“Mathematics is all around us.”

This is a statement which I highly underestimated prior to the ‘Discovering Mathematics’ topic. I was more than aware of the amount of mathematics I used in my day to day life such as when I am driving, going in to a shop or cooking. However, I was very unaware of the mathematics surrounding me. From the buildings, I look at every single day to the tables and chairs I sit at. Mathematics has links in absolutely every part of life from art and music, science and technology to just general day to day activities.

Prior to the lecture I was aware of some of the mathematics involved in art such as symmetry, shape and measuring. However the mathematics we then went on to look at I had never heard of before. We looked at the Fibonacci sequence, the Golden Spiral and the Golden Ratio. To begin with each concept absolutely blew my mind however the further the lesson went on the more I began to grasp the idea.

So, what is the Fibonacci sequence? The Fibonacci Sequence is a series of numbers 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34… The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1) The 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2), and the 5 is (2+3), and so on!

The Golden Spiral is when we make squares using those widths. You then create a spiral from this. I feel this aspect of mathematics links to Liping Ma’s basic ideas. Without having a basic understanding of how to measure, count, use patterns and use mathematical tools such as a ruler and protractor this task would have been extremely difficult. Even with a basic understanding of each I still found the task quite difficult to understand at first. This shows links between mathematics and art as you are using a mathematical concept to create a piece of art.

The Golden Ratio is when we take any two successive Fibonacci Numbers, and divide the larger number by the smaller. The answer is very close to the Golden Ratio which is approximately 1.618034… We tried this in our lecture using the numbers from our Golden Spiral. I chose the numbers 21/13, the result of this calculation was 1. 6153.. The Golden Ratio! The Golden Ratio is used for building and art work such as the Parthenon in Greece, but it is not known if it was designed that way. It was also used to design the Notre Dame in Paris. The ratio features also in the United Nations building and the pyramids in Egypt (Boaler, 2016.)

Not only does the ratio exist in buildings it exists in nature.
Flower seeds that grow in  spira they grow in a ratio of 1.618:1… the golden ratio.

This is only one example of how mathematics play
s a part in art. When using pattern in art there are aspects of mathematics. Pattern is a combination of  elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement. Repetition also occurs in patterns and this refers to one object or shape repeated. Pattern and repetition is used in Buddhist mandala. Buddhist mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions, representing the universe. This is an example of mathematics being used to create religious art.

As we can see mathematics plays a huge part in art and day to day life, whether its creating a picture or designing a building, there always aspects of mathematics being used. Prior to the Discovering Mathematics I was unaware of how much of an influence mathematics has in everyday life. It is not just the obvious mathematics such as dealing with money or driving a car but the design of the building we walk in. Mathematics is all around us and as the module progresses this is becoming more and more evident.

Profound Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics 

Basic Ideas – In order to understand Fibonacci sequence I first of all had to understand basic equations. Without having a secure knowledge of addition it would be difficult to understand how the Fibonacci sequence works. As well as understanding of measuring etc previously mentioned when discussing the golden spiral.

Multiple Perspectives – When carrying out the Golden Spiral we each had a different approach which we found the simplest for us. The approach I was taken was over complicated and one of my fellow peers showed me her approach which I found much easier.

References
Ma, L. (2010) Knowing and teaching mathematics: Teacher’s understanding of fundamental mathematics in China and the United States. 2nd edn. New York: Taylor & Francis

Fibonacci Sequence (2016) Available at: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html [Accessed on 29 October 2016]

Design in art: Repetition, pattern and rhythm (2006) Available at: https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/design-in-art-repetition-pattern-and-rhythm [Accessed on 29 October 2016]