The word fractal derives
from the Latin fractus, the past participle of
frangere, to break.
It
denotes a pattern created from parts that are smaller replicas of the whole
pattern, which are themselves created from parts that are smaller replicas of
the whole pattern, which are themselves created ....
They
were invented by a Frenchman name Julia Gaston
, but the term was coined by Benoit Mandelbrot. Here's an example:
Fractals are what nerds see when they close their
eyes
For higher resolution examples
of Julia Gaston?tm)s fractals go to: http://www.fractsurf.de/e_index2.html?e_bios.html
