Flores, Ronnah Mae R.

BSA 1A

Section 1. The Nature of Mathematics

l. Mathematics in Our World

o Patterns and Numbers in Nature and the World

Patterns are regular, repeated or recurring forms or designs. Patterns are
commonly observed in natural objects, such as the six-fold symmetry of snowflakes,
the hexagonal structure and formation of honeycombs, tiger’s stripes and hyena’s
spots, the number of seeds in a sunflower, the spiral of a snail’s shell, and the
number of petals of flowers. Humans are hard wired to recognize patterns and by
studying them, we discovered the underlying mathematical principles behind
nature’s desgn.

o The Fibonacci Sequence

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers, called terms, that may have repeated
values. The arrangement of these terms is set by a definite rule. The rems of a
sequence could be generated by applying the rule to previous terms of the sequence.

Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci sequence is formed by adding the preceding two numbers, beginning
with 0 and 1. Ratios of two Fibonacci numbers approximate the Goled Ratio, which is
considered as the most aesthetically pleasing proportion.

o Mathematics helps organize patterns and regularities in the world.

o Mathematics helps predict the behavior of nature and phenomena in the
world, as well as helps humans exert control over occurences in the world for the
advancement of our civilization.
o Mathematics helps control nature and occurrences for the world in our own
ends
o Mathematics has numerous applications in the world making it indispensable