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Saturday Math Series
April 12, 2003Presented by Dr. Eddie Fuller
Department of MathematicsInstitute for Math Learning
West Virginia University
Mathematics in Art and the Art of Mathematics
Symmetry and Patterns in Our World and the World of Math
Mathematics Defn: (Websters) The study of the
measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols.
“Mathematics is often defined as the science of space and number … [but] a more apt definition [is that] mathematics is the science of patterns. The mathematician seeks patterns in number, in space, in science, in computers, and in imagination. Mathematical theories explain the relations among patterns … Applications of mathematics use these patterns to ‘explain’ and predict natural phenomena …” (Steen, L.A. (1988), The Science of Patterns, Science, 240, 29, 616.)
Is There Art in Math? What is Art? Depends on who you ask. Defn: An object that has meaning or
function that goes beyond any practical purpose.
Defn: the conscious use of skill and creative imagination
Bertrand Russell once said that "mathematics rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty."
There Can Be! A part of math is learning how to do the
basics: arithmetic, factoring, solving, functions…
All of these things are used outside math in the real world to solve problems every day
Once you master these math can become a tool for expression and exploration, just like learning to put paint on a canvas can become something beautiful
Math, Art and Patterns Really, math is about patterns and
how to use them. Example: Suppose you notice that
2x1=2, 2x2=4, 2x3=6, 2x4=8, 2x5=10…You conclude that anytime you multiply an integer by two, you get an even number.
More Patterns: Data Analysis
Math is sometimes about understanding data
Example: Suppose someone gives you a chart of temperatures of a cup of hot water every minute for five minutes
What can you conclude?
Time (min) 0 1 2 3 4 5
Temp (deg)
120 110 100 90 80 70
Graphing: Visualizing Patterns You can plot these
points, thinking of time in the horizontal and temperature in the vertical directions
What you see is then a straight line trough the points
Conclude: change in temperature is constant
Use this to predict temp in between readings!
The Theme Represent structure and pattern in
ways that are informative Structure and pattern can also be
appealing for other reasons The most informative patterns are
often the most appealing
The Mathematical Association of America Math Awareness Month, April 2000 http://mam2000.mathforum.com/918/index.html
More MAA April 2003: Mathematics
Awareness Month http://mathforum.org/mam/03/
More Artistic Displays Tom Banchoff's Artwork Home Page Math Art Gallery Math & Art John Robinson's Sculpture Sculpture and Mathematics Geometry and Art (Quilts, Pottery,
Celtic Knots)
More Mathematical Stuff Bridges Conference Mathematics and Knots Mathematics and Pattern in Nature
