Module 3
MATHEMATICS
AS A STUDY OF
PATTERNS
SECTION 5
THE STUDY OF
PATTERNS
Watch: Gods Fingerprint→ The Fibonacci
Sequence - Golden Ratio and The Fractal Nature
of Reality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VrcO6JaMrM&t=659s
Math as a Study of Patterns
⚫Mathematics is the science of patterns
and relationships.
⚫Patterns provide a sense of order.
⚫It allows one to make an educated guess.
⚫Investigating the patterns that one finds in
numbers, shapes and expressions would
lead to making new discoveries
⚫Patterns, relationships and functions
constitute a unifying theme of
mathematics
Patterns and Relationships
⚫Patterns are an effective way to
demonstrate the relationship between
variables.
⚫It provides opportunities to model and to
analyze situations.
⚫It gives opportunities for problem solving,
making and verifying generalizations, and
building mathematical understanding and
confidence.
What is needed?
In order to recognize patterns, one needs
◦ critical thinking
◦ logical reasoning
✔Important skills needed by everyone!
What Patterns?
⚫Number Patterns
⚫Geometric Patterns
⚫Logic Patterns
Number Patterns
⚫ Itis a list or set of numbers that follow a
certain sequence or property
⚫ An ordered list of numbers
⚫ What is the next term? What rule or
formula can be used to generate the terms?
◦ Arithmetic sequences
◦ Geometric sequences
◦ Other number sequences
Arithmetic Sequences
⚫An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of
numbers such that the difference of any
two successive members of the sequence
is a constant called the common
difference d.
Arithmetic Sequences
Geometric Sequences
⚫A geometric sequence is a sequence of
numbers where each term after the first
is found by multiplying the previous one
by a fixed, non-zero number called the
common ratio r.
Geometric Sequences
Sequences with fixed differences
Other Number Sequences
⚫Sequence of squares: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36,
49, 64, 81, ...
⚫Sequence of cubes: 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216,
343, 512, 729, ...
⚫Fibonacci Sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,
21, 34, 55, 89, ...
After 0 and 1, each new number in the
sequence is the sum of the previous two
numbers
Other Number Sequences
⚫Sequence of Triangular Numbers: 1, 3, 6,
10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, ...
Other Number Sequences
⚫Pascal’s Triangle (named after Blaise Pascal, a
famous French Mathematician and Philosopher)
Geometric Patterns
⚫Patterns formed from sequences of lines
and curves to form geometric shapes and
figures
⚫Motifs, patterns, or designs depicting
abstract, nonrepresentational shapes such
as lines, circles, ellipses, triangles, and
polygons
Logic Patterns
⚫Essentially a combination of number and
geometric patterns
⚫Instances where numerical sequences are
a result of a corresponding geometric
figure
Diagonals of a Polygon