CHAPTER 1

MATHEMATICS
IN OUR WORLD
SECTION 1

THE MEANING OF
MATHEMATICS
Etymology of Mathematics
◦ From the ancient word manthanein which
means “to learn”.
◦ From Old French mathematique, and directly
from Latin mathēmatica (“mathematics”)
(plural), from Ancient Greek mathēmatikós
(“fond of learning”).
◦ From Greek root word máthēma, which, in
the ancient Greek language, means what one
learns or what one gets to know (máthēma,
“knowledge, study, learning”)
“Definitions” of Mathematics
Mathematics is a science
 (abstract) science of
calculation
numbers and space.
measurement, quantity and magnitude.
 It constitutes a body of established facts,
achieved by a reliable method, verified by
practice, and agreed on by a consensus of
qualified experts.
 the development of all types of formal
deductive reasoning
“Definitions” of Mathematics
Old standard dictionary definition: “the study
of the properties of numbers and geometrical
figures.”
Today, mathematics includes abstract algebra,
logic, and probability, none of which is part
of traditional arithmetic or geometry.
What is Mathematics?
 A desire for a particular kind of knowing;
knowing that is self-contained on the
individual or may be seen as an
autonomous thinking (Schaaf, 1963).
 The science of numbers and their
operations, interrelations, combinations,
generalizations, and abstractions and of
space configurations of their structure,
measurement, transformations and
generalizations. (Merriam dictionary).
What is Mathematics?
 A study of patterns and relations. It is also a
way of thinking.
 An art characterized by order and internal
consistency. It is a language that uses
carefully defined terms and symbols. Thus,
mathematics is a tool (Reys, Lindquist,
Lambdin, Smith and Suydam, 2004).
 The “science of patterns” and then more
fully as: “the science of order, patterns,
structure, and logical relationships” (Devlin,
2001, p.73).
Five Basic Characteristics
 Precision
 Definition
 Reasoning
 Coherence
 Purposefulness
1 Precision
It is precise in the sense that mathematical
statements are clear and unambiguous. It
is clear what is known and what is not
known.
2 Definition
Definitions abound in mathematics. It is the
bedrock of mathematical structure and
the platform that supports reasoning.
3 Reasoning
Reasoning is the lifeblood of mathematics. It
is the engine that drives proving and
problem solving. Its absence is the root
cause of the learning by rote approach.
4 Coherence
Concepts and skills are interwoven in
mathematics.
5 Purposefulness
And lastly, mathematics is goal-oriented, and
for every concept or skill there is a
purpose for it.
Mathematics as a Tool
Data management
 Geometric Designs
 Codes
 Linear Programming
 The Mathematics of Finance
 Apportionment and Voting
 Logic
 The Mathematics of Graphs
 Mathematical Systems
What is Mathematics for?
Helps unravel the puzzles of nature.
Helps organize patterns and regularities
as well as irregularities in the world.
Helps predict the behavior of nature and
phenomena.
Helps control nature and occurrences
such as epidemics.
Provides tools for calculations.
Provides new questions to think about.
Who uses Mathematics?
Mathematicians: pure and applied
 Scientists: natural and social
 EVERYONE, but, different people use
different mathematics at different times for
different purposes using different tools.
Why is Mathematics
important to know?
 It puts order in disorder
 It helps us to become a better person’
 It helps make the world a better place to
live in