Urdaneta City University | College of Arts and Sciences Study Guide | Mathematics in the Modern World
MODULE 1: MATHEMATICS IN OUR WORLD
TOPIC OUTLINE
o Lesson 1: Patterns and Numbers in Nature
o Lesson 2: Fibonacci Sequence
o Lesson 3: Golden Ratio
o Lesson 4: Pascal’s Triangle
(Stewart,
2010)
PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE
What is mathematics?
Patterns are forms or designs that are regular, repeated, or
➢ Mathematics is defined as the study of numbers and recurring.
arithmetic operations.
➢ A set of tools or a collection of skills that can be • Symmetries
applied to questions of “how many” and “how much”.
Symmetry allows us to draw an imaginary line across
➢ An art which studies patterns for predictive purposes
an object such that resulting parts are mirror images of one
or a specialized language which deals with form, size
another.
and quantity.
The butterfly is symmetric about the axis represented by
the black solid line. Observe that the left and right parts are
exactly the same. This type of symmetry is known as the
bilateral (or line) symmetry. The human body also
possesses this type of symmetry.
Another type of symmetry is the rotational symmetry. Note
that a snowflake is rotated by certain degrees, we can
recover a figure that is exactly the same as the original.
The smallest angle with which a figure can be rotated while
preserving the original form is called the angle of rotation.
Urdaneta City University | College of Arts and Sciences Study Guide | Mathematics in the Modern World
FIBONACCI SEQUENCE (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21,…)
➢ A sequence of numbers generated by summing the two Pineapples Grow in a Numerical Sequences
previous terms in the sequence.
➢ An interesting sequence called Fibonacci sequence that
was named after Leonardo of Pisa because he was born
in Pisa, Italy.
➢ Fibonacci is the shortened word for the latin term “filius
bonacci” which stands for “son of Bonaccio”
➢ The most popular contribution of Leonardo Pisano is the
number that we see in the petals of flowers.
➢ The pattern of Fibonacci sequence can be seen in
nature. The spiral arrangement of sunflower seeds, the
number of petals in a flower, and the spirals on a Fibonacci sequence in Rabbit populations
pinecone are among the patterns in nature that contain
Fibonacci numbers.
Fibonacci spirals in sunflowers
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Urdaneta City University | College of Arts and Sciences Study Guide | Mathematics in the Modern World
The principle behind the Fibonacci numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21,…
Let 𝐹𝑛 be the nth integer in the Fibonacci sequence.
If n=1 then 𝐹1 = 1, n=2 then 𝐹2 = 1, n=3 then 𝐹3 = 2, n=4
then 𝐹4 = 3, n=5 then 𝐹5 = 5, n=6 then 𝐹6 = 8 and so on.
Recurrence relation for Fibonacci sequence
The Fibonacci sequence satisfies the recurrence relation
𝑓𝑛 = 𝑓𝑛−1 + 𝑓𝑛−2
for 𝑛 = 2,3,4, … with initial conditions 𝑓0 = 0 and 𝑓1 = 1.
Using the recurrence relation,
𝑓2 = 𝑓2−1 + 𝑓2−2 = 𝑓1 + 𝑓0 = 1 + 0 = 1,
𝑓3 = 𝑓3−1 + 𝑓3−2 = 𝑓2 + 𝑓1 = 1 + 1 = 2,
𝑓4 = 𝑓4−1 + 𝑓4−2 = 𝑓3 + 𝑓2 = 2 + 1 = 3,
𝑓5 = 𝑓5−1 + 𝑓5−2 = 𝑓4 + 𝑓3 = 3 + 2 = 5,
𝑓6 = 𝑓6−1 + 𝑓6−2 = 𝑓5 + 𝑓4 = 4 + 3 = 8,
𝑓7 = 𝑓7−1 + 𝑓7−2 = 𝑓6 + 𝑓5 = 5 + 5 = 13,
𝑓8 = 𝑓8−1 + 𝑓8−2 = 𝑓7 + 𝑓6 = 6 + 8 = 21,
𝑓9 = 𝑓9−1 + 𝑓9−2 = 𝑓8 + 𝑓7 = 7 + 13 = 34
Now, we have this so- called Binet’s formula that allows us
to determine the 𝑛th Fibonacci number without having to
compute the two preceding Fibonacci numbers.
Binet’s formula
𝑛 𝑛
1 1 + √5 1 − √5
𝑓𝑛 = [( ) −( ) ]
√5 2 2
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Urdaneta City University | College of Arts and Sciences Study Guide | Mathematics in the Modern World
The approximate value of 𝜑 is 1.618……...
The ratios of successive Fibonacci numbers approach the Golden
ratio 𝜑:
Example application of Golden Ratio
THE GOLDEN RATIO
The Golden ratio, denoted by φ, is a mathematical ratio that is visible
in works of art and architecture such as the Last Supper and the
Parthenon. Shapes and figures are said to be aesthetically pleasing
if they have this ratio.
We find the golden ratio by dividing a line into two parts so that the PASCAL’S TRIANGLE
long part divided by the short part is also equal to the whole length Pascal’s Triangle was named after Blaise Pascal, a great French
divided by the long part, that is, mathematician and philosopher. Pascal’s Triangle contains many
interesting number patterns. Aside from these interesting patterns,
Pascal’s triangle also provides the ideal law of cell division.
Pascal’s triangle is constructed by writing 1 at the top center and
writing two 1’s on the next row, forming a triangle. For the
𝑎 𝑎+𝑏 subsequent row/s start and end with 1’s filling out the interior
= =𝜑 term/s by adding the two numbers above it.
𝑏 𝑎
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Urdaneta City University | College of Arts and Sciences Study Guide | Mathematics in the Modern World
Binomial Expansion
The Pascal’s Triangle can also be used in expanding the
expansion of the form (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑛 , where n is a whole number. We
note that for 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 we get the following expansions.
Fibonacci Sequence
Let us look closely at what pattern can we obtain from the
Pascal’s Triangle if we write it differently, that is, if we align the
entries in the triangle with the left margin, see figure below.
Writing the Pascal’s Triangle this way and adding the diagonal
entries give us the Fibonacci sequence. Examining each of the expansions above lead us to the following
observations:
a. Each term of the expansions has exponents that, when
added, gives the power to which 𝑥 + 𝑦 is raised.
b. Exponents of 𝑥 starts with 𝑛 and decrease to 0. On the
contrary, the exponents of 𝑦 starts with zero and increase
to 𝑛. Thus, there are no 𝑥 and 𝑦 variables in the last and
first terms, respectively.
c. The coefficients are the entries on the 𝑛 th row of the
Pascal’s Triangle.
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Name: ________________________________________________ Score: ___________
Code: __________________________ Date: ____________
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Prelim Activity No.2
Patterns and Numbers in Nature
Take a photo of a mathematical pattern in nature around you and describe/explain
the pattern that you see in the image. (Plagiarism will be observed.)
(paste here)
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Name: ________________________________________________ Score: ___________
Code: __________________________ Date: ____________
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Prelim Activity No.3
The Fibonacci Sequence (Binet’s Formula)
Determine the 25th term in the Fibonacci sequence using Binet’s Formula. Show your complete solutions.
𝑛 𝑛
1 1+√5 1−√5
𝐹𝑛 = ቀ 2 ቁ − ቀ 2 ቁ ൨
√5
Determine the 30th term in the Fibonacci sequence using Binet’s Formula. Show your complete solutions.
𝑛 𝑛
1 1+√5 1−√5
𝐹𝑛 = 5
ቀ 2
ቁ −ቀ 2
ቁ ൨
√
Name: ________________________________________________ Score: ___________
Code: __________________________ Date: ____________
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Prelim Activity No.4
The Golden Ratio
Measure the following:
• Distance from the ground to your belly button
• Distance from your belly button to the top of your head
• Distance from the ground to your knees
• Distances A, B and C
• Length of your hand
• Distance from your wrist to your elbow
Now calculate the following ratios:
1. Distance from the ground to your belly button / Distance from your belly button to the
top of your head
2. Distance from the ground to your belly button / Distance from the ground to your knees
3. Distance C / Distance B
4. Distance B / Distance A
5. Distance from your wrist to your elbow / Length of your hand
Write all your results on the following table:
Ratio 1 Ratio 2 Ratio 3 Ratio 4 Ratio 5
Can you see anything special about these ratios?
Name: ________________________________________________ Score: ___________
Code: __________________________ Date: ____________
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Prelim Activity No.5
The Pascal’s Triangle
Write the numbers in the Pascal’s triangle. The first six have already been given.
1 1
1 2 1
