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292 II Seeing How It Works<br />

If a rule resolves the inmost square in the shape f ðnÞ, then there are f ðn 1Þ ways to<br />

describe the remaining part of the shape—this part is one shape back in the series.<br />

Alternatively, if a rule resolves the four inmost triangles in the shape f ðnÞ, then there<br />

are f ðn 2Þ descriptions—the remaining part is now two shapes back in the series.<br />

So the total number of descriptions is f ðnÞ ¼ f ðn 1Þþ f ðn 2Þ. I can prove this for<br />

any square and any four triangles that include the square. Still, the visual demonstration<br />

is immediate enough to make the formal proof superfluous. In this case, seeing is<br />

believing.<br />

But that’s enough counting. Let’s try my second scenario. Suppose I recast the<br />

rules<br />

as the identities<br />

and then use them to define decompositions. Consider the shape<br />

once more. If I apply an identity to pick out this triangle

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