Understanding Maths differently

Mathematics is not just about finding answers but also about learning to ask the right questions. Mathematics is a language and a framework for understanding the world, and the process of formulating the right questions is often where the real depth of mathematical thinking lies. Asking the right questions helps mathematicians collaborate with scientists, engineers, economists, and researchers in other fields to address complex problems. .This approach not only enhances problem-solving skills but also fosters a deeper understanding of the principles that govern the world around us.

Going beyond the realms of numbers, Mathematics delves into our visual, tactile, intuitive domains along with our sense of spatial reasoning, graphical and physical representation. These multiple attributes together contribute to construct our holistic understanding of Maths. We are all using Maths all the time, consciously or unconsciously in our everyday actions.

Maths in nature

Be it the seashell, spirals in a sunflower or the perfect snowflakes, they are all gifts of Maths with their precise and unique patterns. There exists a Golden Ratio that is evident in objects of aesthetic appeal around us. It is a ratio of two numbers, which is approximately 1.618. In humans, facial features aligning with the Golden Ratio contribute to perceived beauty.

Maths is in fact nature’s universal language. Nature follows fascinating patterns and Math is like a decoder that helps us make sense of them. There is a fascinating phenomenon called Fibonacci Sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. This creates an aesthetically pleasing pattern that occurs frequently in nature, be it the arrangement of leaves on a stem or the spirals of a pinecone. Fractals are another intriguing mathematical sequence in nature. It is a “never ending” self-similar repeating shape. A pine cone or the leaves of fern, the tree branches and the branches of the neuron inside our brains follow the fractal pattern. We see a perfect hexagon in a beehive. Concentric circles are formed when a pebble is dropped in the water. Likewise, rings on the inside of a tree’s trunk and an onion and the inside of a flower can contain concentric circles. The conical shape of volcanoes and hills, and even the patterns found on bodies of zebra and cheetah prove that mathematics is linked with nature in so many fascinating ways. Even the tiniest of leaves on trees and their branches follow a silent Mathematical script. It is as if nature communicates through a built-in mathematical language, shaping everything we see around us.
Galileo had rightly proclaimed, “Mathematics is the language with which the universe has been written. In its eloquent script, we uncover the profound beauty that shapes our existence.”

Maths is fused in every learning domain

Ian Stewart, a noted British Mathematician had remarked, “Mathematics is the science of patterns, and nature exploits just about every pattern that there is.”
In the field of engineering, Maths plays a very vital role. Statistics guides scientists to new discoveries and Calculus makes sure engineers nail down precision in their designs.

Architects use geometric principles to develop floor plans and determine the appropriate placement of rooms within a building. Geometry helps architects achieve proportional balance in their designs. By the usage of ratios such as the golden ratio architects can create aesthetically appealing structures which are aesthetically appealing. The floor in the Taj Mahal has numerous convex and concave polygons seamlessly repeating over and over again and fitting together like puzzle pieces. This is a phenomenon known as tessellation, that involves efficient use of materials and space. The basic calculation for measurements, quantities and material estimates rely on arithmetic. Vectors are used for representing and analyzing the forces acting on the structure. Statistics also finds its role in architecture and is used for data analyzing and predicting trends in construction. Application of Parametric theories is seen in the The Museum of Future in Dubai that is resplendent with its complex shape.

Math as a language is woven into the fabric of how everything communicates and expresses itself. This insight is not just limited to formulas, numbers and calculations but serves as a connection between mathematical principles and the broader language spoken by us.

About the authors

The article has been contributed by the following students from Our Lady Queen of the Missions School, Park Circus: Aishiki Das, Basharat Fatma Yousuf, Meghna Mallick and Samanwita Ghosh.