Can someone explain what these questions are asking?

[rbzima]

Let a_{0} be any positive integer and let a_{k+1}=a_{k}+1 if a_{k} is odd, and let a_{k+1}=a_{k}/2 if a_{k} is even.

Let \ell be the smallest positive integer where a_{\ell} = 1. Find an expression for \ell in terms of a_{0} that is non-recursive.

 

[LukeD]

So, a_0 is given, but arbitrary, and you're trying to find an l for which l > 0 and a_l = 1

For instance if a_0 = 1
Then a_1 = 2, a_2 = 1, so l = 2

If a_0 = 17, then a_1 = 18, a_2 = 9, a_3 = 10, a_4 = 5, a_5 = 6, a_6 = 3, a_7 = 4, a_8 = 2, a_9 = 1
So l = 9

You just want to solve for l in terms of a_0