Skip to main content

Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications

Product ID: Geometers Corner
Supplementary Print
High School

Iterating Complex Linear Functions

Author: Jon Choate


When you iterate a function, you create a sequence. This sequence is called an orbit. Much has been written about iterating real valued linear functions. Not much has been written about iterating complex linear functions. I stumbled on this topic while teaching a Chaos and Fractal Geometry course. If you iterate a complex linear function of the form F[x + yi] = (a + bi) (x + yi) + c + di, where a, b, c and d are real numbers, you create orbits that can be plotted using a spreadsheet.

©2018 by COMAP, Inc.
Consortium 114
4 pages

Mathematics Topics:

Application Areas:

Linear Functions

You must have a Full Membership to download this resource.

If you're already a member, login here.

Not yet a member?