Math in Everyday Life

A detailed Summary of Math in Everyday Life

Math and many of its aspects are a major part of everyday life. We spend the majority of our school years studying and learning the concepts of it. Many times, the question of 'why do we need to know these things?' has been asked. The following report will explain the history and purpose of geometry in our lives.

'Geometry' means 'measure of the earth'. In ancient Egypt, the Nile would flood its banks each year, flooding the land and destroying the farm areas. When the waters receded and the people had to redefine the boundaries. This work was called geometry and was seen as a re-establishment of the principle of law and order on earth. (Lawlor, 6)

Geometry is the mathematics of the properties, measurement, and relationship of the points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids (Foner and Garraty). An ancient Greek mathematician, named Euclidean, was the founder of the study of geometry. Euclid's Elements is the basis for modern school textbooks in geometry. On the other hand, there is non-Euclidean geometry. This refers to the types of geometry which deny Euclid's postulate about parallel lines. Once Albert Einstein put forth the theory of Relativity other approaches to geometry, besides Euclid's was needed. (Kett an

One major part of geometry is symmetry. It has been found that things which are symmetrical, are more appealing to the eye. Bank logos often have rotational symmetry. It was suggested that the logos are rotational so that there is a continuous exchange of money. The Mitsubishi has a rotational and mirror symmetry. The hubcaps on cars are often very symmetrical.

Some of the most beautiful examples of reflection and rotation can be shown in snowflakes. Each snowflake has a hexagonal structure, that is, the arrangement of the water molecules in the crystals. Crystals and minerals have a beautiful, symmetric outward shape when viewed by the naked eye. Like the snowflake, the internal structure is what forms the rest of the gem. (Hargittai, 70)

Exponents are shown in the equation spirals based on the roots of 2, 3 and 5. The Golden Mean spiral is found in nature in the beautiful conch shell or Nautilus pompilius which Shiva in the Hindu religion holds in one of his hands as an instrument to initiate creation. Through Pythagorean eyes, however, this form embodies the dynamics of the rhythmic generation of the cosmos, and through its harmonic principal, represents universal love. The spiral is found to be overlapping on the foetus of man and animals, and is present in the growth patterns of many plants. For example, the distribution of seeds in a sunflower is governed by the Golden Mean spiral. The sunflower has 55 clockwise spirals overlaid into either 34 or 89 counterclockwise spirals. (Lawlor, 56 & 57)

The name Fibonacci often appears to describe natural occurrences. The Fibonacci Series governs the laws involved wit

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Approximate Word count = 1107
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous