FRACTAL GEOMETRY
Introduction to Fractal Geometry
Fractal geometry is based on the idea of self-similar forms. To be selfsimilar, a shape must be able to be divided into parts that are smaller copies
which are more or less similar to the whole. Because of the smaller similar
divisions of fractals, they appear similar at all magnifications. However, while all
fractals are self-similar, not all self-similar forms are fractals. (For example, a
straight Euclidean line and a tessellation are self-similar, but are not fractals
because they do not appear similar at all magnifications). Many times, fractals
are defined by recursive formulas. Fractals often have a finite boundary that
determines the area that it can take up, but the perimeter of the fractal
continuously grows and is infinite.
The Cantor Set, introduced by George Cantor, a German mathematician,
in 1883, is one of the easiest ways to see the divisions similar to the whole after
being magnified. The Cantor Set is a series of line segments in which the middle
third is removed. After the middle third is removed, the first third and the last
third remain. Of each of those segments, the middle third is removed leaving the
first and last thirds. This goes on forever, removing the middle third of each new
segment that is created.
One of the most famous fractals is the Mandelbrot Set. French
mathematician, Benoit Mandelbrot, began to study self-similarity in the 1960s,
and by 1980 was interested in graphing complex numbers. He used the
recursive formula zz^2+c, where c is some real number and z is a complex
number such as a+bi. Depending on the number put in, Mandelbrot discovered
that some get larger and go off to infinity, while some get smaller and closer to
zero. Mandelbrot then set the computer up to color the pixels for each number,
or point on the complex plane. If the number got smaller and closer to zero, the
computer colored it black. If it got larger it would get a different color. The colors
depended on how quickly the number approached infinity. The picture he got
turned out to be the most famous examples of fractal geometry.
Fractal Geometry in Nature
The basic definition of a fractal is something with a shape that gets smaller
and repeats infinitely (i.e. if you were to zoom in on any one area of the object,
you would be looking at the original picture). Fractals can be found in many
forms. In nature and in the environment, approximate fractals are found
everywhere, including some of the vegetables we eat. Below are some
examples of fractals found in nature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Animated_fractal_mountain.gif
This website shows an animated version of how fractal geometry can be
found in mountains and mountain ranges.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Unknown_Quartz_crystal_67.JPG
The quartz stone is one example of a fractal image in nature. It has
triangular points and would look similar if you were to zoom in on any part
of the stone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roddh/307187374/
The fern is a very good example of
fractal geometry. It is very easy to demonstrate the zooming in idea.
This photo shows how a sea anemone and how even sea creatures
can show fractal geometry.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo
.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dfractal%26sz%3Dall%26ei%3DU
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g&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fseractal%2F474456954%2F&size=91.6kB
&name=474456954_0cfb8139e4.jpg&p=fractal&type=jpeg&no=196&tt=357,067&oid=6de15e5d268
5f0c8&fusr=Seractal&tit=Fractal+anemone&hurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fs
eractal%2F&ei=UTF-8&src=p
This picture shows a cross between broccoli and cauliflower that is a
very good example of fractal geometry.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64011960@N00/1901012282/
Trees also demonstrate the concept of fractals. Tree branches usually
grow and split and then grow and splitand continue the pattern.
Therefore, at any point, you can take a picture and zoom in and you
will be looking at a very similar picture.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMiYqBVZHWkQArAejzbkF/SIG=125bb0473/EXP=1196906154/
**http%3A//www.flickr.com/photos/chickarun/432178870/
Queen Annes Lace is also a very good example of fractal geometry.
Each of the petals look like a smaller version of the flower.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTefVSBlZHMmQAuWmjzbkF/SIG=1278ricor/EXP
=1196906450/**http%3A//www.flickr.com/photos/8589388@N04/521508634/
History of Fractal Geometry
It is necessary to include some essential information about the history of
fractal geometry, considering this is a history of mathematics course. Fractal
geometry is very new area of mathematics. It allows us to show shapes and
structures using formulas. Fractal geometry actually began in the 17th century
with philosopher Leibniz contemplating self-similarity. About a century later, Karl
Weierstrass showed a function that had the property of being non-intuitive. This
means it was continuous everywhere, but not differentiable. Today his graph
would be considered fractal. Another very famous person in the world of fractal
geometry is that of Helge Von Koch, who presented a more geometric definition.
Following is the Koch snowflake:
Also worth mentioning is the work of
Waclaw Sierpinski, who in 1915 constructed
what is now know as the Sierpinski Triangle
and Sierpinski Carpet, both of which are
pictured below. Both are 2D, even though
once considered curves.
Sierpinski Triangle
Sierpinski Carpet
Furthermore, one individual, Paul Piere Levy, investigated self-similar
curves even further and came up with what is today known as the Levy C curve.
A picture can be viewed below or an animation version can be accessed at:
http://moles.deviantart.com/art/fractal-levy-c-curve-38938489. Many others
explored iterated functions in the complex plane. However, until computer
graphics, they were unable to visualize the many objects they discovered.
Levy C Curve
Most notable in fractal geometry is Benoit B. Mandelbrot, mentioned
earlier. He is responsible for the name, Fractal Geometry. He also discovered
the Mandelbrot set in 1980 after working with Gaston Julias theorems. These
theorems were published in 1917 and now that we have super computers to
make the millions of calculation necessary, his theorems could be tested. In
conclusion, fractal geometry is just being to take off and already we have found
practical application, such as reducing file size of images and greatly enhancing
their resolution. There is no doubt that the fractal geometry will continue to
become more important in mathematics, science, and technology.
Hands-On Fractal Demonstration
Compact Disc
Mirror
Class Activity: Koch Snowflake
Materials: straight edge, pencils
Procedure: Make sure each student has a straight edge, pencil, and
paper. Have them create an equilateral triangle. Then divide each side of the
triangle in half and make a dot. Connect the dots to create a triangle within.
Continue this process as many times as possible. Below are some pictures to
help better understand the process:
WORKS CITED
Scratching the Surface: What are Fractals and Fractal Geometry.
http://www.sunleitz.com/whatarefractals.html
Growth Factors.
http://www.mathaware.org/mam/00/master/essays/dimension/dimen09.ht
ml
Sierpinski Carpet. http://www.answers.com/topic/sierpinskicarpet?cat=technology
Fractal. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fractal?uselang=de
Moles Fractal: levy c curve.http://moles.deviantart.com/art/fractal-levy-ccurve-38938489
Koch Snowflake.
http://www.scientificweb.com/testreport/mathbench4/mathbench4_introduc
tion.html
Point Symmetry: 7.5 mm Square Paper.
http://www.mav.vic.edu.au/pointsym/075sqdot.htm
Cantor Set. Wikipedia. 19 November 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
3 December 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantor_set>.
The Math of Fractals. Cool Math. 1997-2007. CoolMath.com, Inc. 3
December
2007. <http://www.coolmath.com/fractals/fractals_lesson.html>
Fractal. Wikipedia. 2 December 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 3
December
2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_geometry>
DlimitR. Fractals Mandelbrot. YouTube. 17 June 2006. YouTube, LLC.
3 December 2007.
<http://youtube.com/watch?v=ivRQDbAduoM&feature=related>.
Lanius, Cynthia. Sierpinskis Triangle. 1997-2007. 3 December 2007.
<http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/fractals/selfsim.html>.
The Sierpinski Triangle. http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/fractals/
Animated Mountain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Animated_fractal_mountain.gif
Quartz Crystal Photo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Unknown_Quartz_crystal_67.JPG
Fern Photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/roddh/307187374/
Sea Anemone Photo
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F
%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3
Dimage%26va%3Dfractal%26sz%3Dall%26ei%3DUTF8%26ni%3D20%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501s%26b%3D181&w=500&h=400&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F226%2F4744
56954_0cfb8139e4_m.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphot
os%2Fseractal%2F474456954%2F&size=91.6kB&name=474456954_0cf
b8139e4.jpg&p=fractal&type=jpeg&no=196&tt=357,067&oid=6de15e5d26
85f0c8&fusr=Seractal&tit=Fractal+anemone&hurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.f
lickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fseractal%2F&ei=UTF-8&src=p
Broccoli/Cauliflower Photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64011960@N00/1901012282/
Tree Branch Photo
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMiYqBVZHWkQArAejzbkF/SIG=125bb047
3/EXP=1196906154/**http%3A//www.flickr.com/photos/chickarun/432178
870/
Queen Annes Lace Photo
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTefVSBlZHMmQAuWmjzbkF/SIG=1278rico
r/EXP=1196906450/**http%3A//www.flickr.com/photos/8589388@N04/52
1508634/
