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Patterns We Live In

  • Writer: toinfinityandbeyondmathclub
    toinfinityandbeyondmathclub
  • 1 day ago
  • 1 min read

Look around you: a mountain ridge, the veins of a leaf, the swirl of a

galaxy. These aren’t mere whims of nature. They are part of a hidden pattern

known as fractals. Fractals are mesmerising patterns which keep repeating the

same shape over and over, no matter how close you look. Consider it to be an

endless mirror image.

Fractals reveal that math isn't just about numbers, it’s also about patterns that

influence our surroundings, being a window into the infinite complexity of the

cosmos.

Here’s the twist: you’ve probably eaten fractals for lunch. For instance,

pineapples grow according to fractal patterns and ice crystals form tiny stars

inside stars. Even the way broccoli florets replicate their structure shows how

fractals are inculcated into nature for efficient growth.

But here’s where it gets personal. We also find fractals throughout the human

body, from blood vessels and lungs to the structure of neurons. Doctors, in

fact, now use fractal analysis to diagnose irregular heartbeats and detect signs

of tumors.

Mathematically, fractals are often created using recursive algorithms – sets of

instructions that repeat themselves. The Sierpiński triangle and the

Mandelbrot set are two well-known examples. However, fractals aren’t just

limited to theory, they’re used in computer graphics, digital compression and

even in simulating natural landscapes. These applications demonstrate how

fractals blend art, technology, and nature in ways that impact everything from

research and medicine to entertainment.

 
 
 

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