If you define x and y as screen coordinates and a, b and c as fixed values, then the iteration of Barry Martin's formula
xn = yn-1 - SQRT(ABS(b * xn-1 - c)) * SIGN(xn-1)
yn = a - xn-1
leads to the well known Hopalong patterns. This bahavior changes dramatically, if you put these formulas into the drawing algorithm of a Mandelbrot program.
The varied algorithm
If the parameters a and b are not seen as constants, but now - in a nested loop - used as screen coordinates, combined with the variable x as a color value depending on the number of iterations, you'll see new interesting patterns. These patterns seem to be a weird mixture of interfering ribbons and frost tracery. They don't look like typical fractal structures with its self-similarity. Every part of the drawing plane has its own pattern structures, which don't seem to be related with one another.
Detailed articles
Hopalong varied
What is discribed above in a short manner, you can read much more detailed in a long article. But, sorry, you have to read it in German.
Doenload programs
Three programs with the described variations are provided by Kurt Diedrich:
Credits
The contents of this page were provided by Kurt Diedrich. If you have any questions you may ask the author (fraktalforschung <email symbol> tele2.de)