| Title: | Fractals: Modeling Nature with Beauty |
| Speaker: | Holly Williams, `12 Mathematics Major |
| Abstract: | Fractals bridge the connection between mathematics and art as we know it. Fractals can be mathematically represented as a set of numbers with complex ratios but, more importantly, fractals can be characterized by their "self similar" tendency. When a fractal image is zoomed in, the new zoomed view looks very similar to the original picture. Examples of self similar, fractal like objects in nature are abundant and include trees, mountains, and veins. Benoit Mandelbrot coined the term "fractal" and realized the importance of this newfound mathematics branch in the 1950's. Despite Mandelbrot's important realization, members of the mathematical community had a hard time accepting Mandelbrot's work. Math was supposed use the language of math, which according to Galileo was triangles, not fractals. But, after much who-ha, Mandelbrot's work was finally accepted. Mandelbrot's famous set has inspired many works of art, and changed the computer graphics industry forever. |
| Location: | Palenske 227 |
| Date: | 4/26/2012 |
| Time: | 4:30 PM |
@abstract{MCS:Colloquium:HollyWilliams`12:2012:4:26,
author = "{Holly Williams, `12}",
title = "{Fractals: Modeling Nature with Beauty}",
address = "{Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium}",
month = "{26 April}",
year = "{2012}"
}