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This equation will change how you see the world (the logistic map)

Veritasium · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Recreational & visual mathPure mathematics

What it is

A Veritasium video on the logistic map, showing how a simple population equation leads to chaos and bifurcation. It connects the idea to convection, neuron firing and the Mandelbrot set, with interactive animations.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters call it a favourite Veritasium video, praised for how a simple equation reveals surprisingly complex patterns.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 4 strong recommendations
  • first 2020, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “In terms of sheer brain-breaking... this is my favourite”

    Brain-breaking favourite among Veritasium videos

    cgrealy, 2021-08 · Strong recommendation · in “The 3x+1 Problem [video]”

  2. “hold on to your hat.”

    Where fractals come from in 3D

    Kaibeezy, 2021-12 · Strong recommendation · in “The 40th anniversary edition of Codex Seraphinianus”

  3. “That’s my second favorite YouTube video.”

    Reveals fundamental patterns that are surprisingly complex

    teaearlgraycold, 2023-10 · Strong recommendation · in “Why 10B snow crabs starved to death in the Bering Sea”

  4. “This Veritasium video is about one small (but awesome) bit of that”

    Builds on Verhulst's model of population growth

    Kim_Bruning, 2021-03 · Recommendation · in “Misunderstanding Malthus’ mistake”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: logistic map, bifurcation, mandelbrot set, population dynamics, fractals

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