MODULE 1: UNDERSTANDING LEARNING PATTERNS AND KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Discuss and argue about the nature of mathematics, what it is, how it is expressed,
represented, and used.
2. Identify patterns in nature and regularities in the world.
3. Articulate the Importance of Mathematics in one’s life
4. Argue about the nature of mathematics
5. Expresses appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavor

INTRODUCTION

 The foundation of the Mathematics in the Modern World is the Nature of Mathematics
 What is Mathematics? When you hear the word “Mathematics”, what comes into your mind?
What can you say about the two different pictures?

LESSON 1: THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

Definition:
 Mathematics is “the abstract science of number, quantity, and space. Mathematics may
be studied in its own right (pure mathematics), or as it is applied to other disciplines such
as physics and engineering (applied mathematics)”. – Oxford Dictionary
 Mathematics is “the study of numbers, shapes and patterns. It also includes the study of
such topic as quantity, structure, space and change”. – Wikipedia
 Mathematics is the science that deals with the logic of shape, quantity and arrangement.
– www.livescience.com
 Mathematics relies on both logic and creativity, and it is pursued both for a variety of
practical purposes and for its intrinsic interest. For some people, and not only professional
mathematicians, the essence of mathematics lies in its beauty and its intellectual
challenge. For others, including many scientists and engineers, the chief value of
mathematics is how it applies to their own work
 A woman thinking about the complexities of Mathematics

 Mathematics is about reasoning, making logical inferences and generalization.

 Is Mathematics helpful?
Mathematics is helpful in …
Crime Detection
Medicine and Research
Military Functions
Music (editing to perfection)
Camera Imaging
Engineering
Education
Finance
Essentially EVERYTHING!!!

 Myths and Facts about Mathematics

MYTHS vs FACTS
Some people just can’t do mathematics. Every adult and every child can do
mathematics.
Math takes place only in classroom. Mathematics literacy is deeply embedded
in the modern day workplace and in
everyday life.

Literacy in reading and writing. Literacy is far broader, including an

understanding of graphs, tables, statistics,
probability, etc…

Knowing number facts and procedural skills are no Knowing number facts and procedural
longer valued by teachers. skills has become a smaller portion of the
mathematics valued by teachers.

Students learn mate best through teacher – Students learn math best when they are
directed lessons. active participants in the learning process.
 Assessment should consists of tests and quizzes. Assessment should include a variety of
assessment tools such as journals,
portfolios, performance tasks, projects,
quizzes, tests, observations.

The use of calculators will have a negative impact When used appropriately, calculators
on students’ math skills. improve computational skills.
Manipulatives are for young children. Manipulatives help connect abstract
thought to something tangible – for
learners of All ages.

 Mathematics in Daily Life

Math at Home
Math at the Grocery Store
Math on the Go
Mathematics at games and leisure (Just for the fun of it)
Math and Money

 Use of Mathematics

Counting
Mathematics is the sole objective language human understand.

Nature
“The Universe cannot be read until we have learnt the language and became
familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical
language.” – Galileo Galilei

ACTIVITY 1

1. How do you use mathematics in your daily life? Cite 3

situations that you find it useful.
2. Is mathematics an effective way to describe the
world? Cite some examples.
 LESSON 2: PATTERNS AND NUMBERS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

In this discussion, we will be looking at patterns and regularities in the world, and how
MATHEMATICS comes into play, both in nature and in human endeavor. Before, the study of
patterns are simply logical, geometric, numbers and words. But now with the availability of
information in the net… there is so much more to discover.

The word pattern has been adopted from the French word, patron, which implies a
recurring event or object. The elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner and it can be
pictures, figures or numbers.
Patterns are part of our everyday life and are visible in shapes, color, and number and
object repetition. The Ndebele house painting is an example is everyday life where color and
shape are repeated to form a pattern.

Patterns are regular, repeated or recurring forms or designs. Pattern is a series or

sequence that repeats. Math patterns are sequences that repeat based on a rule, and a rule is
a set way to calculate or solve a problem. It helps to understand the world better.
Studying patterns helps us in identifying relationships and finding local connections to
form generalizations and make predictions.
Types of Patterns

1. Logic Pattern
It is the ability to discover meaningful patterns in strange and unpredictable situations. You
use Pattern Logic intuitively.

Example 1. Which of the figures can be used to continue the series given below?

Correct Answer: The base figure rotates at an angle of 45 o in the counterclockwise

direction, hence c is the answer.

2. Geometric Pattern
A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically
repeated like a wallpaper design. It is a collection of shapes, repeating or altered to create a
cohesive design.

Example 2. Which of the figures can be used to continue the series given below?

Correct Answer: In the given series, a figure is followed by the combination of itself and
its vertical inversion. Thus D is the right choice.
3. Word Pattern
Word patterns which are written in words that follows certain numerical sequence or
orders.

Example 3. Which two words are closest in meaning?

Composite, Synthetic, Shabby, Different, Pseudo, Symbolic

Correct Answer: Synthetic and pseudo. Synthetic means

4. Number Pattern
Number patterns are the patterns in which a list number that follows a certain
sequence. Generally, the patterns establish the relationship between two numbers. It is also
known as the sequences of series in numbers.

Example 4: which number should come next in this series?

10, 17, 26, 37, ?
A. 46
B. 52
C. 50
D. 56

Correct answer: C. 50, beginning with 3, each number in the series is a square of the
succeeding number plus 1.

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

Example
1. Butterfly

Noticed that the butterfly is symmetric about the axis indicated by the black line.
Note that the left and right portions are exactly the same. This type of symmetry is
called bilateral symmetry.
 2. Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man shows the proportion and symmetry of

the human body

3. Starfish

There are other types of symmetry depending on the number of sides or faces
that are symmetrical. Note that if you rotate the starfish by 72o, you can still achieve the
same appearance as the original position. This is known as the rotational symmetry.
The smallest measure of angle that a figure can be rotated while still preserving the
original position is called the angle of rotation. A more common way of describing
rotational symmetry is by order of rotation.

ACTIVITY 2

Create a design of wall paper, rosette or frieze pattern by hand or using

any application (eg. Geogebra)
 LESSON 3: THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

There is a simple sequence of numbers that appears in many places in nature called the
Fibonacci sequence. Named after Leonardo of Pisa, also known as Fibonacci.
The Fibonacci sequence is the series of numbers:
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...
The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it:
 the 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1),
 the 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2),
 the 5 is (2+3),
 and so on!
For additional information on Fibonacci and nature, please watch the video at
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Read https://etereaestudios.com/works/infinitepatterns/

ACTIVITY 3:

Create a Vlog accounting the important events leading to the discovery of

Fibonacci sequence.

LESSON 4: APPLICATIONS OF MATHEMATICS

 Real Life Application of Mathematics

Technology
Science
Business
Medicine
Artificial Intelligence
Construction
MANY OTHERS!!!

Importance and Applications of Mathematics

by Prof. Eric Von P. Valdez

1. Mathematics distinguishes us from animals

One of the things that make us distinct from animals is our ability to think and communicate
abstract ideas. One language for doing so is Mathematics.

2. Sports is enjoyed through Mathematics

Math is important to us who follow sports teams and have favorite athletes. Using Math,
we know how many games our team must win in a series in order to advance to the next round,
or how many games they can afford to lose in a season before being eliminated from the
 playoffs. Using Math, we measure the performance of our favorite players like their batting
average, points-per-game, or career high.

3. Mathematics teaches measurement

You need and do measurement whether you’re cooking a meal or seeing how much
you’ve grown. Learning measurement would not be possible without basic knowledge of Math.
Kilos, kilometers, liters, inches, and feet are mathematical units of measurement that are
useful in our daily lives.

4. Math develops logic and critical thinking

Inherent in Math is the principle that things have specific logic and order. Math-oriented
students apply this philosophy to everyday things. Math subjects like Algebra and
Trigonometry teach how to logically arrive at one step from another and to make conclusions.
In many ways, Mathematics teaches people how to think and be organized.

5. Finance and budgeting use Math

In shopping for groceries, paying for your children’s tuition, or buying new appliances,
you have to know Mathematics. You’ll have to determine how much money you have and how
much of it you can spend. In making financial decisions, knowledge of mathematics is
necessary.

6. Math is used in interpreting numbers

The ability to interpret numbers is as important as the capacity to read or write. If you
are driving on a highway (say Commonwelth Avenue) at 75 KPH, and you see a sign saying
that the speed limit is 60 KPH, you must be able to realize that you are 15 KPH over the speed
limit and must slow down accordingly.

7. Math keeps your brain in shape

Studies show that Mathematics keeps our brain healthy. It stimulates neural activities
and keeps our brain working. This slows down or prevents things like senescence and natural
cell aging. Keeping our brain in shape also prevents strokes. Math thus leads to a healthier
lifestyle.

8. Math is used in making music

Music production requires a solid knowledge of mathematics. Music’s tempo, pitch,
and volume are actually mathematical functions. Tempo is a proportion, pitch is a property of
a sound wave, and volume is measured in decibels which are in a logarithmic scale. EDM
(Electronic Dance Music), a new genre of music, is totally produced on computers. BPM
(Beats-per-minute) is a basic trait that mixing and producing EDM requires. Especially today,
making music thus means knowing Math.

9. Math is the language of Physical Sciences

Physical sciences like Physics and Chemistry uses a lot of mathematics. Physics deals
with projectiles, waves, circuits, and other topics. The subject is very important in engineering.
Chemistry also involves a lot of Mathematics as it works by using formula, equations, and
computations.
10. Binary: 0101000001110010011011110110011101110010011000010110
Mathematics is used in computer programming. Computers are the future of almost all
aspects of our life. All major businesses and transactions are expected to be computerized
sooner or later. But computers cannot function on their own. They are programmed using the
principles of Logic and Mathematics such as the logarithms and algorithms. With enough
mathematics knowledge, you might even be able to decipher the title of this paragraph.

Recommended videos to watch:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpv06SFHtRg

ACTIVITY 4:

1. Create a 5 minutes video and upload it in you tube.

2. Choose from the following topic content: “Real Life Application of Mathematics”
or “Mathematics in Nature: Pattern and symbols”

References:

1. Adam, John A. Mathematics in Nature: Modelling Patterns in the natural world

2. Adam, John A. Mathematical Nature walk
3. Aufman, R et.al Mathematical Excursions. 3rd Ed.
4. COMAP Inc. For all practical purposes, Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics
2nd Ed.
5. Fisher, Carol Burns. The Language of Mathematics