English

On the average stopping time of the Collatz map in $\mathbb{F}_2[x]$

Dynamical Systems 2025-08-18 v2 Combinatorics Probability

Abstract

Define the map T1T_1 on F2[x]\mathbb{F}_2[x] by T1(f)=fxT_1(f)=\frac{f}{x} if f(0)=0f(0)=0 and T1(f)=(x+1)f+1xT_1(f)=\frac{(x+1)f+1}{x} if f(0)=1f(0)=1. For a non-zero polynomial ff let τ1(f)\tau_1(f) denote the least natural kk number for which T1k(f)=1T_1^{k}(f)=1. Define the average stopping time to be ρ1(n)=fF2[x],deg(f)=nτ1(f)2n\rho_1(n)=\frac{\sum_{f\in \mathbb{F}_2[x], \text{deg}(f)=n }\tau_1(f)}{2^n}. We show that limnρ1(n)n=2\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{\rho_1(n)}{n}=2, confirming a conjecture of Alon, Behajaina, and Paran. Furthermore, we give a new proof that τ1(f)O(deg(f)1.5)\tau_1(f)\in O(\text{deg}(f)^{1.5}) for all fF2[x]{0}f\in\mathbb{F}_2[x]\setminus\{0\}.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2401.12781,
  title  = {On the average stopping time of the Collatz map in $\mathbb{F}_2[x]$},
  author = {Manuel Inselmann},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.12781},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

Revised version. Three figures added