"Are of Knowledge"-- Mathematics In Nature

As we entered a brand new unit -- Area of knowledge, from the last TOK lesson; we briefly inquired and discussed about one particular subject - math, as the main target which will be focused on. Math is one of the indispensable component or element in our universe, nobody can imagine what the world will be if math doesn't exist. Math is the foundation of science, namely physics, chemistry and biology and so on and so forth. After realizing the importance and the usages of math, some intriguing questions were brought up by students; For instance:

" Is math invented or discovered?"

" Isn't math merely an opinion or idea based on one's personal thinking patterns of viewing the world?"

"Can we find out any math in our nature?"

As a continuation for the last question, we students are to consider that if there's any sign of math in nature meanwhile summarize them and post them on our personal blog.

As regards myself, I picked some photos which were taken by me of some commonplaces, I didn't bother to explore and wasn't even aware of the mathematical essence within them until now. Likewise, I didn't even have the chance to take a peek at the spectacular world of math those commonplaces hold until now.

The first photograph was taken at my home, it was an ordinary flower which was used as decoration for years. Notwithstanding, the elements of math it involves are not as ordinary: The geometrical shape of the flower is so called 'radial shape', which means the petals stem from the centre of the flower. Thus the shape is like spreading and stretching from the central point.

Next, this one was taken in Europe, the outline Alps Mountain. Not surprisingly, it is the sort of picture we see all the time. Whereas the math in it is fairly profound and complicated.

The line which crosses through all the points upon the top of the mountain, is virtually the graph of trigonometrical function. Especially f(x) = cos·x and f(x) = sin·x. The graphs of these two functions are approximately alike to the outline of the mountain regardless of the fluctuation.

I took the third picture in the winter of last year. At first I was just fond of the feeling of snow, now it is the math within that attracts me the most.

As shown, the tree was standing vertically to the ground. Its branches were perpendicular to its trunk, that is to say, the beaches are parallel to the earth. Then, the way these branches arranged also worth pondering. The beaches were in a circular shape at each cross sections without touching each other. And with so many cross sections, makes the engaging shape like this. It is also similar to the shape of unpolarized ray, which appears to have waves in all direction. At this point, trees and electromagnetic waves are associated; the microscopic and the macroscopic are linked.

After discovering the quintessences of math in these daily objects, I was amazed by the magic of nature and math, and how things relate to one another incredibly. Perhaps, that's exactly the core of area of knowing -- to make connections and to transfer across fields.