IB Mathematics Application and Interpretation SL:

Modelling and Investigation Activity 1

Sample Internal Assessment

Koch Snowflake

School Name: SIS Kelapa Gading

Teacher: Ms. Yogeeta

Date: 21 January, 2020

Course: IB Maths Application and Interpretations

SL

Word Count:

Name: Fiza Mahtani

Koch Snowflake

Introduction:

The Koch Snowflake is a fractal created by a swedish

mathematician, Niels Fabian Helge von Koch in 1904. A
fractal describes a geometric structure that have infinitely
complex patterns but are self similar across different scales.
They are precise, having infinite intricacy and are usually
found in nature, though they may be hard to spot. The Koch
Snowflake is considered to be a fractal because it looks similar
on any scale you look at it, zoomed in or out, displaying the
same patterns evidently.

The Koch snowflake is constructed by starting with an

equilateral triangle. After doing so, another equilateral
triangle is drawn on each side of the first triangle, removing
the inner third line on each side. Another equilateral triangle is then drawn at the
location where the side was removed and the process repeats continually. We do this by
adding the same equilateral triangle on each iteration, creating the Koch snowflake.

Aim:

The aim of this IA is to understand how Koch’s theory uses changing shapes to
explain mathematical sequences and series. Constructing the Koch Snowflake proves
the mathematicians point that the perimeter of the snowflake will forever go on and that
we can keep adding iterations, calculating the perimeter and area. This uses the equation
of infinite series to prove Koch’s theory.

Perimeter:

Since each side of the equilateral triangle is 81, then its perimeter will be 243cm,
multiplying all 3 sides. At each stage, or at every addition of a triangle, the size increases
4
by ⅓, so each side is of its original length, multiplying the original length with ⅓.
3
Hence, to get the perimeter of the triangle, the formula would be
4 𝑛−1
3(81) × ( ) , n being every addition or stage. This can be seen below with every
3
iteration.
 Stage 1:
4 1−1
Perimeter: 3(81) × ( )
3
= 243cm

Stage 2:
4 2−1
Perimeter: 3(81) × ( )
3
= 324cm

Stage 3:
4 3−1
Perimeter: 3(81) × ( )
3
= 432cm

Stage 4:
4 4−1
Perimeter: 3(81) × ( )
3
= 576cm

Stage 5:
4 5−1
Perimeter: 3(81) × ( )
3
= 768cm
Thus we continue replacing “n”, with the stage number to get the perimeter of the
changing shapes.

Area:
1
To find the area of the triangle, we use the formula ab Sin C, the general area for an
2
1
equilateral triangle. This formula can be further simplified into x side x side x Sin 60,
2
since all the angles in an equilateral triangle are inevitably 60°. Thus we get the formula
1 2 √3 √3
𝑠 ( ). . Using the Graphic Display Calculator, Sin 60 is the same as
2 2 2

√3 2 1 3
Our final formula is 𝑠 by multiplying and to make the equation less complex.
4 2 2

Since each side, is equal to 81cm, after calculating, the area would equate to 2841
cm2. Since this is just calculating the first stage itself, the basic triangle without the
iterations, it would be the first area.

After adding the iterations, we have 12 sides, as there are three new equilateral triangles
1
added, each a length of . The process is continuous. Thus the formula changed from s
3
𝑠
to and will continue to change at different stages of the Koch snowflake.
3

Stage 1

√3 2
𝑠
4
= 𝟐𝟖𝟒𝟏 𝒄𝒎𝟐

Stage 2

For the next stage, the area of the snowflake increases by

three equilateral triangles, thus the equation would be..
81 2
√3 √3( 3 )
2
= 81 + 3[ ]
4 4
We use the original area, PLUS the new
= 𝟑𝟕𝟖𝟕. 𝟗𝟗 𝒄𝒎𝟐 three sides added, generating another equation.

= 𝟑𝟕𝟖𝟕. 𝟗𝟗 𝒄𝒎𝟐
 Stage 3

81 2 81 2
√3 √3( 3 ) √3( 9 )
= 812 + 3 [ ] + 12 [ ]
4 4 4

= 𝟒𝟐𝟎𝟖. 𝟖𝟖𝒄𝒎𝟐

Stage 4

81 2 81 2
√3 √3( 3 ) √3( 9 )
= 812 + 3[ ] + 12 [ ]+
4 4 4
81 2
√3(27)
48 [ ]
4

= 𝟒𝟑𝟗𝟓. 𝟗𝟒𝒄𝒎𝟐

Stage 5

81 2 81 2
√3 √3( 3 ) √3( 9 )
= 812 + 3[ ] + 12 [ ]+
4 4 4
81 2 81 2
√3(27) √3(81)
48 [ ] + 192 [ ]
4 4

=𝟒𝟒𝟕𝟗. 𝟎𝟖𝒄𝒎𝟐

There is a very clear pattern, throughout areas one through five. The red digits on the equations
indicate how many triangles are being added to the previous stage, and as we can see it always
1
multiplies by 4 each of length 𝑟𝑑 of the previous stage.
3
Conclusion:

In conclusion, we can see that Niels Fabian Helge von Koch’s theory has
proven an infinite series exists within the snowflake. As we keep adding more and
more iterations, the nth value of the formula will continue to be replaced and
perimeter will increase without bound. It has a border of infinite length, but finite
area. This is because the area is solely inside the hexagonal shape, and despite the
iterations being added, the area will only cover the inside of the shape. The perimeter
however will continue to be measured as more equilateral triangles are being added at
each stage.

TOK Question:

How do Mathematics reconcile the fact that some conclusions conflict with intuition?