GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Fractal Geometry

Fractals

Fractals are never-ending patterns, and are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar
across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an
ongoing feedback loop.

One of the examples of fractals in nature is a fern. The blade, pinnae and the pinnules are
of similar shape (self-similar) and they differ by size (scale).

The word “fractal” was coined in 1980 by Belgian mathematician

Benoit Mandelbrot (1924-2010). Mandelbrot chose the name fractal
because it reminds him of the word “fraction”. This was after he realized
that these self-similar shapes have the property of not being one-
dimensional, or two-dimensional, or even three-dimensional, but instead,
of fractional dimension.

Fractals in Nature

Nature has innumerate examples of fractals. Some plants, animals and environmental
conditions exhibit this iterative and recursive behavior.

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GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Fractal Dimension

Dimensions are measures of an object’s size in one direction. A space figure has length,
width and height, hence 3-dimensional. However, not all objects have one, two or three
dimensions, rather “in-between” (fractal) dimensions.

“Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not
circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line.”

- B. Mandelbrot
! !
Given a line segment, to have a length (s = ") of the original, the line
"
!
segment must be divided into two equal parts (n = 2). To achieve s = #, the
segment must be divided into 3 equal parts (N = 3).
! !
To achieve squares with lengths " of the original (s = "), 4 squares must
!
be generated. Similarly, s = requires 9 squares.
#

!
From a cube, to have smaller cubes with lengths "
of the original, 8
!
cubes must be generated. While for a cube of size s = , it requires 27 cubes.
#

The table below summarizes the relationship between dimensions,

reduction size, and number of similar figures. This shows that an object
!
residing in Eucledian dimension D with its linear size reduced by $ in each
spatial direction (length, area, or volume) would increase to n = rD times the
!
original (Hausdorff dimension). In cases where s = , r = 2, its magnification
"
factor.

Solving D from n = rD

log n = log rD taking log of both sides of the equation

log n = D log r logarithm power rule
%&' ( ) %&' $
%&' $
= %&' $ divide both sides of the equation
with log r
%&' (
%&' $
= 𝐷 simplifying

%&' ( %&'((+,-.$ 01 23.4.5) %&' (

D= = or !
%&' $ %&'(,78(31347930( 17490$) %&': ;
"

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GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Mandelbrot Set

The term Mandelbrot set is used to refer both

to a general class of fractal sets (the set as a whole)
and to a particular instance (specific areas) of such a
set. A Mandelbrot set marks the set of points in the
complex plane. Similar to a cartesian plane, a complex
plane has real numbers on the x – axis and imaginary
numbers (i, 2i, 3i, …) on the y-axis.

Some Particular Instances of the Mandelbrot Set

The region of the set centered around – 0.75 + 0.1i is sometimes known as the sea horse
valley because the spiral shapes appearing in it resemble sea horse tails (Giffin, Munafo).

sea horse valley

Similarly, the portion of the Mandelbrot set centered around 0.3 + 0i with size
approximately 0.1 + 0.1i is known as elephant valley.

elephant valley

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GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Mandelbrot Set in General

Being a fractal, the entire Mandelbrot Set’s shape is seen again, as a whole, when
zooming in on its left portion.

Koch Snowflake

The Koch Snowflake was created by the Swedish Mathematician Niels

Fabian Helge von Koch. In his paper entitled “Sur une courbe continue sans
tangente, obtenue par une construction geometrique elementaire” he used the
Koch Snowflake to show that it is possible to have figures that are continuous
everywhere but differentiable nowhere.

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GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Kock Edge
!
Start with a line segment. Divide the line segment into 3 equal parts (s = ), with middle
#
part replaced with two linear segments at angles 600 and 1200, producing a figure with 4 line
segments (n = 4). Repeat the steps to each line segment.

Example 1:

Find Koch Edge’s fractal dimension.

Initial edge
! !
Level 1: Each edge has a length # of the original edge (s = #, r = 3)
4 edges (n = 4)
! !
Level 2: Each edge has a length < of the original edge (s = <, r = 9)
16 edges (n = 16)
! !
Level 3: Each edge has a length "= of the original edge (s = "=; r = 27)
64 edges (n = 64)

%&' ( %&'((+,-.$ 01 23.4.5) %&' (

D= %&' $
= %&'(,78(31347930( 17490$) or !
%&': ;
"

At Level 1: At Level 2: At Level 3:

%&' ( %&' > %&' ( ?08 !@ %&' ( ?08 @>

D= %&' $
= %&' # D= %&' $
= ?08 <
D= %&' $
= ?08 "=
≈ 1.26 ≈ 1.26 ≈ 1.26

Therefore, the fractal dimension of a Koch Edge is 1.26.

Solving at the first level is enough to identify a fractal’s dimension.

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GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Cantor Set

Georg Cantor (1845 – 1918) was the founder of set theory. He is also noted for studying
one of the first fractal shapes. The Cantor set is formed by following the algorithm: (1) start with
a line segment; (2) divide the line segment into thirds; (3) remove the middle third line segment,
(4) iterate further.
Example 2:

What is the fractal dimension of the Cantor Set?

s = 1/3 n=2

%&'(") %&' "

D= ! = %&' # ≈ 0.63
?08: ;
!/$

Therefore, the fractal dimension of the Cantor Set is 0.63.

Sierpinski Triangle

Named after Polish mathematician Waclaw Sierpinski, the triangle is one of the simplest
fractal shapes in existence.

Example 3:

What is the fractal dimension of the Sierpinski

Triangle?

s = 1/2 n=3

%&'(#) %&' #
D= ! = %&' " ≈ 1.58
?08: ;
!/%

Therefore, the fractal dimension of the Sierpinski Triangle is 1.58.

In November 2018, an article

about the density of electrons on the
surface of copper was published. The
said article features the Sierpinski
Triangle in the quantum realm.

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GE 1108 – Mathematics in the Modern World Ateneo de Davao University

Fractal Applications

Astrophysicists believe that the key to finding out how stars were
formed is the fractal nature of interstellar gas, like smoke trail or clouds in
the sky. Both are shaped by turbulence, giving them an irregular but
repetitive pattern that would not be possible to describe without the help of
fractals.

In Biology, some systems are best described using fractals.

Several devices are also fashioned using fractals.

Learn more from these links:

1. http://mdc.nfshost.com/fractals.pdf
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQfu8jSo5b0

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