Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD Preliminaries

Course Title : Mathematics in the Modern World

No. of Units : 3 Units

Course Description:

This course deals with nature in mathematics, appreciation of its practical, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions, and application
of mathematical tools in daily life.

The course begins with an introduction to the nature of mathematics as an exploration of patterns (in nature and the environment)
and as an application of inductive and deductive reasoning. By exploring these topics, students are encouraged to go beyond the
typical understanding of mathematics as merely a set of formulas but as a source of aesthetics in patterns of nature, for example,
and a rich language in itself (and of science) governed by logic and reasoning.

The course then proceeds to survey ways in which mathematics provides a tool for understanding and dealing with various
aspects of present-day living, such as managing personal finances, making social choices, appreciating geometric designs,
understanding codes used in data transmission and security, and dividing limited resources fairly. These aspects will provide
learning opportunities and test the students’ understanding and capacity. (CMO No. 20, series of 2013)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students would be able to:

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Mathematics in the Modern World
Knowledge
1. Discuss and argue about the nature of mathematics, what it is, how it is expressed, represented, and used.
2. Use different types of reasoning to justify statements and arguments made about mathematics and mathematical concepts.
3. Discuss the language and symbols of mathematics.
Skills
4. Use a variety of statistical tools to process and manage numerical data;
5. Analyze codes and coding schemes used for identification, privacy, and security purposes;
6. Use mathematics in other areas such as finance, voting, health and medicine, business, environment, arts and design, and
recreation.
Values
1. Appreciate the nature and uses of mathematics in everyday life.
2. Affirm honesty and integrity in the application of mathematics to various human endeavors.

COURSE OUTLINE

Section 1. The Nature of Mathematics

I. Mathematics in our World
Core Idea: Mathematics is a useful way to think about nature and our world
II. Mathematics Language and Symbols
Core Idea: Like any language, mathematics has its own symbols, syntax, and rules
III. Problem Solving and Reasoning
Core Idea: Mathematics is not just about numbers; much of it is problem-solving and reasoning

Section 2. Mathematics as a Tool

I. Data Management
Core Idea: Statistical tools derived from mathematics are useful in processing and managing numerical data in order to
describe a phenomenon and predict values
II. Part Two
1. Geometric Designs
Core Idea: Geometry can help enhance one’s artistic prowess as enrich one’s own culture

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Mathematics in the Modern World
 2. Codes
Core Idea: The utility of mathematics goes beyond the mundane. Mathematics enables the development of codes and
ciphers that useful to individuals and to society
3. Linear Programming
4. The Mathematics of Finance
5. Apportionment and Voting
6. Logic
7. The Mathematics of Graph
8. Mathematical System

Number of Hours: 3 hours per week for 18 weeks or 54 hours in a semester

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Mathematics in the Modern World
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD Learning Plan

Note: The shaded topics indicate the areas or opportunities for interdisciplinarity.
Learning Outcome Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
1. Identify patterns in Section 1. The nature of Activities to do. (i) Video Required: (1) Nature’s Evaluation
nature and regularities in mathematics watching (ii) pair-sharing Numbers by Ian Stewart or Requirements. (i) short-
the world (K) or small group sharing (iii) Mathematics in Nature: response/essay writing
2. Articulate the I. Mathematics in our World journal writing (iv) whole Modeling Patterns in the at the end of class to
importance of class discussion Natural World by John A. one question. Examples
mathematics in one’s life Schedule. Week 1 – 2 Adam or A Mathematical of these questions are
(V) Number of hours 4 hours Question to pose. (i) What Nature Walk by John A. what new ideas about
3. Argue about the nature is mathematics? (ii) Where Adam, or any book of the mathematics did you
of mathematics, what it Core Idea. Mathematics is a is mathematics? (iii) What same level, intent and learn? What about
is, how it is expressed, useful way to think about role does mathematics approach mathematics that might
represented, and used nature and our world. play in your world? (2) have changed your
(K) https://vimeo.com/9953368 thoughts about it?, and;
4. Express appreciation  Patterns and Some ideas to elicit and Recommended: (1) A Day’s what is most useful
for mathematics as a numbers in Nature in encourage. (i) Many Adventure in Math about mathematics for
human endeavor (V) the World: the patterns and occurrences Wonderland by Akiyama & humankind? (ii) Two-to-
snowflakes and exist in nature, in our Ruiz; (2) The number Devil three-page synthesis
honeycomb; tiger’s world, in our life. by Enzensberger paper focusing on one of
stripes and hyena’s Mathematics helps makes the following aspects of
spots; the sunflower, sense of these patterns mathematics: (a)
the snail’s shell, and occurrences. (ii) Mathematics helps
flower petals; the Mathematics is a tool to organize patterns and
world’s population, quantify, organize, and regularities in the world.
the weather, etc. control our world, predict (b) Mathematics helps
 The Fibonacci phenomena, and make life predict the behavior of
sequence easier for us. nature and phenomena
 Mathematics helps in the world. (c)
organize patterns and Some ideas to discourage Mathematics helps
regularities in the or debunk or disprove. (i) control nature and
world. Mathematics is just for the occurrences in the world
books, confined in the for our own ends.
classroom. (ii)
mathematics has no place
in my life.

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Learning Outcome Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
 Mathematics helps Standards/Basis for
predict the behavior Grading to Use. 0 point
of nature and - The student us unable
phenomena in the to elicit the ideas and
world. concepts from the
 Mathematics helps readings and video
control nature and indicating that s/he has
occurrences in the not read the prescribed
world for our own reading or watched the
ends. video. 1 point – the
 Mathematics has student is able to elicit
numerous the ideas and concepts
applications in the from the readings and
world making it video but shows an
indispensable. erroneous
Caution. (i) This is not a understanding of these.
Philosophy of Mathematics 2 points – the student is
course. able to elicit the ideas
and concepts from the
readings and video and
shows correct
understanding of these.
3 points – the student
not only elicits the
correct ideas from the
reading and video but
also shows evidence of
internalizing these. 4
points – the student
elicits the correct ideas
from the readings and
video, shows evidence
of internalizing these,
and consistently
contributes additional
thoughts to the Core
Idea.

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Mathematics in the Modern World
 Learning Outcome Topic Methodology Resources Assessment
5. Discuss the language, Section 1. The nature of
symbols, and conventions Mathematics
of mathematics (K)
6. Explain the nature of II. Mathematical Language
mathematics as a and Symbols
language (K)
7. Perform operations on Schedule. Week 2-3
mathematical expressions Number of hours. 3
correctly (S)
8. Acknowledge that Core Idea. Like any
mathematics is a useful language, mathematics
language (V) has its own symbols,
syntax and rules.

 Characteristics of
mathematical
language, precise,
concise, powerful
 Expressions vs
sentences
 Conventions in the
mathematical
language
 Four basic
concepts: sets,
functions, relations,
binary operations
 Elementary logic:
connectives,
quantities,
negation, variables
 Formality

Note. This part of the

course is intended to be
light and easy. The
intention is to expose the
students to the world of
mathematics as a
language in order that they
may be able to read and
write mathematics texts
and communicate ideas
with precision and
conciseness.

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