Can fractals sum to a linear function?

1. Oct 31, 2004

Loren Booda

Does there exist a set of fractals whose sum defines a differentiable field?

2. Oct 31, 2004

Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
I'm not sure what you mean, but I think I can shed some light on it.

Generally, when you want to answer the question: "Can two ugly things sum to a nice thing?", you can usually answer in the affirmative by picking any ugly thing, then subtracting it from a nice thing. If this subtraction yields another ugly thing, then you have two ugly things that add to a nice thing.

3. Oct 31, 2004

MiGUi

Nice way to explain, really nice ... you should write a book Hurkyl

4. Oct 31, 2004

marlon

nice explanation Hurkyl...

marlon

5. Oct 31, 2004

Loren Booda

Is it possible that a superposition of fractal fields yields a linear field? I hope this is sufficiently ugly, Hurkyl (please forgive my mathematical illiteracy).

6. Oct 31, 2004

Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
The problem is, those terms just don't go together. I really have no idea what you are trying to say.

7. Oct 31, 2004

Loren Booda

Hurkyl,

A fractal pattern is assumed discontinuous and nonlinear. I was wondering whether the "superposition" (sum of values for every correspondent point) over two or more such fractals could generate a continuous, linear pattern.

Consider a fractal of dimension 1.2 projected onto a fractal of dimension 1.8; might this mapping ever represent a differentiable geometry of dimension 3, or even of dimension 2?

8. Nov 1, 2004

matt grime

Again, you're using words in an alien way. "represent a differential geometry"?

The simple answer is of course you can sum two fractal curves of non-integer dimension and get something nice:

embed your favourite fractal curve y=f(x), and 1-f(x) in the plane, then the sum will be 1just as hurkyl said.

9. Nov 1, 2004

Loren Booda

Is there a simple proof that fractals are not differentiable?

10. Nov 1, 2004

Loren Booda

... or are fractals differentiable by fractional derivatives?