The Fractal Tree

This is a fractal tree (with parameters so that the branches only go out in 3 specific directions), also known as a pythagorean tree. A Pythagorean/Pythagoras tree is one where the branches are made of squares and arranged in right angles that the traditional right angles that Pythagoras is associated with - something like the picture at the right (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Now, it wouldn’t be math-art if I featured something thus commonly made. Today’s math-art is Koos Verhoeff’s The Fractal Tree, which is different from the traditional pythagorean tree, and yet maintain its looks and feel.

Koos Verhoeff made a 3D rendering of it (to have more fun with this read, it’s actually a 3D rendering of a 2D plane), firstly, and secondly, it doesn’t use squares. Instead, the rendering was made with rectangular pieces, but still arranged at a right angle - the very reason why the shape doesn’t run.

It’s a fractal plane, in 3D, because each iteration of the tree is similar to the previous iterations. Just beautiful.

Sidenote: Koos Verhoeff also made some sculpture of a fractal tree, which is awesome. Maybe I’ll post it up somedays.