Mathematics 225 - Chaos and Fractals

Fall
2014
01
4.00
Amanda Folsom
MWF 11:00AM-11:50AM; T 01:00PM-01:50PM
Amherst College
MATH-225-01-1415F
SMUD 205; SMUD 205
afolsom@amherst.edu

MATH 225 is a mathematical treatment of fractal geometry, a field of mathematics partly developed by Benoit Mandelbrot (1924-2010) that continues to be actively researched in the present day. Fractal geometry is a mathematical examination of the concepts of self-similarity, fractals, and chaos, and their applications to the modeling of natural phenomena.  In particular, we will develop the iterated function system (IFS) method for describing fractals, examine Julia sets, Mandelbrot sets, and study the concept of fractal dimension, among other things. Through the teaching of these concepts, MATH 225 will also lend itself to familiarizing students with some of the formalisms and rigor of mathematical proofs.


Requesite: MATH 211 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 35 students. Fall semester.  Professor Folsom.

Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.
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