Chaos, Fractals, and Arcadia

Robert L. Devaney
Department of Mathematics
Boston University
Boston, MA 02215

Below you will find an animated description of some of the mathematical ideas lurking in the background of Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia. For access to some of the mathematical software that generates some of the images contained herein, visit the Dynamical Systems and Technology Project at Boston University. To purchase a video involving some of the mathematical ideas in Arcadia, together with a taped discussion by Tom Stoppard, visit the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.

Introduction
Thomasina's Geometry of Irregular Forms
The Chaos Game
The Sierpinski Hexagon
Thomasina's Fern
Valentine's Grouse
Summary and References
Appendix---the Formulas

We welcome your feedback on this material. Please send any comments or suggestions to Robert L. Devaney at bob@bu.edu.

Introduction (Next Section)

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