FROM MATHEMATICS TO ART: AN EXAMPLE 
OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN A MATHEMATICIAN 
AND AN ARTIST, THE EXPERIENCE OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS 
 

FRANCISCO RUIZ AND NURIA JUNCOSA



Names: Francisco Ruiz and Nuria Juncosa 

Address (F. Ruiz): Department of Didactics of Mathematics, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain.

Email:fcoruiz@ugr.es

Fields of interest (F. Ruiz): Geometry, representations, numerical thinking, mathematics and art. 

Exhibitions: 

- Ruiz, F., Organizer of the exhibitions: 

M. C. Escher, entre la Geometría y el Arte, University of Granada and Cordon Art, Granada. May 1990.

M. C. Escher, Museum of Contemporary Art, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid. July 1990.

Publications:

- Ruiz, F. (1990). La simetría en la obra de M.C. Escher, In: M.C. Escher, entre la Geometría y el Arte, [Exhibition Catalog], University of Granada, May 1990, pp. 1-3. 

- Ruiz, F. (1990) M. C. Escher, In: M. C. Escher, [Exhibition Catalog], University Complutense of Madrid, July 1990, pp. 9-11.

- Ruiz, F. and Rico, L. (2001) Visualization of numerical patterns by means of congruence relation, In: Intersections of Art and Science: Fifth Interdisciplinary Symmetry Congress and Exhibition of the International Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Symmetry (ISIS-Symmetry), Sydney, Australia.

 - Ruiz, F. and Peñas, M. (2002) Artistic designs by means of algebraic structures, In: Matomium 2002, [Special issue], Symmetry: Art and Science, The Quarterly of the International Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Symmetry (ISIS-Symmetry), Vol. 2, Nos. 1-4, 231-250.

 

Abstract: In this paper we show a collaborative work between a mathematician, interested in using art in mathematics classroom, within the a teacher training context, and an artist, who is a painter and a graphic designer, and uses new technologies. She is also very interested y finding numerical patterns as a mean of producing new pieces of art. The core of the work is about using the residual classes Zn to produce artistic designs, and at the same time to make use of them as a resource to identify mathematical apects and properties. The interest of the artist in this work led her to introduce mathematic elements in her work, to use numerical patterns, in combination with computer techniques, animation and sound. In this part of the work we summarize experience of teaching mathematics.

 
 

1 INTRODUCTION

Sometimes, people with common interests take diverging ways, but occasionally one dares to explore another fields of knowledge to look for another ways to make inquiries in his own field. Very often mathematics and graphic works have been considered as not related subjects, with not too many connections between them.

This paper consists of two diverse parts. In the first one we make a summary of the work of the professor of Mathematics who has used algebraic structures, such as group structure, for the teaching of Mathematics, in a university context of teacher training (Ruiz and Peñas, 2002). In order to visualize the additive and multiplicative groups of the residual classes Zn students substitute the numeric symbols for certain colored visual patterns in the corresponding Pythagorean table, in order to highlight the regularities in the groups. 

Visual Mathematics has become an important reference point in researching in Mathematical Education. Sensory perception is an important way to access knowledge. It is appropriate to consider the intervention of the senses in the transmission, acquisition and construction of any type of mathematical knowledge. Visual information as a generator of images and mental objects provides an important function in learning mathematics. The capability to visualize any mathematical concept or problem requires experimentation to interpret and understand figurative information about the concept and be able to manipulate it mentally, as well as to express it visually. The study of algebraic structures usually presents difficulties because of its degree of abstraction. The visualization of elements of these structures can facilitate their recognition and the understanding of some properties.
 
 

2 THE AIMS OF THE EXPERIENCE

The main goals in this work are: 

- Using representations in order to bring the existing connections between Algebra and Geometry to students.As the connections between the fields of knowledge that compose mathematics are not evident for our students, we should promote experiences that relate them, and let future teachers make connections between Algebra and Geometry, by creating geometric patterns that highlight algebraic properties and relationships.

- Using motivational elements for the students like the use of resources such as materials and computers, because the use of physical and technological methods can help to increase the pleasure of learning mathematics for students who have difficulties with abstract concepts.

- Strengthening the creativity of students by means of drawing artistic designs, since it has a decisive influence on the acquisition of certain learning skills that ought to be acquired gradually. This creativity, in our experience, is linked to the perception of shapes and patterns, and it facilitates establishing a connection between numbers and geometric figures. 
 
 

3 THE STUDY

The intention of our study was to answer questions such as the following: 

· What do we achieve by replacing numeric symbols with geometrical ones? 

· Is visualization of the properties of algebraic structures facilitated in this way? 

· Can we perform geometric transformations upon these tables? 

· What is the role of computers in these activities? 

The experience involved two groups of primary student teachers at the University of Granada in two different sessions. The first one took place during the 1992/93 academic year. The lecturer made a short presentation with transparencies in black and white, and the work was done by hand, using a photocopier and several kinds of paper or transparencies. The second experience took place during the year 2001/02. The same short presentation was made by the lecturer but on this occasion he used a computer, with the same figures using color.

Our purpose was that the students: 

  • to work to obtain the residual classes (Zn) 
  • to determine the properties of an additive group 
  • to check under what conditions the multiplicative structure provides the structure of a group 
  • to be able to operate with these new elements 
  • to familiarize themselves with the use of Pythagorean tables. 
  • to use geometric figures and apply them in geometric transformations.
After residual classes have been introduced in classroom, we have defined the addition of classes as usual, and we display the addition and multiplication of classes on a "Pythagorean table". 

In order to represent numbers, mathematicians use symbols, which are special drawings with very well known meanings. What would happen if we substitute numerical symbols by geometrical drawings?
 

Figures 1 and 2 display the example shown to students in order to present the tasks.

In the table corresponding to (Z9,+), there are numeric regularities. After substituting each numeric symbol with its corresponding geometric figure, we obtain an isomorfic table (fig. 2) that can be modified by geometric transformations such as reflections or rotations (Forseth, S. and Troutman, A., 1974). (figure 3).
 


Now, the students must go into in the algebraic structures working on their own, to find properties and regularities, identify structures visually and carry out artistic designs using different variables, like additive or multiplicative structure, module, shapes of each element, color, shapes of the table (different grids), geometric transformations and deformations using computers programs.