.

Tiger Hyena

THE SUNFLOWER
Looking at a sunflower up close, you will notice that there
is a definite pattern of clockwise and counterclockwise
arcs or spiral extending outward from the center of the
flower. This is another demonstration of how nature works
to optimize the available space. This arrangement allows
the sunflower seeds to occupy the flower head in a way
that maximizes their access to light and necessary
nutrients.

THE SNAIL’S SHELL

We are also familiar with spiral patterns. The most common spiral patterns can be seen in
whirlpools and in the shells of snails and other similar mollusks. Snails are born with
their shells, called protoconch, which start out as fragile and colorless. Eventually, these
original shells harden as the snails consume calcium. As the snails grow, their shells also
expand proportionately so that they can continue to live inside their shells. This process
results in a refined spiral structure that is even more visible when the shell is sliced. This
figure, called an equiangular spiral. Follows the rule that as the distance from the spiral
center increases (radius), the amplitudes of the angles formed by the radii to the point and
the tangent to the point remain constant. This is another example of how nature seems to
follow a certain set of rules governed by
mathematics.

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 Logarithmic spiral
FLOWER PETALS
Flowers are easily considered as things of beauty. Their vibrant colors and fragrant odors
make them very appealing as gifts or decorations. If you look more closely, you will note
that different flowers have different number of petals. Take the iris and trillium, for
example. Both flowers have only 3 petals.

Iris trillium

Flowers with five petals are said to be the most common. These include buttercup,
columbine and hibiscus. Among those flowers with eight petals are clematis and
delphinium, while ragwort and marigold have thirteen. These numbers are all Fibonacci
numbers.

Buttercup flower with five petals

WORLD POPULATION

As of 2017, it is estimated that the world population is about 7.6 billion. World leaders,
sociologists, and anthropologists are interested in studying population, including its
growth. Mathematics can be used to model population growth. Recall that the formula for
exponential growth is

A= Pert .

Where:
A -size of the population after it grows
P - initial number of people
r - rate of growth
t- time
e - Euler’s constant with an approximate value of 2.718.
plugging in values to this formula would result in the population size after time t with a growth
rate r.

Example 3: A Population Growth

 The exponential growth model A=30e 0.02 t describes the population of a city in the
Philippines in thousands, t years after 1995. What was the population of the city in 1995?
Solution:
 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.
 Given:
A=? P=30 e=2.718 r=0.02 t=0

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Formula:
A= Pert .
A=30e 0.02 t
A=30e (0.02)(0) Replace t with t=0
A=30e 0
A=30(1) e0=1
A=30

Therefore, the population of the city in 1995 is 30

 How to find P (initial number of people)?

Given:
A=30 P=? e=2.718 r=0.02 t=0

Formula:
A= Pert
A 30
30=Pe 0.02(0) P= rt
P=
e 1
30
30=Pe 0.02(0) P= 0 .02 (0 ) P=30
e
30=Pe 0
30
30=P(1) P= 0
e
30=P

 How to find r (rate of growth)?

Given:
A=30000 P=10000 e=2.718 r=? t=4
A
ln( )
Formula: P
r=
t
30000
ln( )
10000
r=
4

1 . 098
r=
4
r =0 .274 Multiply by 100
r =27 %

 How to find t (time)?

Given:
A=30 in thousand P=30 in thousand e=2.718 r=0.02 t=?

A
ln( )
Formula: P
t=
r
Solution:
30000
ln( )
30000
t=
0 .02
0
t=
0 . 02
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 t=0

ACTIVITY:
1. What Comes Next?
a.

b.

2. What Number Comes Next?

1. 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, __
2. 1, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, __
3. 8, 11, 14, 17,20, 23, __
4. 9, 16, 23, 30, 37, 44, __

3. Population Growth
 The exponential growth model A=30e 0.02 t describes the population of a city in the
Philippines in thousands, t years after 1995.What will be the population in 2017?
Solution:
 We need to find A for the year 2017. To find t, we subtract 2017 and 1995 to gett=22,
which we then plug in to our exponential growth model.
Given:
A=? P=30 e=2.718 r=0.02 t=22

Formula:
A= Pert
A=________
A=________
A=________
A=________

Therefore, the city population is ______ in 2017.

EVALUATION:
A. Determine what comes next in the given patterns.
1.

2.
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 3.

B. Determine the next Numbers in the given Sequence.

4. 15, 10, 14, 10, 13, 10, __, __, __, __
5. 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, __, __, __
6. 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, __, __, __

C. Substitute the given values in the formula A= Pert to find missing quantity.
7. P= 680,00; r=0.12; t=8 years
8. A= 786,000; P= 247,000; t= 17
9. A= 731,093; P= 525,600; r= 3%
10. A= 1,240,00; r= 8%; t= 30

D. Explain briefly (5pts)

 Why is it important to find patterns in nature?
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