Is a fractal always a predictable pattern?

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In summary: Fractal is a structure where its Hausdorff dimension (strictly) exceeds its topological dimension. See here
  • #1
OMGMathPLS
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It never goes crazy and starts doing it's own unpredictable number pattern or sequence, right? Thanks in advance.
 
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  • #2
OMGMathPLS said:
It never goes crazy and starts doing it's own unpredictable number pattern or sequence, right? Thanks in advance.

Coastlines are often considered fractal, in fact they are one of the earliest known structures to be considered fractal and they are not deterministic. Same with fractal landscaped used in CGI (pseudo-non-deterministic).

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  • #3
zzephod said:
Coastlines are often considered fractal, in fact they are one of the earliest known structures to be considered fractal and they are not deterministic. Same with fractal landscaped used in CGI (pseudo-non-deterministic).

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Can a fractal be irrational and non repeating?
 
  • #4
OMGMathPLS said:
Can a fractal be irrational and non repeating?

Strictly speaking a fractal is any structure which exhibits self-similarly at any scale. So in some sense it kind of has to have a periodic component. But it can still be quite rich in features. For instance, take a look at the Mandelbrot fractal, if you zoom in on it at various levels of detail you tend to see more and more elaborate patterns, but ultimately they are just the same few types of symmetry repeated over and over again in slightly different ways.
 
  • #5
Bacterius said:
For instance, take a look at the Mandelbrot fractal, if you zoom in on it at various levels of detail you tend to see more and more elaborate patterns, but ultimately they are just the same few types of symmetry repeated over and over again in slightly different ways.

Interestingly, I believe that the Mandelbrot fractal does not repeat.
Except for its symmetry, its shape is really different everywhere.
It's kind of fun to zoom in somewhere, and discover that it does not show the repeatable pattern that you would sort of expect.
 
  • #6
Bacterius said:
Strictly speaking a fractal is any structure which exhibits self-similarly at any scale. So in some sense it kind of has to have a periodic component. But it can still be quite rich in features. For instance, take a look at the Mandelbrot fractal, if you zoom in on it at various levels of detail you tend to see more and more elaborate patterns, but ultimately they are just the same few types of symmetry repeated over and over again in slightly different ways.

Fractal is a structure where its Hausdorff dimension (strictly) exceeds its topological dimension.

See here

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FAQ: Is a fractal always a predictable pattern?

What is a fractal?

A fractal is a mathematical object or geometric shape that exhibits self-similarity at every scale. This means that as you zoom in on a fractal, it will continue to display the same patterns as when you zoomed out.

Are fractals always predictable?

No, fractals are not always predictable. While they exhibit self-similarity, the exact patterns and shapes they create can vary greatly depending on the specific fractal formula or algorithm used.

Can fractals be found in nature?

Yes, fractals can be found in nature. Many natural phenomena, such as coastlines, mountain ranges, and tree branches, exhibit fractal patterns and structures.

What is the importance of fractals in science?

Fractals have many applications in science, including modeling complex natural systems, analyzing data patterns, and creating more efficient designs in engineering and technology.

How do fractals relate to chaos theory?

Fractals are closely related to chaos theory, as they often exhibit chaotic behavior and are used to model chaotic systems. They can also help us better understand and predict complex and unpredictable systems in nature.

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