MMW_SA1_DE GUIA

Vol. 1; Issue 113

In this magazine, photos with different
patterns and figures are showcased
through the lens of the one and only,
Angela Faye B. De Guia. This collaboration
of the leading publication Math-Era
Matibye Publications with Ms. Angela is
mathematically inspired but also
environment friendly. With every purchase
of a copy of this magazine, a tree will be
planted to help restore the beauty of our
environment as well as to provide shelter
for wildlife.

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-CALAMAN SI- -COIN-

If one looks closely, geometrical shapes can be found
anywhere. The shape of an egg, an oval, a table that can be a
square, rectangle, or circle, and the shape of a beehive’s cells,
which are hexagons, are some geometrical shapes found in
our surroundings. These shapes can either be 2-dimensional
or 3-dimensional. Circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles
are examples of 2D geometrical shapes, while spheres, cones,
cubes, and cylinders are examples of 3D geometrical shapes.
To provide a much more realistic example, shown above is an
image of a calamansi and a 5 Peso coin. These pictures show
that a calamansi is a real-life example of a 3-dimensional
geometrical shape because it is similar to a globe or a ball
that is also spherical. On the other hand, the 5 Peso coin is a
real-life example of a 2-dimensional geometric shape because
it is similar to a wheel or a clock that is also circular.

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-ONION S- -LA Y E R S-

In mathematics, symmetry pertains to an image

that looks exactly like its other half despite being moved,
rotated, and flipped. Objects, structures, and
symmetrical patterns possess balance, proportion, and
harmony, which is perceived as aesthetical. The opposite
of symmetry, asymmetry, can also be viewed
aesthetically, but asymmetry doesn’t have the
characteristics. Back to symmetry, an imaginary line
called the line of symmetry is used to split an image into
mirroring halves. This line can be vertical, horizontal, or
diagonal, and an object may possess one or more lines
of symmetry. An example of symmetry, as shown above,
is an onion. When an onion is cut vertically in half, both
halves show the same layers of an onion. In this
example, 1 line of symmetry is used to achieve
symmetry.
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-ROSE S- -P E TALS-

Fibonacci sequence pertains to a series of numbers
wherein the numbers are from the sum of the last two
numbers which starts with 0 and 1. When these numbers
are made into squares, a spiral can be created. Connecting
the Fibonacci sequence to nature, some structures and
forms can be found on plants. This series of numbers plays
an essential role in studying the arrangement of leaves,
branches, flowers, or seeds in plants which is also known
as phyllotaxis. To give a better example on how the
Fibonacci Sequence can be seen in flowers. Above are
pictures of a rose. The arrangement of its petals is similar
to a Fibonacci spiral, and new sets of rose petals would
grow in the spaces between the previous set. This just
proves how the Fibonacci numbers can also be found in
nature.

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-F I S T- - HA N D -

The Golden Ratio also referred to as the Golden
Section, Golden Mean, Divine Proportion, or Greek letter
Phi, is a number that is approximately equal to 1.618. To
find the golden ratio, the longer part of a line is divided by
the short part. This would result to 1.618 which is the
Golden ratio. Similarly, if the short and long parts are
added and divided by the long part, it would give the
same result as the first example. To have a deeper
understanding of the Golden Ratio, provided are pictures
of a hand that is fisted and a hand that is sprawled out.
When a hand is fisted, a spiral is formed, similar to the
golden ratio. Another example would be how many bones
there are for each finger (3), how many hands a human
has (2), and how many fingers each hand has (5). The
numbers 2, 3, and 5 are all Fibonacci numbers which is
the origin of the Golden Ratio.

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-T R E E S-

Fractals pertain to self-repeating patterns that repeat
in different scales and sizes. These patterns can be seen
almost everywhere. When there’s a storm, the lightning is
a fractal pattern. Similar to that, the veins in the human
body look exactly the same. Other examples of fractals
would be river deltas which Eddie Woo also mentioned in a
TED talk, growth spirals found in cactuses, flowers,
Romanesco broccoli, and many more. To visualize fractals,
above are pictures of trees that possess fractal patterns.
Looking closely at the branches of the trees, the trunk
would lead to branches that split into more branches that
are smaller in size. This fractal pattern doesn’t only appear
in the branches but also in the leaves of the tree. The
leaves would also have fractals that look like veins. This
shows the presence of fractals everywhere in our
environment.

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With all the patterns discussed in the
magazine, it is clear that mathematics is present in
nature. It is present in the things that we see and
use in our daily lives. In a wider perspective,
mathematics is used to understand the world. In
our society, we are faced with different issues that
may be simple or too complex for our minds.
Through different concepts of mathematics, these
issues are somehow easier to understand. Algebra
for example, has the ability to explain the
contamination of water and how it can make people
sick on a yearly basis. Geometry is also used to
interpret the science behind architecture. Death
tolls caused by natural disasters and calamities are
estimated using statistics and probability. These
examples reveals that math indeed has the power
to give us a deeper understanding of our world. The
presence of mathematics in our nature, may it be
through patterns or how mathematics plays a vital
role in solving issues that involve nature, is enough
for us to recognize the connection of mathematics
with nature. If we look closely, mathematics is also
present in our bodies. As fractals do, we must
continue to grow in different scales and see that
mathematics is not just numbers. Mathematics is
one with nature and so are we.

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Special Thanks To:

Mr. Edward Andaya
F EU – Manila
Family
Friends

Hoping for more good days!

Till the next adventure,

Angela