Sawtooth: Difference between revisions
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A '''sawtooth''' is a finite [[pattern]] whose population grows without bound but does not tend to infinity. In other words, it is a pattern with population that reaches new heights infinitely often, but also infinitely often drops below some fixed value. Their name comes from the fact that their plot of population versus generation number looks roughly like an ever-increasing sawtooth graph. | A '''sawtooth''' is a finite [[pattern]] whose population grows without bound but does not tend to infinity. In other words, it is a pattern with population that reaches new heights infinitely often, but also infinitely often drops below some fixed value. Their name comes from the fact that their plot of population versus generation number looks roughly like an ever-increasing sawtooth graph. | ||
The [[sawtooth 1|first sawtooth]] was constructed by [[:Category:Patterns found by Dean Hickerson|Dean Hickerson]] in April [[:Category:Patterns found in 1991|1991]]. The least infinitely repeating population of any known sawtooth is 262, attained by [[sawtooth 2]]. | The [[sawtooth 1|first sawtooth]] was constructed by [[:Category:Patterns found by Dean Hickerson|Dean Hickerson]] in April [[:Category:Patterns found in 1991|1991]] by using a [[loaf]] [[tractor beam]]. The least infinitely repeating population of any known sawtooth is 262, attained by [[sawtooth 2]]. | ||
==Expansion factor== | ==Expansion factor== | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[:Category:Sawtooths|List of sawtooths]] | |||
*[[Parabolic sawtooth]] | *[[Parabolic sawtooth]] | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.argentum.freeserve.co.uk/lex_s.htm#sawtooth Sawtooth] at the Life Lexicon | *[http://www.argentum.freeserve.co.uk/lex_s.htm#sawtooth Sawtooth] at the Life Lexicon | ||
Revision as of 15:23, 15 February 2009
A sawtooth is a finite pattern whose population grows without bound but does not tend to infinity. In other words, it is a pattern with population that reaches new heights infinitely often, but also infinitely often drops below some fixed value. Their name comes from the fact that their plot of population versus generation number looks roughly like an ever-increasing sawtooth graph.
The first sawtooth was constructed by Dean Hickerson in April 1991 by using a loaf tractor beam. The least infinitely repeating population of any known sawtooth is 262, attained by sawtooth 2.
Expansion factor
The expansion factor of a sawtooth is the limit of the ratio of successive heights (or equivalently, widths) of the "teeth" in plots of population versus generation number.
See also
External links
- Sawtooth at the Life Lexicon