NATURE OF MATHEMATICS

What is Mathematics?

➢ Comes from the Greek word (máthēma), which, in the

Logical Sequence
ancient Greek language, means “that which is learnt”, or
“lesson” in modern Greek. • Ideas in mathematics need to flow in an order
that makes sense. The sequence can naturally
➢ Máthēma is derived from “mathano” while the
modern Greek equivalent is “mathaino” which means “to match what
what the occurs
reader in a to
needs text (main ideas)means
understand.It and
learn”.
that each step can be derived logically from the
➢ as the science of structure, order, and relations that preceding steps.
has evolved from elemental practices of counting,
measuring, and describing the shapes and characteristics
of objects. -Encyclopedia Britannica

Structure
• In mathematics, a structure on a set is an
additional mathematical object that is related to
that given set in some particular characteristic or
manner, and attaches (or relates) to that set to
endow it with some additional meaning or
significance. The structure on a particular
mathematical set will allow mathematicians to
study the set further and find its relationship with
other objects

Classification
• Within logical-mathematical knowledge is the
process of classification which represents the
first step towards learning more complex
mathematical concepts. Classification generates
a series of mental relations through which
objects are grouped according to similarities and
differences depending on specific criteria such
as shape, color, size, etc.
Precision and Accuracy
• Accuracy is how close a measured value is to
the actual (true) value. It is the degree to which
a given quantity is correct and free from error.
Precision, on the other hand, is how close the
measured values are to each other. The
concepts of accuracy and precision are both science as there is mathematics therein." Many
closely related and are often confused with each agree that the problem of understanding the
other significant link between mathematics and
modern science is an interesting and significant
challenge for the philosopher of mathematics.

Abstractness
• Abstraction is the process of extracting the
underlying essence of a mathematical concept
by taking away any dependence on real-world
objects. Techniques and methods in abstraction
deal with quantitative relations and spatial forms
and their interrelationships with one another. It
has a great significance in understanding
concepts in other disciplines.

Generalization
• Making generalizations is fundamental to
mathematics. It is a skill that must be developed
among students. It is of vital importance in a
functioning society. The Webster Dictionary
defines generalization as the process of "finding
and singling out [of properties] in a whole class
of similar objects.

Symbolism
• The language of mathematics is the system
used by mathematicians to communicate
mathematical ideas using symbols instead of
words. This language is uniquely constructed in
such a way that all mathematicians understand
symbolic notations and mathematical formulas.

Applicability
• The applicability of mathematics can lie
anywhere on a spectrum from the completely
simple (trivial) to the utterly complex
(mysterious). Mathematics can be used in all
A science of measures
fields of human endeavor.
• Measurement is an integral part of modern
• According to Kant, "in any special doctrine of
science as well as of engineering, commerce,
nature, there can be only as much proper
and daily life. It is an activity that involves
interaction with a concrete system with the aim can enhance our logical reasoning.
of representing aspects of that system in
abstract terms if "concrete" implies "real." It often
An intuitive method
involves the representation of ideal systems
• Mathematicians have traditionally regarded
intuition as a way of understanding proofs and
Intellectual game conceptualizing problems. Proving theorems is
• Intellectual games are games of skill that require not mechanical; proving theorems does require
significant intelligence and cognitive effort. These formal manipulation. Yet, it also requires the use
games may be largely based on a wide or deep of intuition, the ability to see what is reasonable
knowledge, where the major test is the person's or not, and the ability to put all these together.
ability to remember and recall. Discovering patterns
in mathematics needs patterns of intellectual skills
that make one mathematical abstraction a reality. MATHEMATICS AS A SCIENCE OF PATTERN
Games and mathematics both require a strong
dose of patience, restraint, and concentration. PATTERN

➢ Visible regularity in the world or in man-made design.

The art of drawing conclusion
➢ In mathematical sense, refer to the study of “tilings”
• Making sense of this world is a natural
“and wallpaper symmetries.”
characteristic that everyone must develop.
Making sense of mathematics using logical
thinking is the foundation of reasoning and proof
standard. Being able to reason is essential to
understanding mathematics. Reasoning is a way
to use mathematical knowledge and to generate
Pattern recognition is a key determinant of logical,
and solidify new mathematical ideas.
verbal, numerical and spatial abilities.

-Logic Pattern

-Symbol Pattern

-Number Pattern

A tool subject -Word Pattern

Logic Patterns
• In many fields
undeniably of human
a highly activity,
powerful mathematics
instrument of is
• One kind of logic pattern deals with the characteristics
investigation. Mathematics is applied in the
of various objects. Another kind deals with order. Some
fields of engineering, theoretical and applied patterns appear in a sequence while some possess
physics, astronomy, aeronautics, architecture, similar attributes. These types of pattern are common in
geology, and geodetic survey. aptitude tests. • To construct or solve a pattern, find the
rule for the pattern, understand the nature of the
sequence, and analyze the difference between the two
successive terms.
A system of logical procedure
Number Patterns
• Problem-solving is an important component of
mathematics. It is more than a vehicle for • Mathematics is very useful in making predictions.
teaching and reinforcing mathematical Working with number patterns leads directly to the
concept of functions in mathematics. It is important that
knowledge and helping to meet everyday
students are able to recognize number patterns to help
challenges. Problem-solving is also a skill which them develop their problem-solving skill.
• The first step in determining the rule that defines the to be symmetrical, they must be of the same size and
pattern is to look for differences between two shape, with one object having a different orientation
consecutive numbers. The number pattern helps make a from the first. Not all objects have symmetry. If an object
generalization of how the numbers are arranged in a is not symmetrical, it is
sequence. If there is no logic (addition, subtraction, called asymmetric.
multiplication, division, squares, cubes, primes, etc.) in
the differences, find other operations used in the
pattern. • If the numbers in a pattern change in the same
way or in the same value each time, then that type of
pattern is called a repeating pattern.

Word Patterns

• Patterns can also be found in language. The metrical

patterns of poems and the syntactic patterns of how
nouns are made plural or how verbs are changed to past
tense are both word patterns. Language is a way to
communicate in inductive mathematics.

• consonant blends (words with a group of two or three

consonants that each make its own soundgrow, blend,
sleeve, stair, sweet, free, blood, clothes).

• consonant digraphs (words with two or three letters

that come together to create a single sound, for
example, chest, shop, sheep, brush, shirt, shade).

• vowel diphthongs (vowels that glide in the middle boil,

now, soil, brown, cloud, rain, meat, bout, cow).

• vowel digraphs (a spelling pattern in which two or

more adjoining letters represent a single vowel sound-
school, clean, each, feet, moon, cheese). TESSELLATION OR A TILING
➢ pattern of shapes that fit perfectly together, that is, a
pattern of shapes that have no overlaps or gaps.

PATTERN IN NATURE
• Millions of patterns can be found in the environment.
These patterns occur in various forms and in different
WAVES
contexts which can be modeled
mathematically. Some
➢ People are familiar with waves especially if they love
examples are symmetries,
the seas and oceans. It is possible to look at waves
trees, spirals, waves,
mathematically because the shape of a wave repeats
tessellations, stripes,
itself over a consistent period of time.
meanders, cracks, and many
more.

SYMMETRY SPOTS AND STRIPES

➢ Current researches in biology have created convincing
➢ comes from a Greek word
models of patterns as diverse as zebrastripes, giraffe
which means "to measure
blotches, jaguar spots (medium-dark patches surrounded
together." Mathematically.
by dark broken rings), and ladybird shell patterns
symmetry means that one
(different geometrical layouts of spots and stripes).
shape becomes exactly like
another shape when you
SPIRAL
move it in some way: turn,
flip, or slide. For two objects
➢ In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which starts from a solve a problem, one must be able to collect the
point, moving farther away as it revolves around the appropriate information, identify a strategy or strategies,
point. Pinecones have seed pods that arrange in a spiral and use the strategy appropriately
pattern. They consist of a pair of spirals, each one
twisting upwards in opposing directions. Problem-solving is a process and involves three basic
functions: seeking information, generating new
THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS knowledge, and making decisions.
“There is nothing specific to mathematics than the four
stages of problem-solving: understanding the problem,
The language of mathematics uses symbols to devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back.”
communicate mathematical ideas. The symbolic -George Polya
language of mathematics is a distinct, special-purpose Problem-solving
language. It has its own symbols and rules that are rather
different from spoken languages. It is not a dialect of ➢Deductive reasoning
English. It is mostly a written language. Simple
expressions can be pronounced, but complicated ➢Inductive reasoning
expressions may only be pointed to or referred to.
Deductive reasoning

➢ sometimes referred to as top-down logic. It start with

a general case and deduced specific instances.

Inductive reasoning
➢ Inductive reasoning- sometimes referred to as
bottomtop logic. Reasoning from specific case to derive
rule. For example wuzzle.

Inference can be done in four stages:

1. Observation - collecting facts without bias.

2. Analysis - classifying the facts; identifying patterns of

PROBLEM-SOLVING IN MATHEMATICS regularity.
3. Inference - from the patterns, making generalizations
about the relations between the facts.
PROBLEM-SOLVING 4. Confirmation - testing the inference through further
➢ refers to mathematical tasks that have the potential to observation.
provide intellectual challenges for enhancing your
mathematical understanding and development. It refers
to finding solutions and answers to problems using
different methods. Knowing how to solve problems in WORK WORD PROBLEMS
mathematics requires knowing what to look for. ➢ Work problems have direct real-life applications. We
Mathematical problems often require established often need to determine how many people are needed
procedures and determining when to apply them. To to complete a task within a given time. Alternatively,
given a limited number of workers, we often need to • Direct Variation
determine how long it takes to finish a project.
• Inverse Variation

• Joint Variation

• Combined variation

• Direct Square Variation

Direct Variation
➢ relationship between two quantities such that an
increase in one correspond to an increase in the other at
the same rate.

𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥

𝑘 is the constant of variation and 𝑘 ≠ 0

AGE WORD PROBLEMS

➢One application of linear equations is what are termed

age problems. When solving age problems, generally the
age of two different people (or objects) both now and in
the future (or past) are compared. The objective of these
problems is usually to find each subject’s current age.
ince there can be a lot of information in these problems,
a chart can be used to help organize and solve.
Inverse Variation
➢ relationship between two quantities or variable such
that when one variable increases, the other variable
decreases proportionally.

VARIATIONS
In a mathematical equation where a relationship is
established for some type of parameters normally two
types quantities exist. One is constant that does not
change with the changes of other parameters in the
Joint Variation
equation and another is the variables which change for
➢ relationship where one quantity increase (or
different situations. The changing of variable parameters
decreases) proportionally as the product of two other
is called as variation.
quantities quantity increase (or decreases).