© Ogan Gurel

Beauty in Mathematics
Ogan Gurel, MD

The mathematicians’ patterns, like the painter’s or the poet’s, must be beautiful; the ideas, like the colours or
the words, must fit together in a harmonious way. Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the
world for ugly mathematics.
 G. H. Hardy

as imagination bodies forth

The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
 Shakespeare, A Midsummer-Night’s Dream

Everything from Nothing

Area of Example / result Theorem Physical example
mathematics

Set Theory Derivation of natural numbers

from the empty set
Number Theory Fundamental Theorem
of Arithmetic
Euclid’s proof of the
Infinitude of Primes
Rational and irrational numbers Pythagorean proof of the
incommensurability of
root 2
Fibonacci Numbers & the Petal arrangements
Golden number
Real Analysis The construction of the real Countability of the
numbers naturals and
nondenumerability of
the continuum
Algebra Solving equations; implications
for number
Complex numbers Fundamental Theorem
of Algebra
Encompasses, e, pi, i, 1, Euler’s Formula
addition, and multiplication ...
all leading back to 0
© Ogan Gurel

The universe of symmetry

Symmetry denotes that sort of concordance of several parts by which they integrate into a whole. Beauty is
bound up with symmetry.
 H. Weyl

Area of Example / result Theorem Physical example

mathematics

Set Theory Empty set as embodying the Before the Big Bang
most symmetry
Group Theory Definition of Symmetry
Symmetry operations and
symmetry elements
Platonic Solids
Euclidean Group Ornamental Symmetry Clathrin-coated pits
and the planar Fedorov
groups (17).
Broken symmetry From the Big Bang onwards
Topology Polyhedra Euler’s Theorem
Topological equivalence & Jordan separation Cell membranes and protein
topological invariants theorem synthesis

All is wave
Symmetry denotes that sort of concordance of several parts by which they integrate inot a whole. Beauty is
bound up with symmetry.
 H. Weyl

Area of Example / result Theorem Physical example

mathematics

Trigonometry Translation of angular

measures into linear measures
Group Theory Definition of Symmetry
Symmetry operations and
symmetry elements
Platonic Solids
Euclidean Group Ornamental Symmetry Clathrin-coated pits
and the planar Fedorov
groups (17).
Broken symmetry From the Big Bang onwards
Topology Polyhedra Euler’s Theorem
Topological equivalence & Jordan separation Cell membranes
topological invariants theorem