HandsOn 5 - Covering a Coastline with Boxes

Thus far we have used the ruler method for measuring the dimension of a coastline. An alternative method is called the grid method or box method or covering method. The grid method is a bit more versatile than the ruler method, and can be used for different kinds of fractals. Here is how it works:

Table 2.2: Covering the Coastline with Boxes (used in HandsOn 1 and SimuLab 1)
  Edge length of   PREDICT: MEASURE:
Square Number of Squares to cover Number of Squares to cover
  Coastline Coastline
16        
8        
4        
2        
1        


Q2.10: Based on your use of the ruler and grid methods, which do you find more efficient? Does it make sense to ask which method is more "accurate''? Explain.



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