How Can 24 Numbers Be Compressed Into 6 or Fewer?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Hypercase
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Numbers
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for compressing a set of 24 numbers into 6 or fewer, with an emphasis on reversible algorithms. Participants explore various approaches, including changes in number base and concatenation techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks an algorithm to compress 24 numbers into 6 or fewer while maintaining the ability to reverse the process.
  • Another participant suggests using a different number base to reduce the length of the numbers, providing an example of base 100.
  • A participant references a related academic work involving the compression of large numbers using prime numbers.
  • A question is raised about whether the goal is to reduce the number of numbers, the number of digits in each number, or the total number of digits.
  • The original poster clarifies the intention to reduce the number of numbers while also considering digit reduction.
  • One proposed method involves concatenating the numbers using a unique spacer sequence, which increases the total number of digits but reduces the count of individual numbers.
  • There is a suggestion to switch to a higher base to further reduce the number of digits, though this would require more types of digits.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the methods of compression, with no consensus on the best approach or the specific goals of the compression process.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully defined the constraints or requirements for the compression algorithm, such as the acceptable trade-offs between the number of numbers and the number of digits.

Hypercase
Messages
63
Reaction score
0
How do i compress 24 numbers to something like 1 to 6 numbers.
For example consider these numbers:-
134217736
14336
16515072
-33554425
768
229376
25165825
-1073741376
16834306
16776192
-1048449
-268402704
16775169
-1336671440
1141059650
53494531
809567024
1090728001

Please help me with an algorithm that will compress these to less than 6 numbers, and that i can reverse the effect of and obtain these number back at a later stage.
Is there any other way that you can think of compressing numbers.
Thanx in advance.
-Cheers.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
If you work with a different number base other than 10 you will be able to shrink how long the numbers are. For example 100 in base 100 would just be 10. Just try to find a different base that will work for you.
 
heh, my compsci lecturer was talking about how she did something like that for her masters thesis, involving prime numbers :S, compressing >60 digit numbers
 
Are you trying to reduce the number of digits in each number (the number of numbers remains unchanged), or the total number of numbers (digits of no concern), or do you want to reduce the total number of digits (just reduce memory space...how , doesn't matter) ?
 
Im hoping to reduce the number of numbers.
I suppose reducing the number of digits would help too.

-Cheers.
 
Here's an approach that reduces the number of numbers by any amount you desire...but it increases the total number of digits :

append numbers to each other using a specific sequence (key) as a spacer. Choose the key such that it does not already exist among your numbers. For your numbers, say you pick the sequence 1234 (as that does not appear anywhere) as your spacer.

Now you can combine all your numbers into one giant number with several 1234s in it.

So, you'd have : 1342177361234143361234165150721234-3355442512347681234...

Now, if you wish you can switch to a higher base, to reduce the number of digits (though you'll need more types of digits).
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
10K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
17
Views
7K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K