If you like Fractals, you will love The Colours of Infinity

BumbleBeeBoogie

I am very interested in fractals and the M-set, in particular. Do you know where I might find some insight into the complex plane...how to interpret the complex plane? I don't have any great knowledge of mathematics, but I usually can pick up on theoretical ideas without too much trouble.
Thank You

echi


echi

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0716711869/ref=dp_image_text_0/103-9427771-1553451?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

There are several books that might help you. One is

The Fractal Geometry of Nature (Hardcover)
by Benoit B. Mandelbrot

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Imagine an equilateral triangle. Now, imagine smaller equilateral triangles perched in the center of each side of the original triangle--you have a Star of David. Now, place still smaller equilateral triangles in the center of each of the star's 12 sides. Repeat this process infinitely and you have a Koch snowflake, a mind-bending geometric figure with an infinitely large perimeter, yet with a finite area. This is an example of the kind of mathematical puzzles that this book addresses.

The Fractal Geometry of Nature is a mathematics text. But buried in the deltas and lambdas and integrals, even a layperson can pick out and appreciate Mandelbrot's point: that somewhere in mathematics, there is an explanation for nature. It is not a coincidence that fractal math is so good at generating images of cliffs and shorelines and capillary beds.

Review

"A rarity: a picture book of sophisticated contemporary research ideas in mathematics."--Douglas Hofstadter, author of Godel, Escher, Bach

About the Author

Benoit Mandelbrot is the Abraham Robinson Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Yale University and IBM Fellow Emeritus at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center.
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Another book is:

Creating Fractals (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
by Roger Stevens

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Everything You?ll Need to Create Thousands of Fractals! Fractals are the name given to certain types of iterated equations that produce very strange results and are capable of creating unusual and beautiful patterns. Creating Fractals describes the characteristics and mathematical background of fractals and shows the reader how the accompanying fractal-generating program is used to produce thousands of different kinds of fractals, to enlarge them, to color them, and to save them?without any knowledge of computers or programming. The program works with any computer using Windows. In addition to producing artistic effects, the reader can gain an understanding of how each type of fractal is created and how it might be used to treat natural phenomena, e.g., the turbulence of liquids, the behavior of the stock market, and the compression of graphic images. Mathematical terminology is explained in elementary terms.

About the Author

Stevens is a veteran graphics programmer and author of several books, including Graphics Programming with JAVA, 2E. He holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and resides in New Mexico.

BBB

Thank You.

I will try to pick these up today.

When I learned about the M-set I was fascinated and then for longest time have been frustrated.

I feel that if I could interpret and understand the complex plane, I could then somehow apply it to my understanding of the "real" world.

I appreciate the information. Thanks, again.

echi
echi, you're welcome; glad to help you out.

You might want to keep other A2K members, who also have an interest in Fractals, aware of what you learn from these books. And certainly post any photos of any creations you make for us.

BBB