“Our world is made out of patterns.”
Source: http://claesjohnsonmathscience.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/scientists-and-science-in-cartoons/
This is why we need math.
Mathematics has contributed largely
in our daily routines. The existence of certain technologies like computer and
our portable music players are now all been made possible because of
mathematics. The development and application of mathematics is made possible because
of understanding patterns or sequences. However, in the early time of math, the
study of these sequences were not as complicated as finding the x of a particular algebraic equation. Before
all of these complex number-letter combination of math evolved, the study of
patterns were rather much simple.
The first part of the Story of Maths
tells us why mathematics is a language of the universe. It is to say because
mathematics is a language we all understand (though certainly for me not higher or advanced mathematics). It is
because we use math everyday-from counting numbers, adding up debts, bargain
for prices, or count days. We understand math because it follows certain
patterns.
In the Egyptian civilization is
where the earliest form of mathematics emerged. Mathematics was used by the
Egyptians to get by every day. They used to count the days before the flooding
of the river of Nile. This may be a simple form of mathematics but here we can
see the understanding of the Egyptian civilization to patterns. Among all of the
works of the Egyptian civilization, the pyramids are considered to be something
of a mathematical genius. This would suggest that long before Pythagoras has
generalized a system for triangles, just by studying patterns and sequences (and a great need to build tombs for
resurrection) advance mathematics and a geometrically perfect physical
entity can be built. This is also true for the Babylonians who used math to
record astronomical incidents and for games thus, the birth of our 60 based
system for time and logical board games like backgammon.
In this series of the Story of
Maths, we begin to understand how mathematics first emerged. Generally,
mathematics emerged because it needed to, because we need it to. However, the
form of mathematics we have and learn at school today is hardly like the
mathematics of the Egyptians and Babylonians. Today, mathematics is used to
answer theoretical problems and the answers should be justified. The
generalization of math and the existence of proof is all thanks to the Greek
civilization. Although based on Egyptian and Babylonian mathematics, Greeks were
able to decipher philosophically and add generalizations (like the Pythagorean Theorem) to mathematics.
It is astonishing to know that
mathematics has been derived from simple to-do tasks to a wider generalization
of mathematics. The in-depth historical background on the emergence of
mathematics from the three civilizations helps suggest that even with different
symbols for numeration systems, mathematics can advance even on the basis of
each civilization’s findings. The existence of patterns were all the basis of
these civilizations great accomplishments in the field of mathematics. Being
able to emerge concepts of mathematics from simply weighing goods for trade or
tilling land, we can see that mathematics is indeed a language of the universe.
The history and evolution of mathematics is astonishing indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that we owe these great civilizations today because of their great accomplishments in mathematics. Because of their developments in the field, things seemed much easier to do.
ReplyDeleteWe indeed need mathematics in practical events of our lives such as shown in the figure.
ReplyDelete