Patterns and Numbers in Nature

Introduction

• Speaker: Ram
• Topic: The beauty of mathematics in nature and the world.
• Key Quote: "Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe."

Steps to Understand the World Using Math

1. Find Patterns
2. Represent Patterns
   • Use symbols, notations, shapes, or numbers.
3. Interpret Patterns

Examples of Patterns in Nature

• Seasons: Winter, spring, summer, fall in four-season countries.
• Circadian Rhythm: Natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle.
• Calendars: Used for over 2,000 years to track time and seasons for survival tasks.
• Constellations: Patterns devised by poets, farmers, and astronomers for star identification.
• Zodiac Signs: Part of astrology, showcasing patterns of the sky.

Human Application of Patterns

• Architecture: Patterns in nature influence design.
• Rubik's Cube: Patterns used to align colors.
• Gravity: Newton’s mathematical symbols to prove properties; led to invention of calculus.
• Weather Patterns: Forecasting weather based on historical data.
• Music: Combination of sounds, visualized through tablatures for instruments.

Technology and Patterns

• Binary Code: Computers interpret data through zeros and ones.
• Barcodes and QR Codes: Optical labels that encode information for transactions and advertising.

Unique Patterns in Humans

• DNA and Fingerprints: Unique identifiers used in biometric security and forensic science.
• Coronaviruses: Variations due to changes in RNA patterns.

Creating Patterns

• Personal use of mathematics for secret messages and fun communications.

The Nature of Mathematics

• Mathematics is Everywhere: Found in nature, daily routines, communities, and events.
• Purpose of Mathematics:
  • Unravel puzzles of nature.
  • Organize and predict patterns.
  • Provide calculation tools.
  • Inspire new questions.

How Mathematics is Done

• Driven by curiosity and desire to find patterns.
• Involves trial and error and tenacity in problem-solving.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to view mathematics differently as a key to understanding the world.