Fractals Around Us

MENDOZA, Trisha Margaret C.

V-24

1. What are fractals?

- Fractals are never ending patterns that repeat themselves thus the
property of “self-similarity”. They are made by repeating a simple
process, for example the Mandelbrot Set was created by iterating a
feedback loop using a simple equation like y=x2+1 for millions of times.
As a result the Mandelbrot set is infinitely complex since it can be
zoomed in forever while still retaining its shape (What Are Fractals? –
Fractal Foundation, n.d.).

2. What does "self-similarity" mean?

- The term "self-similar" refers to the phenomenon where an object
resembles itself. In mathematics, if a portion of an object can be
zoomed in or out, it will often appear to be the complete object. This is
an attribute of fractals; for instance, the Koch snowflake would maintain
its shape no matter how many times you zoomed in or out.
Furthermore, because fractals are repeated patterns, when you zoom in
on one of their objects, they will resemble or even be an exact replica of
their original shapes.

3. Name TWO (2) mathematicians who are known for their contribution in
the field of fractal geometry. What did they do to earn recognition?
- French mathematician Gaston Julian developed a dilemma during
World War One. Julian investigated what would occur if you iterated a
feedback loop using a simple equation like y=x2+1 for millions or more
times. However, due to a lack of technology at the time, getting a
precise response was challenging. In later years, Benoit B. Mandelbrot
utilized a computer to run Julian's equation numerous times. The Julia
set's numbers were transformed into graph points, and astonishingly,
this resulted in the discovery of f(z)=Z2+c, which, when entered into a
computer, produced the somewhat rounded map that is now known as
the Mandelbrot set. In a way, Julian prepared the ground for
Mendelbrot and the fractals that are well-known today.

4. Cite THREE (3) applications of fractals that illustrate solutions to real-life

problems.

a. The study of fractals is beneficial to biology. MIT claims that the DNA
chromatin structure is a fractal globule structure. With no tangles that
might obstruct the cell's ability to read its own genome, the cell can
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pack DNA extremely tightly as a result (A New Dimension for Genome

Studies, 2009).

b. Astronomy can benefit from the study of fractals. Galaxy correlations are
fractal and non-homogeneous up to the limits of the available catalogs,
according to recent research (Fractals in Nature and Applications, n.d.).
These results require further study, but they provide a strong
foundation for understanding or proving whether or not the universe is
fractal.

c. In computer science, fractals can be used to compress images. Fractal

image compression behaves like vector graphics, in which they can be
zoomed in or enlarged without pixelation. Unlike JPEG, PNG etc who do
the opposite (Sala, 2009).

5. Provide a link to a web source (video or website) that gives a piece of

interesting information about fractals. Write at least three (3) concepts
you have learned from this web source.

MITK12Videos. (2015, June 11). What Is A Fractal (and what are they good
for)? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFtTdf3I6Ug

a. Fractals are a never ending pattern. For example, if you start with an
equilateral triangle, then place another equilateral triangle on the
middle of each side, repeat the process on 12 sides. This will form a Koch
snowflake, this has a special property where now matter where on the
snowflake the pattern will be seen over and over again.

b. Nathan Cohen used fractal antennas which worked better than regular
antennas. As the fractal antenna repeated the patterns, more signals
could be picked up. Cohen further developed this into the Menger
Sponge- which is usually used in cell phone antennas where it can pick
up all types of signals and take up less space than then Koch snowflake.

c. Fractals are recognized as repeated patterns. Given this, it is amazing

that nature has always employed fractals. For instance, a tree branch
fractal shows how the branches split similarly to the previous branch as
the trunk ascends. Each branch of the tree is a miniature tree in and of
itself. Other examples include galaxies, rivers, and lightning.
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Fractals in nature and applications. (n.d.).

https://kluge.in-chemnitz.de/documents/fractal/node2.html

A new dimension for genome studies. (2009). MIT News | Massachusetts

Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2009/3d-genome

Sala, N. (2009). Fractal Geometry and Computer Science.

https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/fractal-geometry-computer-science/28736

What are Fractals? – Fractal Foundation. (n.d.).

https://fractalfoundation.org/resources/what-are-fractals/

MITK12Videos. (2015, June 11). What Is A Fractal (and what are they good for)?
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFtTdf3I6Ug