MHB What rule is used to receive number 1

  • Thread starter Thread starter anre
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a mathematical process applied to a positive integer "n" where if n is even, it is halved, and if odd, either 3n + 1 or 3n - 1 is chosen. Participants question whether this process will always lead to the number 1 after multiple iterations. The conversation references the Collatz conjecture, which posits that all positive integers will eventually reach 1 through this method. Examples illustrate the steps taken from various starting points. The consensus is that while the conjecture remains unproven, it has been observed to hold true for many integers.
anre
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
On the board is written the number of positive integer "n". In next step we write a new number. If n is even, then we write the number n / 2. If n is odd, then select the 3n + 1 or 3n-1 and write on the blackboard. Can we get the number 1 (always) after many steps ? and why? What rule is used ?
For example:
20 (n / 2)
10 (n / 2)
5 (3n + 1)
16 (n / 2)
8 (n / 2)
4 (n / 2)
2 (n / 2)
1
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Not sure. but I know I have to find LCD
 
This problem has been discussed recently in https://driven2services.com/staging/mh/index.php?threads/16219/.
 

Thread 'Trigonometry problem of interest'

Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Is this a proof of the Collatz Conjecture?
Replies
8
Views
3K
MHB Find Half a Number's Reciprocal Increased by Half its Reciprocal
Replies
2
Views
1K
A Proving Goldbach's conjecture by induction (or why it doesn't seem to work)
Replies
10
Views
2K
B Popularizing a property for n-bonacci numbers without publishing it?
Replies
12
Views
1K
A Is this Recursive Pattern in the Collatz Sequence Known?
Replies
3
Views
372
MHB [ASK] Probability with Factors
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Billard balls on table
Replies
10
Views
2K
I Union of Prime Numbers & Non-Powers of Integers: Usage & Contexts
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Modulo and Modulus in math and computer programming
Replies
5
Views
3K
Insights Reduction of Order For Recursions
Replies
4
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top