Accuracy
Robert P. Munafo, 1999 Feb 2.
The commonly-seen views of the Mandelbrot Set have been challenged by arguments based on techniques like error-term analysis. They show that if you want to get an accurate view of a lemniscate ZN you need to use at least N digits in all your calculations. The result is that most views of the Mandelbrot Set that people see on computers are (in theory) completely inaccurate.
However, an overwhelming amount of experimental evidence shows that the views are indistinguishable by the human eye regardless of how many digits you use, as long as the number of digits is sufficient to distinguish the coordinates of the parameter value C.
See also aliasing errors, computability, iteration algorithm, magnification, precision, resolution.
From the Mandelbrot Set Glossary and Encyclopedia, by Robert Munafo. Mu-ency index
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