Chapter 1

Mathematics in Nature

1.1 An Interesting Sequence

Let us begin with an activity. Consider two kinds of “trains," as shown below.

How many trains of length 3 can we form? There are three possible trains, which are:

Let us use the notation [1,1,1], [2,1], and [1,2], respectively, to represent each train drawn above.

On the next page, you will be asked to enumerate and count how many trains can be formed of a certain length.
Then you will be asked to find a pattern.

1
2 CHAPTER 1. MATHEMATICS IN NATURE

NAME: Eunice Care Madulara Lanaja

Complete the following table, using the instructions from the previous page. One row has been done for you.
 Length Trains that can be formed Number of trains

[1] 1
1

[1,1], [2] 2
2

3 [1,1,1],[1,2],[2,1] 3

[1,1,1,1],[2,2],[1,1,2],[2,1,1],[1,2,1] 5
4

[1,1,1,1,1],[2,2,2],[1,1,1,2],[1,2,2],[2,1,1,1], 8

[2,1,2],[1,2,11],[1,1,2,1]
5

[1,1,1,1,1,1],[2,2,2], [1,1,1,1,2],[1,1,1,2,1],
[1,1,2,1,1],[1,2,1,1,1],[2,1,1,1,1],[2,2,1,1],
13
[2,1,1,2], [1,1,2,2],[2,1,2,1],[1,2,1,2],

[1,2,2,1]
6

[1,1,1,1,1,1,1],[2,2,2,1],[2,2,1,2],[2,1,2,2],

[1,2,2,2],[1,1,1,2,2],[1,1,2,2,1],[1,2,2,1,1],

[2,2,1,1,1],[2,1,1,1,2],[2,1,2,1,1],[2,1,1,2,1], 21

[1,2,1,2,1],[1,2,1,1,2],[1,1,2,1,2],[2,1,1,1,1,1],

[1,2,1,1,1,1],[1,1,2,1,1,1],[1,1,1,2,1,1],

[1,1,1,1,2,1],[1,1,1,1,1,2]
7

Now, try to find a pattern formed by the numbers in the third column. Describe the pattern you observed.
Without listing all the trains of length 8, how many trains of length 8 can be formed based on the pattern you
observed?

Answer: 34

1.1. AN INTERESTING SEQUENCE 3

The numbers in the previous activity are part of the Fibonacci sequence.

Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence that starts with a1 = 1 and a2 = 1. Then, each successive term is
obtained by adding the previous two terms (i.e., an = an−1 + an−2 for n ≥ 3). A Fibonacci number is any
number that occurs in this sequence.

Write! List the first ten Fibonacci numbers in the space provided below.

It is said that Fibonacci numbers occur very often in nature. For example, the number of spirals going clockwise
and counter-clockwise are often consecutive Fibonacci numbers.

The number of leaves or petals is also often a Fibonacci number. A clover often has 3 leaves. The raflesia (the
largest flower, found in the mountains of Mindanao) has 5 petals. So do the Philippine national flowers, the
waling-waling and sampaguita. In a pineapple, there are 13 spirals in one direction and 8 (or 21) spirals in
another direction.

Raflesia flower Waling-waling

And the arrangements of leaves or petals is governed by the plant’s needs (i.e., how to receive sunlight without
being covered by other leaves or petals).
4 CHAPTER 1. MATHEMATICS IN NATURE

1.2 The Golden Ratio

The Fibonacci sequence starts with

1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,...

Compute the ratios of successive Fibonacci numbers and write your answers below (round off to four decimal
places).

=1 =2 =1.5

=1.6667 =1.6 = 1.625

=1.6153 =1.6190 =1.6176

Now calculate . Notice that the ratios of successive terms of the Fibonacci sequence get closer and closer
to this number. This number is called the golden ratio.
The Golden Ratio
√
1+ 5
The golden ratio (usually denoted by φ) the number ≈ 1.618.
2

It is said that the most beautiful rectangle is the one whose length is φ times its width (we call such a rectangle
the golden rectangle). The Parthenon of ancient Greece is a classic example of how the golden ratio appears in
architecture.

Measure! Find any TV, computer, or cellphone screen. Divide the measure of the length by the width. You’ll see
that the answer is close to the golden ratio.
1.2. THE GOLDEN RATIO 5

NAME: Eunice Care Madulara Lanaja

Below, you will find two small squares and a larger square, forming a rectangle. Call this rectangle 1.

• Above rectangle 1, construct a square with side length 3. This forms a new largest rectangle; call it
rectangle 2.

• To the left of this rectangle, construct a square with side length 5. This forms a new largest rectangle; call
it rectangle 3.

• Continue the process, constructing squares in a counterclockwise direction until you form rectangle 7.

You have just constructed the structure of the golden spiral, which is found in many shells in nature. Now record
the dimensions of each rectangle in the table below.
Rectangle Dimensions Length÷ Width

1 3×2
2 5×3 5/3 = 1.6667

3 8×5
4 13 × 8 13/8 = 1.625
5 21 × 13 21/13 = 1.6154
6 34 × 21 34/21 = 1.619
7 55 × 34 55/34 = 1.6176
State an observation about the numbers in the third column.