Fun With Fractal Geometry

Sierpinski's triangle, an equilateral triangle, filled with smaller, and smaller, equilateral triangles, is an intriguing contradiction of infinity bound by a finite shape.

It's also a fractal. And, fractals are fun. They enable computer aided designers to create stunning lava flows (like in Star Wars III), or believable looking icebergs, and flying penguins. They hold the promise of opening doors for weather forecasters, geographers measuring coastlines, cancer researchers, and even environmental scientists.

And, they're really pretty - perfect for rainy day, boredom buster, doodling, and coloring.

Of course, all that measuring of equilateral triangles, is bound to make a person hungry. It's always good to have a snack on hand (even if it's not quite mathematically correct).

I won't give a step-by-step for the cookies. They've been done before, and they're pretty self explanatory. We used rolled out dough, cut into 1/2 inch triangles, and then pieced together, to make the pattern. Until we got tired of working with the tiny triangles, and started making them bigger, which ruined our end result some, but didn't hurt the taste.

Next time I think we'll try The Fresh Loaf's Mad Scientist inspired, rolled refrigerator dough method. (See, I'm not the only one, who likes to turn everything under the sun into a cookie!)

Want to know more about fractals? I suggest checking out Nova's Hunting the Hidden Dimension, or Arthur Clarke's Fractals, The Colors of Infinity. They both offer a nice taste of what fractals are, and why they matter, in a way even younger children can appreciate, and enjoy.

It's great to be a homeschooler.