English

General Dynamics and Generation Mapping for Collatz-type Sequences

Number Theory 2024-09-13 v1

Abstract

Let an odd integer X\mathcal{X} be expressed as {M>mbM2M}+2m1,\left\{\sum\limits_{M > m}b_M2^M\right\}+2^m-1, where bM{0,1}b_M\in\{0,1\} and 2m12^m-1 is referred to as the Governor. In Collatz-type functions, a high index Governor is eventually reduced to 2112^1-1. For the 3Z+13\mathcal{Z}+1 sequence, the Governor occurring in the Trivial cycle is 2112^1-1, while for the 5Z+15\mathcal{Z}+1 sequence, the Trivial Governors are 2212^2-1 and 2112^1-1. Therefore, in these specific sequences, the Collatz function reduces the Governor 2m12^m - 1 to the Trivial Governor 2T12^{\mathcal{T}} - 1. Once this Trivial Governor is reached, it can evolve to a higher index Governor through interactions with other terms. This feature allows X\mathcal{X} to reappear in a Collatz-type sequence, since 2m1=2m1++2T+1+2T+(2T1).2^m - 1 = 2^{m - 1} + \cdots + 2^{\mathcal{T} + 1} + 2^{\mathcal{T}}+(2^{\mathcal{T}}-1). Thus, if X\mathcal{X} reappears, at least one odd ancestor of {M>mbM2M}+2m1++2T+1+2T+(2T1)\left\{\sum\limits_{M > m}b_M2^M\right\}+2^{m-1}+\cdots+2^{\mathcal{T}+1}+2^{\mathcal{T}}+(2^{\mathcal{T}}-1) must have the Governor 2m12^m-1. Ancestor mapping shows that all odd ancestors of X\mathcal{X} have the Trivial Governor for the respective Collatz sequence. This implies that odd integers that repeat in the 3Z+13\mathcal{Z} + 1 sequence have the Governor 2112^1 - 1, while those forming a repeating cycle in the 5Z+15\mathcal{Z} + 1 sequence have either 2212^2 - 1 or 2112^1 - 1 as the Governor. Successor mapping for the 3Z+13\mathcal{Z} + 1 sequence further indicates that there are no auxiliary cycles, as the Trivial Governor is always transformed into a different index Governor. Similarly, successor mapping for the 5Z+15\mathcal{Z} + 1 sequence reveals that the smallest odd integers forming an auxiliary cycle are smaller than 252^5. Finally, attempts to identify integers that diverge for the 3Z+13\mathcal{Z} + 1 sequence suggest that no such integers exist.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2409.07929,
  title  = {General Dynamics and Generation Mapping for Collatz-type Sequences},
  author = {Gaurav Goyal},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.07929},
  year   = {2024}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T18:42:20.160Z