Infinitely Growing Tree in

the Finite Area

IB Mathematics Internal Assessment

May 2021

Candidate number: hft860

Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Introduction
As we know, a fractal is an endless pattern built from repeated shapes and a decrease in size

when repeated at the same time in mathematics. It is possible to find out the fractal in a real-

life situation such as coastline, the shape of snowflakes, mountain ranges, and river networks.

I am always interested in fractal because it was an attractive shape since it continues infinitely

with an identical contour. One day, when I was watching an animated movie called Maple Story,

I saw a world tree growing infinitely. It gave me an impression due to its gigantic size, and it

is able to live infinitely as well. The size of the tree compares to the people nearby; it makes

every people look small due to the size of the world tree.

It inspired my concept of IA and increased my curiosity.

'When the tree grows infinitely, how large the tree can be

compared to other objects nearby?'

Figure 1: Picture of infinitely growing tree

Therefore, I decided to do my IA topic as an 'Infinitely growing tree in the finite area.' For this,

I will create a 3-dimensional model of an infinitely growing tree in the finite area using

Geogebra. I will find the general formula for the height, diameter, and number of branches

according to the tree's growth.

To do it successfully, I have learned vector to work out the sequence in the 3D model of the

endless growing tree, which is not included in the course. The point or branch in 2D is easy to

sort out; however, in 3D, the vector is the only method to find the branches' precise coordinates.

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Aim
The aim of writing Math IA is:

I will be figuring out how large the tree can grow when it grows infinitely by calculating the

circumference, height, and number of tree branches and comparing the size of the tree with

different objects.

Key Terms
Table 1: explanation
To understand Math IA clearly, the key terms are necessary. of key terms

Branch and node

1. zero-order branch
2. First-order branch
4. 3. Second-order branch
4. Third-order branch
3. 4

3 1 First-order node
2.
2 Second-order node
2
3 Third-order node
1
4 Fourth-order node

1.

Table 2: the explanation of steps

Steps Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Number of 1 4 16 64
branches
The length of a (m) 3 9 27
a (m) a (m) a (m)
branch for each 4 16 64
step(order)
2
What is the source of the branches?
Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Understandably, because a world tree does not exist in real life, I would like to provide a

condition to satisfy the conditions of the fractal.

The conditions are:

- The zero-order branch is only growing vertically upward with a meter (Step 1)

3
- The four first-order branches have the length of of the zero-order branch. (Step
4

2)

- Of the four branches, the middle one extends vertically, and the other three

branches extend between 120 with each other respectively. At the same time,

they slanted upward 30 .

- There are four branches grows per a first-order branch. Therefore, a total of 16

branches grow in the third step. (Step 3)

- These steps are constantly repeated for all the steps when the tree grows.

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Section 1: Finding the Total Number and Length of branches for Each Step
Step 1

Figure 2: The first step of model

When the tree grows, it is obviously growing one branch upward. The length of the first branch

is set as a meter ( OA1 = a (m) ) straight branch to upward.

 O(0,0,0), A1 ( 0,0, a )

- The total number of branch: 1 branch (zero-order branch)

- The total length of branch: a meter

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Step 2

Figure 3: the explanation of first order branch

There are another four more branches added in step 2, which are A1B1, A1B2 , A1B3 , A1B4 . All of

3
the lengths of first-order branches are the same, a m.
4

By calculating the coordinates of second-order nodes B1 , B2 , B3 , B4 , it helps to figure out the

tree growth pattern. Also, the circle that through the three points, B2 , B3 , B4 shows the

circumference of the tree that can have when the height of the tree reaches at B1 .

The branch A1B1 is vertically upward on the branch, OA1 .

3 7
OB1 = OA1+A1B1 = a+ a= a
4 4

 7 
Therefore, the coordinate of B1 is:  B1  0, 0, a 
 4 

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

The point B2 is directly above the x -axis, and the other two points B3 and B4 are 120°
counterclockwise from the point B2

The x -coordinate of B2 is x because it is x to the

3
right of the x -coordinate of A1 . a
4
h
3 3 3 30
x = a  cos30 = a
4 8 A x Figure 4: show the
x and h of
For the y -coordinate of B2 , because it is directly above triangle of first order
branch

the line of x -axis of the graph, y -coordinate of B2 is 0.

The z -coordinate of B2 is h + a because it is h above the A1 .

3 3
h = a  sin 30 = a
4 8

3 11 3 3 11 
Therefore, the z -coordinate of point B2 is a+a = a.  B2  a, 0, a 
8 8  8 8 

Even though the z -coordinate of B2 , B3 , B4 , the z -

coordinate of the three second-order nodes is the same.

However, the second-order nodes are rotated with

120 as it is shown by the circle, the x -coordinate

and y − coordinate are different. Firstly,

x − coordinate ( −x ) of the B3 can be calculated

the equation would be:

3 3 3 3
Figure 5: The bird’s eye view of first-order branch
−x = a  sin 30 = − a.
8 16

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

For y -coordinate( −y ) of B3 is:

3 3 9  3 3 9 11 
−y = cos 30  a= a.  B3  − a, a, a 
8 16  16 16 8 

Lastly, the coordinate of B4 is reflected on x -axis from B3 . Therefore, the coordinate would

be:

 3 3 9 11 
 B4  − a, − a, a 
 16 16 8 

✓ The total number of branches: 4 braches

3
✓ The total length of branch: 4  a = 3a
4

7
✓ Total height: a
4

3 3
✓ The radius of the circle B2 B3 B4 : a
8

7
The total height of the tree in first-order is a.
4

The circle passing through the points B2 , B3 , and B4 is the outline that most far away from the

3 3
middle point. The circle has a radius of a . Therefore, the tree’s maximum circumference
8

3 3 3 3
is: 2 r  a= a
8 4

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Step 3

Figure 6: The
model of second-
order branch

In order to achieve my goal, from step 3, since there are too

many branches to label, only four branches are labeled. The

straight branch is to measure the height, and 3 more

branches are to measure the diameter of the endless growing

tree. The straight branch is labeled as C1 Then, three

branches which located the most far away from the middle,

C1 . The one located on the x -axis is labeled as C2 , two

Figure 7: The bird’s eye view for second-order
branch
other branches on C3 and C4 respectively. Also, the

circle pass through the C2 , C3 , C4 is displaying the maximum circumference that the tree can

have when the height reaches the point C1 .

3 3 10  10 
Furthermore, the point of C1 is: a + a + a = a   C1  0, 0, a 
4 4 4  4 

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Same as B2 , the C2 is on the x -axis, it shows that

the y -coordinate of C2 is 0. Furthermore, to find

Figure 8: the model

shows the triangle to
out the coordinate of it, x -coordinate and z -
help explanation

coordinate is needed. Firstly, to calculate x -

coordinate of C2 , it can be solved using 30 of the branch, and the length of the second

2
3
branch, B2C2 =   a .
4

Also, the x -coordinate of B2 should be added to calculate the precise position of x -

coordinate of C2 . Therefore, x -coordinate would be:

3 3 3
2
3 3 3 3
2
3 3 9 3 12 3 + 9 3
x = a +   a  cos 30 = a+   a=  +  a = a
8 4 8 4 2  8 32  32

21 3
= a
32

The equation to calculate z -coordinate is:

2
11 3
= a +   a  sin 30
8 4

44 + 9
2
11 3 1 53
= a +  a = a = a
8 4 2 32 32

 21 3 53 
 C2  a, 0, a 
 32 32 

Since C3 , and C4 is rotates 120 centered on z -axis, the coordinates of nodes C3 , and

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

21 3
C4 are a away from the center.
32

✓ The total number of branches: 16 braches

2
3
✓ The total length of the branch: 42    a = 9a
4

37
✓ Total height: a
16

3 3
✓ The radius of the circle C2C3C4 : a
16

37 3 3
The highest node of second-order is a , and the tree would grow in radius a at most
16 16

in the second-order steps. Therefore, the circumference in step 3 is:

3 3
2 r  a
16
3 3
= a
8

These steps are constantly repeated afterward from step 3. To simplify the IA, the steps will

shape the ideas of proceeding of steps in conclusion.

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

✓ The total number of branches:

1 + 4 + 42 + 43 + ..... + 4 = 

✓ The total length of infinite branches:

1 2 3 nth
The number of 1 4 42 4n−1
branches
The length of a a 3 3
2
3
n −1

branch a
4   a   a
4 4
The total length 1 a 3 3
2
3
n −1

of the branches 4 a 42    a 42    a
=a 4 4 4
= 3a n −1
=3 a
2
=3 a

Table 3: the total number, length of infinitely growing tree’s branch

In the case of infinity tree such as world tree:

✓ The total length of infinite branches:

lim ( a + 3a + 32 a + ... + 3n −1 a )
a →

a ( 3n − 1) a ( 3n − 1)
= lim = lim =
a → 3 −1 a → 2

2 3
3 3 3 a
✓ Maximum height: a + a +   a +   a + .... = = 4a
4 4 4 1−
3
4

The maximum height of the infinity tree would be 4a since I set up the zero-order branch's

length a . The height would be altered as a changes. The total length of the infinity branches

of tree will be  because as the tree grows endlessly, the branches' length will also grow

infinitely simultaneously.

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Section 2: Calculating the Maximum Width of Circumference of the

Infinitely Growing Tree
To calculate an infinitely growing tree's

circumference, the radius plays a

significant role, which is the key to

measuring the circumference. The x -

coordinate shows the radius of the

circumference of the endless growing

tree. Since it is impossible to measure

Figure 9: the x -
coordinate of one
side of the branch all the nodes' coordinates, I calculated one side of the tree above the x -axis.

By using these coordinates, we can see the pattern of how the infinitely growing tree is growing

and where does it converge, which is:

3 3 11   21 3 53 
A1 ( 0, 0, a ) , B2  a, 0, a  , C2  a, 0, a  , D2 ,..., Z 
 8 8   32 32 

A1 , B2 , C2 and D2 are collinear on the line. Moreover, the vector equation of the line A1 B2

that passes through A1 ( 0,0, a ) with direction vector A1 B2 is r = OA1 + t A1B 2 .

3 3  3 3 
 a
0 
a
 8     8 
A direction vector for the line: A1 B2 = OB2 − OA1 =  0  −  0  =  0 
     
 11 a   a   3 a 
 8   8 
   

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

3 3 
 x   0   8 
a
   
The vector equation of the line A1 B2 :  y  =  0  + t  0  , t 
 z  a  3 
     a 
 8 
 

Each point can be obtained by substituting t values for the vector equation, e.g.

3
OA1 ( t = 0 ) , OB2 ( t = 1) . As the length of each order's branch is reduced by the factor of ,
4

2
3 3 3
the t value in turn changes to 0, 1, 1 + , 1 + +   ….
4 4 4

3 7
When t = 1 + = ,
4 4

3 3   21 3 
0  a
 x   32 
a
  7  8 
   21 3 53 
OC2 =  0  +  0    y =  0   C2  a, 0, a 
a 4  3   z   53   32 32 
   a     
 8   32 a 
   

2
3  3  37
When t = 1 + +   = ,
4  4  16

3 3   111 3 
0  a
 x   128 
a
  37  8 
   111 3 239 
OD2 =  0  +  0    y =  0   D2  a, 0, a
 a  16  3   z   239   128 128 
   a     
 8   32 a 
   

3
The value of t is the sum of geometric series with the first term of 1, common ratio of .
4

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

2 n −1
3 3 3
So the nth term of t is t = 1 + +   + ... +   .
4 4 4

Therefore, to find nth point from A1 on a straight line A1 B2 :

3 3 
 x 0  a
     3 3
2
3 
n −1  8 
y = 0 +  + +
     4  4 
1 + .... +       0 
 z  a  4   
     3a 
 8 
 

As the steps are proceeding indefinitely,

2 3
3 3 3 1 1
t = 1 + +   +   + ... = = =4
4 4 4 1−
3 1
4 4

3 3  3 3 
 x  0  a
 x   2 
a
     8 
 
3 3 5 
 y  =  0  + 4  0    y  =  0   Z   a, 0, a 
 z  a   z  5   2 2 
     3a     a 
 8   2 
   

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

Figure 10: side view of the infinitely growing tree

As shown in figures 10 and 11, the first three blue

circles show the circumference of the first, second,

and third-order branches, respectively. The last blue

circle that pass through Z  , indicates the maximum

circumference of height Z when the tree grows

Figure 11: the bird’s eye view of the infinitely growing

tree
endlessly.

3 3 
Furthermore, The circumference of an infinitely growing tree ( z ) is: 2   a    = 3 3a
 2 

Section 3: Measuring the Height Compare to the objects

Although the tree grows infinitely, since the length of the branch is getting shorter, it converges

at one point at the end. Therefore, the length of the zero-order branch plays an essential role

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

for the total length and width of the tree. By comparison with other objects, we can see the

difference directly.
Table 4: The comparison of tree’s height with different objects

The tree’s length and width The object

When a=10cm,
the height of the tree become 40cm
the circumference of the tree will be
163.2 cm
Therefore, the height of the tree will be the
same as the baby’s average height, which is
about 40 cm .
40cm

When a=25cm, Furthermore, the height of the tree will be

The height of the tree will become 100cm the same size as the rifle
Then the circumference of the tree will be
408.1 cm

100cm

When a=44cm, Hence, the height of the tree will become

The height of the tree will become 176cm the same as the average height of the adult
The circumference of the tree will be
718.3 cm
176cm

When a=100m, Then, the height of the tree becomes the

The height of the tree will become 400m same as a building
The circumference of the tree will be
1632.4 m
400m

Because the tree grew infinitely, I believed it is very simple to be larger than a human being.

However, as the length of the tree depends on the zero-order branch, if the length of the zero-

order branch is only 10cm, then it can only be the baby's height even though the circumference

is much larger than a baby. Hence, the height of the zero-order branch should be larger than

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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

44cm in order to be larger than the average height of a man. However, when it become 100m,

the size will be the same as a building.

Limitation
Although the tree grows in complex ways, since I simplified the pattern of growing tree, it

would not be the same as how the tree grows in the real-life, which means the world tree that I

made with the model is not exactly identical with the tree in the movie or authentic model in

the world.

In addition, I have some limitations on the model from what I made in Geogebra. Even though

I set up the conditions for the model of the tree so that I can measure the height and the

circumference of the tree, the conditions did not make based on the standards and conditions

from the movie. It is true that my Math IA’s research question was made up from the movie,

they did not show the exact condition, and the world tree only had the symbol of life in the

movie. Therefore, it is possible that the world tree can be varied from my model due to different

conditions. Moreover, it is one of the limitations for my model of the world tree.

Besides, I was not considered the thickness of a branch which is linked to the tree ring of the

real tree. It is interesting that every tree is known as the tree ring is added as it lives more. If

the tree is infinitely growing, then the tree ring or the thickness of the tree is growing endlessly

as well. Hence, if I have more opportunity for my Math IA, then, I would probably working on

the thickness and the tree of the world tree which would make it more interesting.

Conclusion
Through this IA, I figured out that the infinitely growing tree can be represented with a fractal

model, as shown in Geogebra. When I start this IA, I believe that the tree will grow infinitely,

which means that the height and the circumference will grow endlessly. It is true that the
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Mathematical IA: infinitely growing tree

number of branches increases tremendously, but it showed that the height of the tree and

circumference of the tree approaching to a constant point( Z  ) and it also converged point, Z  .

Therefore, even though the tree grows infinitely, the both of height and circumference would

not grow endlessly. Thus, the length of zero-order branch plays an essential role for the

infinitely growing tree.

Besides, it also relieves my curiosity. I aimed to calculate the height and circumference so that

the infinite tree can be comparable to other objects such as human beings, which is the same

as animation even though it grows endlessly. As a result, although the number of branches

growing infinitely from my IA, the height and circumference are converged at some point.

Therefore, it is possible that the tree can be much larger than other objects. For example, the

tree that has 25cm of the zero-order branch grows in my home. If it continually grows with the

same conditions that I set up, it would grow until 1 meter, and the circumference would be at

most 408cm. Moreover, even though the tree can grow infinitely, it has a finite total length

when it grows in the finite area since it converged at some point. Furthermore, in this case, I

can grow a plant in my home, although it grows infinitely.

Bibliography
Fractal,www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/f/Fractal.htm.

"FRACTAL: Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary." Cambridge Dictionary,

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fractal.

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