The Beauty of Mathematics

The most common question I get from my mathematics students is "Why are we learning this?". Fair question. Why are you learning mathematics? What is the point of spending hours poring over numbers and variables? Is mathematics not valuable only for the engineers, economists and accountants of the world?

The truth is - every single person experiences mathematics in their everyday lives. When I say this, I don't necessarily mean using the Quadratic Formula or finding random missing angles with the Sine and Cosine Rules...

I am talking about the Beauty of Mathematics.

“Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty—a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show.” - Bertrand Russel

Now you may argue that some people will never find beauty in mathematics, but consider this: Have you ever looked at the mountains or the stars and found it beautiful? Have you ever admired the speed or the agility of an animal? Have you enjoyed your favourite song or admired a piece of art? Or do you enjoy looking at the patterns in modern architecture or solving puzzles or playing games on your phone?

One of my favourite things in the world is hiking. The mountain tops might seem like a strange place to look for mathematics, but if you know what to look for you will start seeing mathematics and patterns everywhere. An easy one to spot is the incredible symmetry in butterflies, bees and all sorts of creepy crawlies. In a future post, I will explore all the types of symmetry you can find in nature, and the mathematics behind it, in more detail.

"Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe." - Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)

According to Galileo Galilei, mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe.

I agree.

Mathematics is the most creative endeavour ever invented for seeking out patterns and establishing truth and beauty in the universe.

Can mathematics really be beautiful?

Galileo Galileo and many others believe that mathematics is a language and that once you understand the building blocks of this language, the world around you will make so much more sense!

The ancient Greeks studied mathematics not just for practical purposes, but in the pursuit of beauty. In this blog I will be aiming to do the same. I will explore a variety of topics such as nature, art, music, architecture, gaming, design and much more. The goal is to discover the mathematics behind these topics and to determine what makes it beautiful. Through problem-solving and research, I will look for mathematics hidden in the most unlikely places, and will aim to show you that there is beauty in mathematics and that it truly is all around us.

Join me!

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