The emergence of digital Technology has sparked a

monumental rise in the rate at which we consume and produce

data. Before the Internet, it could take hours to get several
volumes of resources from the library for a research paper.
Today, a few minutes using your mobile device`s browser could
get you the same information or even more.
A few Decades ago, it took hours for photographs to be
printed and shared. Now, it only takes a matter of seconds for
your perfect selfie to be uploaded and viewed by tour relatives
and friends on the other side of the world.
In this fast-paced society, how often have you stopped to
appreciate the beauty of the things around you? Have you ever
paused and pondered about the underlying principles that govern
the universe? How about contemplating about the processes and
mechanisms that make our lives easier, if not more comfortable?
Most people do the same routine tasks every day and
fundamental concepts that make these activities possible are
often overlooked.
As rational creatures, we tend to identify and follow
patterns, whether consciously or subconsciously. Recognizing
patterns feels natural, like our brain is hardwired to recognize
them. Early humans recognized the repeating interval of day and
night, the cycle of the moon, the rising and falling tides, and the
changing of the seasons. Awareness of these patterns allowed
humans to survive. In a similar fashion, many flora and fauna also
follow certain patterns such as the arrangement of leaves and
stems in a plant, the shape of a snowflake, the flowers` petals, or
even the shape of snail`s shell.
Do you also notice patterns around you? What other
examples can you think of?
 PATTERNS AND NUMBER IN NATURE AND THE WORLD
EXAMPLE 1:
What is the next pattern below?

A B
EXAMPLE 2:
What is the next figure in the given pattern?

A B
EXAMPLE 3:
What number comes next in
1,3,5,7,9____?

EXAMPLE 4:
What number comes next in
1,4,9,16,25,___?
• PATTERNS indicate a sense of structure and organization
that it seems only humans are capable of producing these
intricate, creative, and amazing formations. It is from this
perspective that some people see an "intelligent designs“ in
the way that nature forms.
• SNOWFLAKES AND HONECOMBS
Recall that SYMMETRY indicates that you can draw an
imaginary line across an object and the resulting parts are
mirror images of each other.
The figure is a symmetry about the
axis indicated by the dotted line.
Note that the left and right portions
are exactly the same. This type of
symmetry, known as line or bilateral
symmetry, is evident in most animals,
including humans. Look in a mirror
and see how the left and right sides
of your face closely match.
SPIDERWORT WITH THREE-FOLD STARFISH WITH FIVE-FOLD
SYMMETRY SYMMETRY
Note that if you rotate the spiderwort and
starfish above by several degrees, you can
still achieve the same appearance as the
original position. This is known as
ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY. The smallest
angle that a figure can be rotated while
still preserving the original formation called
ANGLE OF ROTATION. For spiderwort, the
angle of rotation is 120° while the angle of
rotation for the starfish is 72°.
• A figure has a rotational symmetry of order n (n-fold rotational
symmetry) if 1/n of complete turn leaves the figure unchanged.
• To compute for the angle of rotation, we use the following
formula.
360°
Angle of Rotation =
𝑛
Consider the image
of snowflakes:
It can be observed that the patterns on a
snowflake repeat six times, indicating that
there is a six-fold symmetry. To determine the
angle of rotation, we simply divide 360° by
6 to get 60°.
Many combinations and complex shapes of
snowflakes may occur, which lead some
people to think that “no two are alike“. If you
look closely, however, many snowflakes are
not perfectly symmetric due to the effects of
humidity and temperature on the ice crystal
as it forms.
• Another marvel of nature`s design is the
structure and shape of a honeycomb.
People have long wondered how bees,
despite their very small size, are able to
produce such arrangement while humans
would generally need the use of ruler and
compass to accomplish the same feat. It Is
observed that such formation enables to
bee colony to maximize their storage of
honey using smallest amount of wax.
SQUARE PACKING HEXAGONAL PACKING
Translating this idea to Three-Dimensional space,
we can conclude that the Hexagonal formations
are more optimal in making use of available
space. These are referred to as PACKING
PROBLEMS which involve finding the optimum
method of filling up a given space such as a cubic
or spherical container. The bees have instinctively
found the best solution, evident in the hexagonal
construction of their hives. These geometric
patterns are not only simple and beautiful, but
optimally functional.
Patterns are also exhibited in the external
appearances of animals. We are familiar
with how a tiger looks--- distinctive
reddish-orange fur and dark stripes.
Hyenas, another predator from Africa,
are also covered in patterns of spots.
These seemingly random designs are
believed to be governed by mathematical
equations. According to a theory by Alan
Turin, the man famous for breaking the
Enigma Code during World War II,
chemical reactions and diffusion processes
in cells determine these growth patterns.
More recent studies addressed the
question of why some species grow vertical
stripes while others have horizontal ones.
• A new model by Harvard University
researchers predicts that there are
three variables that could affect the
orientation of these stripes– the
substance that amplifies the density of
stripe patterns; the substance that
changes one of the parameters
involved in stripe formation; and the
physical change in the direction of the
origin of the stripe.
The Sunflower
Looking at a sunflower up close,
you will notice that there is a
definite pattern of clockwise
and counterclockwise arcs or
spirals extending outward from
the center of the flower. This is
another demonstration of how
nature works to optimize the
available space. This
arrangement allows the
sunflower seeds to occupy the
sunflower head in a way that
maximizes their access to light
and necessary nutrients.
SPIRAL PATTERNS
The most common spiral patterns can be seen in whirlpools and in
the shells of snails and other similar mollusks. Snails are born with
their shells, called PROTOCONCH, which start out as fragile and
colorless. Eventually , these original shells harden as the snails
consume calcium. As the snails grow, their shells also expand
proportionately so that they can continue to live inside their shells.
This process results in a refined spiral structure that is even more
visible when shell is sliced. This figure is called EQUIANGULAR
SPIRAL, follows the rule that as the distance from the spiral center
increases (radius), the amplitudes of the angles formed by radii to
the point and the tangent to the point remain constant. This is
another example of how nature seems to follow a certain set of
rules governed by mathematics.
Flowers are easily considered as things of beauty. Their vibrant
colors and fragrant odors make them very appealing as gifts or
decorations. If you look more closely, you will note that different
flowers have different number of petals. Take the iris and trillium,
for example. Both flowers have only 3 petals.

IRIS TRILLIUM
• Flowers with five petals are said to be the most common. These
include buttercup, columbine, and habiscus. Among those flowers
with eight petals are clematis and delphinium, while ragwort
and marigold have thirteen. These number are all fibonacci
numbers.
As of 2017, it is estimated that the world population is about 7.6
billion. World leaders, sociologists, and anthropologists are
interested in studying population, including its growth.
Mathematics can be used to model population growth. Recall that
the formula for exponential growth is A= 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 .
Where:
A= is the size of the population after it grows
P= initial number of people
r= rate of growth
t= time
e= Euler`s constant with an approximate value of 2.718
EXAMPLE 1:
The exponential growth model
0.02𝑡
A=30𝑒 describes the population
of a city in the Philippines in thousands,
t years after 1995.
a. What was the population of the city
in 1995?
b. What will be the population in
2017?
EXAMPLE 2:
The exponential growth model
A= 50𝑒 0.07𝑡 describes the population
of a city in the Philippines in
thousands, t years after 1997.
a. What is the population after 20
years?
b. What is the population in 2037?