Mathematics expresses itself everywhere, in almost every facet of life - in nature all around us, and in the technologies

in our hands. Mathematics is the language of science and engineering - describing our understanding of all that we observe. The Mathematics Everywhere & Everyday Exhibition explores the many wonders and uses of mathematics in our lives. This exhibition is divided into nine areas focusing on different aspects of mathematics. Gallery Pathways worksheets prepared for primary and secondary school classes are available on request and booking. Please view our Enrichment Programmes Gallery Pathways for more information on booking, etc.

Introduction & Concepts

Mathematics has been around since the beginnings of time and it most probably began with counting. Learn the history of mathematics, and get to know some of the greatest mathematical minds and their contributions. In this section, you are also introduced to some basic mathematical concepts and counting tools from giant electronic calculators to the abaci of different cultures.

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The Ames Room shows the effects of scale and illusion.

In Counting
Counting various quantities is one of the activities that people engage in from young. However, sometimes we wonder, just how big is one million? See how much space one million saga seeds occupy and be awed by numbers that you can relate to in your daily lives like the number of heartbeats in a typical lifetime. Sometimes, numbers can be used to fool people. Some exhibits in this section provide a few examples of well-known mathematical tricks.

In Nature
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13... This is the Fibonacci Sequence, where each number is derived from adding the previous two numbers. This sequence of numbers can be found in many natural patterns like in pineapples, sunflowers, nautilus and pine cones. Our eyes are usually drawn to objects that are symmetrical. Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian Man is often used as a representation of symmetry in the human body. The Soothing Symmetries exhibit anchors this section and explains what symmetry means to science and in mathematics, as well as in everyday life.

In Shapes, Curves & Patterns

Circles, squares and triangles are just a few of the shapes that are familiar to us through our daily lives. Discover the usefulness, beauty and 'cleanness' of the round shape, and learn more about the other shapes that can be found around us. This section also features the Mbius strip that has several curious properties.

In Games & Puzzles

Many, if not all puzzles and games require mathematical logic and deduction. This section uses the fun and excitement of various popular games and puzzles, and the exhilaration of solving them, to attract and engage the visitors to realise the mathematics in fun and games.

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The Odds Are Stacked Against You! explores the odds of various casino games like roulette, blackjack and slot machines. This will set many thinking about their chances of winning in gambling.

In Time & The Heavens

Mathematics was developed to understand the cycles of nature as observed in the seasons. Ancient people understood the need to define time in relation to celestial movements for agricultural, astronomical, astrological and navigational reasons. This section looks at the mathematics of astronomy, its relationship to the inventions of various cultural-historical calendars, and the division of time into units of hours, minutes and seconds.

Challenges & Controversies

When we talk about mathematics, equations and formulas will pop into our mind. There are hundreds of equations in mathematics, but which is the Most Beautiful Equation of all? You are invited to vote for your favourite. What do modern mathematicians actually do? What problems are of interest today? These are some of the issues explored in this section. Some outstanding challenges that remain unresolved are still intriguing many mathematicians. Discover what some of these challenges are.

In Real Applications
Mathematic is used in our everyday lives; from figuring out the amount needed to buy your lunch to calculating the banks interest. This section explores some of the real life applications of mathematics. For example, internet banking is getting more and more common these days, and we depend on cryptology the study of protecting information using codes to keep our transactions safe. Learn more about how it is done in this section.

Awesome, Fearsome Calculus

Calculus is the study of change and it is one of the most important fields in mathematics. Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz are usually credited with the invention of calculus. Newton used calculus in his laws of motion and gravitational attraction. Explore an introductory calculus lesson by taking something to the limit in Know Your Limits, and learn more about slopes, tangents, integration and differentiation in this section's other exhibits.