Numbers at Nine, Part Three

Having already looked at 0-3 and 4-6, we finished our exploration of digits with 7-9.

Seven

Seven can be found in the cycle of time through the days of the week. There are seven seas, and seven colors of the rainbow (albeit this can be debated). In mystical traditions (particularly Sufi and Baha'i), the journey of spiritual maturation and insight progresses through seven valleys (search, love, knowledge, unity, contentment, wonderment and "true poverty and absolute nothingness"). Seven is also the meeting of the triangle and square.

Eight

The octopus and spider show us eight in their limbs, a complex expression of bilateral symmetry. Eight is the octave, the basis of western musical sounds. Eight is also the octagon and two squares brought together.

Nine

Nine is the final digit. It symbolises fullness and completion. Nine months bring a baby into our world, nine objects make our solar system (the sun and its eight planets). Nine, as three groups of three, brings incredible depth and wealth of diveristy. Nine is used to test purity in chemistry, and its unique properties mean that it can be used to check the accuracy of incredibly complex equations. We looked at the properties of nine and its multiples, the astonishing way it behaves. If you make a cross-section of a mitochondrian, we find a nine pointed star. Finally, nine is the symbol of the Baha'i Faith.

These last three numbers completed our review of the digits. We continue to notice these numbers around us, to look at how they interact, where they are found, the patterns that they represent and create. The purpose in doing this review was to remind Asher of how integral math is to our existance. We can not seperate our reality from numbers, patterns and beauty that is math! Asher has become a lot more enthusiastic about math again, and we are better at finding it and talking about it at home.  Our next stage to the review was to explore groupings of ten. More soon!

Comments

[Angela]

Oh gosh Katurah. This number series is fantastic! Thank you.

[Heather]

This could probably work with a younger child too. I might alter this for a my little one. Awesome!