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Sierpinski triangle

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

The Sierpinski triangle is a fractal formed by recursively removing equilateral triangles from a larger equilateral triangle. It exhibits self-similarity and has a dimension that is not an integer.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The Sierpinski triangle is created through an iterative process of removing triangular sections, starting with a single equilateral triangle.
  2. It is an example of a fractal, meaning it shows self-similarity at different scales.
  3. The area of the Sierpinski triangle approaches zero as the number of iterations approaches infinity.
  4. Its Hausdorff dimension is given by $\frac{\log 3}{\log 2} \approx 1.585$.
  5. In terms of infinite series, the creation process can be related to geometric series, where each iteration reduces the area by a factor.

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