Who is credited with inventing the "E" summation sign? Also, what is this geometric figure called?

Question

The figure starts with 1 equilateral triangle in the center. Then, 3 little triangles, 1/3 the size of the previous one, bud off each side of the triangle. It does that infinitely and almost looks like a little snowflake. What is that called?

Answer 1

I think this is what you mean:

http://www.efg2.com/Lab/FractalsAndChaos/vonKochCurve.htm

It's called the Von Koch snowflake. It's part of chaos theory, because while it forms the boundary of a finite space, the perimeter is infinite.

The E is called a Sigma. It's a Greek letter S. I presume it is used because S stands for sum.

Ah, a bit more research reveals that it was Euler who used the Sigma for summation:

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Euler.html

Answer 2

It's not an E, it's the Greek letter Sigma.