What is a fractal?
Q: What is a fractal?
A: A fractal is any pattern that, when seen as an image, produces a picture that will still make the same picture when zoomed into.
Q: Who is credited with coining the term "fractal"?
A: Benoît Mandelbrot is credited with coining the term "fractal" in 1975.
Q: What is the etymology of the word "fractal"?
A: The word "fractal" was derived from the Latin word "fractus" which means "broken" or "fractured".
Q: Can fractals be cut into parts?
A: Yes, fractals can be cut into parts that look like a smaller version of the picture they started with.
Q: Can you give an example of a fractal?
A: A simple example of a fractal is a tree that branches into smaller branches, and those branches into smaller branches and so on.
Q: What practical applications do fractals have?
A: Fractals have many practical applications, such as in computer graphics, medicine, physics, and finance.
Q: Why are fractals important?
A: Fractals are important because they can help us understand complex natural phenomena and create more accurate models and simulations.