What's the next line in this number problem?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter JamesU
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the next line in a number sequence known as the "look-and-say" sequence. Participants explore the pattern and rules governing the sequence, sharing their attempts to extend it and discussing its characteristics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants provide the next lines in the sequence, with varying lengths and formats.
  • One participant explains that each line describes the previous line in terms of the count of digits (e.g., "123" translates to "one 1, one 2, one 3").
  • Another participant questions the presence of extra '1's in a previous answer, indicating potential confusion or error in the sequence extension.
  • There are observations about the sequence being a brain teaser and its use in educational settings.
  • Some participants note patterns in the sequence, such as the starting and ending digits, and the frequency of certain numbers, suggesting a mathematical structure.
  • One participant mentions the convergence of digit frequencies in the sequence, providing specific percentages for the occurrences of 1's, 2's, and 3's.
  • Another participant expresses a desire to understand how to approach such problems, indicating a range of experience levels among participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the extended lines, and there are multiple interpretations of the sequence's properties. The discussion remains open-ended with various viewpoints and observations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about specific details in the sequence, such as the presence of extra digits and the implications of the observed patterns. There are also references to the sequence's educational use, which may influence participants' perspectives.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in mathematical sequences, number theory, or brain teasers may find this discussion engaging and informative.

JamesU
Gold Member
Messages
828
Reaction score
3
What's the next line in this problem? (don't look it up and be cheap.)
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
1113213211
31131211131221
13211311123113112211
11131221133112132113212221
3113112221232112111312211312113211
??

Please put the answer in white, and go as many lines as you can. :smile:
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
NE1 going to try? :bugeye:
 
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
1113213211
31131211131221
13211311123113112211
11131221133112132113212221
3113112221232112111312211312113211
1321132132111213122112311311222113111221131221111131221131211131231121113112221121321132132211331222113112221

The line underneath explains the line above.. e.g. 123 = one 1, one 2, one 3 = 111213... etc..

Arghh... gets tiring... I probably made a mistake somewhere in there too... oh well, you get the jist.. :biggrin:
 
It's not really hard, but what are all the extra 1's for in your first answer?
 
yomamma said:
It's not really hard, but what are all the extra 1's for in your first answer?

I have NO idea :smile: :biggrin:
 
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: o:) o:) :smile: :smile:
:smile: o:) o:) :smile: :smile:
:smile: o:) o:) :smile: :smile:
:smile: o:) o:) :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
 
yomamma said:
What's the next line in this problem? (don't look it up and be cheap.)
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
1113213211
31131211131221
13211311123113112211
11131221133112132113212221
3113112221232112111312211312113211
??

Please put the answer in white, and go as many lines as you can. :smile:
Is it...
1321132132111213122112311311222113111221131221 :smile:
 
Last edited:
yes. :wink:
 
Kinda fun, that one is.
I had one of my friends on that for about a week one time, trying to solve it mathematically.

Paden Roder
 
  • #10
I took some science class during the summer. Our teacher didn't have much to say, so he gave us riddles, that was one of 'em :rolleyes:
 
  • #11
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
1113213211
31131211131221
13211311123113112211
11131221133112132113212221
3113112221232112111312211312113211
1321132132111213122112311311222113111221131221
11131221131211131231121113112221121321132132211331222113112211
311311222113111231131112132112311321322112111312211312111322212311322113212221
132113213221133112132113311211131221121321131211132221123113112221131112311332111213211322211312113211
11131221131211132221232112111312212321123113112221121113122113111231133221121321132132211331121321231231121113122113322113111221131221[/color]
 
Last edited:
  • #12
Its a really good brain teser. But is there anything special about the series other than that?
 
  • #13
mabs239 said:
Its a really good brain teser. But is there anything special about the series other than that?

Not really. Let's see...

There's only 1 number that starts off with a 2-- all the rest start with 1 or 3. All of them end in a 1.

Each digit in the series (left-aligning them) results in a 3-or-less length repeating sequence. So the 3rd digit (say) gets stuck in a loop starting at the 8th number in the series, repeating "1", "1", "2", such that the Nth number in the sequence's 3rd digit is predictable for N>=8. Each place follows a similar pattern with a loop length of 3 or 1. The 5th digit (for example) is always 1 starting at the 9th number in the sequence. And right-aligning the numbers results in 4-or-less length repeating sequences.

For each number in the sequence, if there are A 1's, B 2's and C 3's, then A >= B >= C. The percentage occurrences of 1's, 2's, and 3's seem to be convergent to roughly 49.5%, 32%, and 18.5% respectively (looking down to about the 50th number in the sequence).

There are probably some more things on that level of interesting, but nothing unexpected.

DaveE
 
  • #14
Dave
Thanks for the explanation. I couldn't see this page since long.
 
  • #15
Where does one start with this kinda stuff I'm a newbee
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
2K