Patterns We Live In
- 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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