mandelbrot_set.py

def mandelbrot(x, y, threshold):
    """Calculates whether the number c = x + i*y belongs to the 
    Mandelbrot set. In order to belong, the sequence z[i + 1] = z[i]**2 + c
    must not diverge after 'threshold' number of steps. The sequence diverges
    if the absolute value of z[i+1] is greater than 4.
    
    :param float x: the x component of the initial complex number
    :param float y: the y component of the initial complex number
    :param int threshold: the number of iterations to considered it converged
    """
    # initial conditions
    c = complex(x, y)
    z = complex(0, 0)
    
    for i in range(threshold):
        z = z**2 + c
        if abs(z) > 4.:  # it diverged
            return i
        
    return threshold - 1  # it didn't diverge