Shuffle operations on discrete paths

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Abstract

We consider the shuffle operation on paths and study some parameters. In the case of square lattices, shuffling with a particular periodic word (of period 2) corresponding to paperfoldings reveals some characteristic properties: closed paths remain closed; the area and perimeter double; the center of gravity moves under a 45 rotation and a 2 zoom factor. We also observe invariance properties for the associated Dragon curves. Moreover, replacing square lattice paths by paths involving 2kπ/N-turns, we find analogous results using more general shuffles.

Keywords

Lattice paths
Polygonal paths
Discrete regions
Shuffle
Dragon curve

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With the support of NSERC (Canada).