ABACABA pattern

The ABACABA pattern is a recursive fractal pattern that shows up in many places in the real world (such as in geometry, art, music, poetry, number systems, literature and higher dimensions).[1][2][3][4] Patterns often show a DABACABA type subset.

DABACABA patterns in (3-bit) binary numbers

Generating the pattern

In order to generate the next sequence, first take the previous pattern, add the next letter from the alphabet, and then repeat the previous pattern. The first few steps are listed here.[4] A generator can be found here

Step	Pattern
1	A
2	ABA
3	ABACABA
4	ABACABADABACABA
5	ABACABADABACABAEABACABADABACABA
6	ABACABADABACABAEABACABADABACABAFABACABADABACABAEABACABADABACABA

Gallery

• 
  Sierpinski triangle:
  ABACABA
• 
  Ruler, excluding 1 and 2:
  ABACABADABACABAexcluding 2:
  EABACABADABACABA
• 
  Cantor set:
  ABACABADABACABA
• 
  Binary tree/upside down family tree:
  ABACABADABACABA
• 
  Koch curve: ${\displaystyle n=1}$ is ABA, ${\displaystyle n=2}$ is ABACABA, and ${\displaystyle n=3}$: ABACABADABACABA
• 
  Metric hierarchy:
  ABACABADABACABA[lower-alpha 1]
• 
  When counting in binary (here 4-bit), the final 0s form an ABACABA pattern
• 
  A staircase built with the largest possible squares/cubes while allowing equally sized steps: ABACABADABACABA[1]
• 
  A "circle fractal"[1] superimposed with a 2 × 2 box fractal: ABACABADABACABA

See also

• Chiastic structure (X)
• Farey sequence
• Rondo
• Sesquipower
• Tower of Hanoi

Notes

1. The strength, emphasis, or importance of the beginning of each duration ${\displaystyle 1/8}$ the length of a single measure in 4/4 (eighth-notes) is, divisively (${\displaystyle 2/2^{1}=1}$, ${\displaystyle 4/2^{2}=1}$, ${\displaystyle 8/2^{3}=1}$), determined by each eighth-note's position in a DABACABA structure, while the eighth notes of two measures grouped, additively (${\displaystyle 8\times 2=16}$), are determined by an EABACABADABACABA structure.[3]

References

1. Naylor, Mike (February 2013). "ABACABA Amazing Pattern, Amazing Connections". Math Horizons. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
2. SheriOZ (2016-04-21). "Exploring Fractals with ABACABA". Chicago Geek Guy. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
3. Naylor, Mike (2011). "Abacaba! – Using a mathematical pattern to connect art, music, poetry and literature" (PDF). Bridges. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
4. Conley, Craig (2008-10-01). Magic Words: A Dictionary. Weiser Books. p. 53. ISBN 9781609250508.

External links

• Naylor, Mike: abacaba.org