BSc Computer Science and Mathematics with Industrial Experience / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Fractal Geometry

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATH31042
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by Department of Mathematics
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Roughly speaking a fractal is a set in a metric space which exhibits non-trivial geometry at arbitrarily small scales.  Such objects abound in various areas of mathematics and this course will provide an introduction to the mathematics of fractals in a rigorous context.  We will consider several standard examples of fractals, such as self-similar sets like the middle third Cantor set and Sierpinski triangle, and we will study various properties of these fractals with an emphasis on quantifying their ‘size’.  This will be done by considering two related notions: dimension and measure.  We will begin with the relatively simple, but very useful, box dimension and build up to the more sophisticated Hausdorff dimension.  Hausdorff dimension is defined via a beautiful family of measures, known as Hausdorff measures, which we will construct carefully.  The pre-requisite for the course is metric spaces although we will mostly work in familiar examples of metric spaces such as the unit interval, rather than abstract spaces.  However, the flavour of the course will be similar to that of metric spaces with real analysis underpinning everything.
 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Metric Spaces MATH20122 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

To obtain an understanding and appreciation of the theory of fractals as metric objects.  To be comfortable performing basic calculations involving the geometry of fractals including computing their dimension.  To understand the rudiments of measure theory and construct Hausdorff measure in Euclidean space.
 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course unit students will be able:

  • define the Hausdorff measure, Hausdorff dimension and box dimension of a set, explaining why any limits involved in the definition are well defined. State and prove lemmas from the course involving these concepts,
  • give upper bounds for the Hausdorff and box dimensions of sets by constructing suitable sequences of covers,
  • give lower bounds for the Hausdorff and box dimension of sets using the mass distribution principle, Lipschitz maps, and separation arguments,
  • define an attractor of an iterated function system and prove that such attractors exist and are unique,
  • state and prove the formula for the Hausdorff dimension of self-similar sets.

Syllabus

  • Introduction and motivating examples (1 lecture)
  • Iterated function systems and self-similarity (4 lectures)
  • Box dimension (5 lectures)
  • Construction of measures (3 lectures)
  • Hausdorff measure and dimension (5 lectures)
  • Further examples, such as Julia sets and fractals in number theory (4 lectures)

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 20%
Written exam 80%

End of semester examination 80% and mid-semester in-class test (20%)

Feedback methods

Feedback tutorials will provide an opportunity for students' work to be discussed and provide feedback on their understanding.  Coursework or in-class tests (where applicable) also provide an opportunity for students to receive feedback.  Students can also get feedback on their understanding directly from the lecturer, for example during the lecturer's office hour.

Recommended reading

For further reading, see K J. Falconer, Fractal geometry: mathematical foundations and applications, 3rd Ed. Wiley, 2015

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 12
Tutorials 12
Independent study hours
Independent study 76

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Thomas Kempton Unit coordinator

Additional notes

The independent study hours will normally comprise the following. During each week of the taught part of the semester:
 
•         You will normally have approximately 60-75 minutes of video content. Normally you would spend approximately 2-2.5 hrs per week studying this content independently
•         You will normally have exercise or problem sheets, on which you might spend approximately 1.5hrs per week
•         There may be other tasks assigned to you on Blackboard, for example short quizzes or short-answer formative exercises
•         In some weeks you may be preparing coursework or revising for mid-semester tests
 
Together with the timetabled classes, you should be spending approximately 6 hours per week on this course unit.
The remaining independent study time comprises revision for and taking the end-of-semester assessment.
 
The above times are indicative only and may vary depending on the week and the course unit. More information can be found on the course unit’s Blackboard page.

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