Related papers: On the solution of the Collatz problem
We consider the following variant of the Mortality Problem: given $k\times k$ matrices $A_1, A_2, \dots,A_{t}$, does there exist nonnegative integers $m_1, m_2, \dots,m_t$ such that the product $A_1^{m_1} A_2^{m_2} \cdots A_{t}^{m_{t}}$ is…
Let $\sigma_n=\lfloor1+n\cdot\log_23\rfloor$. For the Collatz 3x + 1 function exists for each $n\in\mathbb{N}$ a set of different residue classes $(\text{mod}\ 2^{\sigma_n})$ of starting numbers $s$ with finite stopping time…
The 3x+ 1 problem concerns iteration of the map on the integers given by T(n) = (3n+1)/2 if n is odd; T(n) = n/2 if n is even. The 3x+1 Conjecture asserts that for every positive integer n > 1 the forward orbit of n under iteration by T…
This paper is an overview and survey of work on the 3x+1 problem, also called the Collatz problem, and generalizations of it. It gives a history of the problem. It addresses two questions: (1) What can mathematics currently say about this…
Collatz Conjecture (also known as Ulam's conjecture and 3x+1 problem) concerns the behavior of the iterates of a particular function on natural numbers. A number of generalizations of the conjecture have been subjected to extensive study.…
It is well known that the Collatz Conjecture can be reinterpreted as the Collatz Graph with root vertex 1, asking whether all positive integers are within the tree generated. It is further known that any cycle in the Collatz Graph can be…
This paper introduces prime holdout problems, a problem class related to the Collatz conjecture. After applying a linear function, instead of removing a finite set of prime factors, a holdout problem specifies a set of primes to be…
Let, for r>=2, (m_r(n)),n>=0, be Moser sequence such that every nonnegative integer is the unique sum of the form s_k+rs_l. In this article we give an explicit decomposition formulas of such form and an unexpectedly simple recursion…
An alternative computational approach to the Collatz (3n+1) conjecture is presented that may be theoretically capable of confirming the conjecture.
It is shown that every Collatz sequence $C(s)$ consists only of same structured finite subsequences $C^h(s)$ for $s\equiv9\ (mod\ 12)$ or $C^t(s)$ for $s\equiv3,7\ (mod\ 12)$. For starting numbers of specific residue classes ($mod\…
For each odd $m \geq 3$ we completely solve the problem of when an $m$-cycle system of order $u$ can be embedded in an $m$-cycle system of order $v$, barring a finite number of possible exceptions. In cases where $u$ is large compared to…
We introduce a full binary directed tree structure to represent the set of natural numbers, further categorizing them into three distinct subsets: pure odd numbers, pure even numbers, and mixed numbers. We adopt a binary string…
A set of $m$ positive integers $\{x_{1},\ldots,x_{m}\}$ is called a $P^{3}_{1}$-set of size $m$ if the product of any three elements in the set increased by one is a cube integer. A $P^{3}_{1}$-set $S$ is said to be extendible if there…
We show an iterated function of which iterates oscillate wildly and grow at a dizzying pace. We conjecture that the orbit of arbitrary positive integer always returns to 1, as in the case of Collatz function. The conjecture is supported by…
For a long time, Collatz Conjecture has been assumed to be true, although a formal proof has eluded all efforts to date. In this article, evidence is presented that suggests such an assumption is incorrect. By analysing the stopping times…
The problem of counting monomer-dimer coverings of a lattice is a longstanding problem in statistical mechanics. It has only been exactly solved for the special case of dimer coverings in two dimensions. In earlier work, Stanley proved a…
Let $\mathbb{N}$ be the set of all nonnegative integers. For $S\subseteq \mathbb{N}$ and $n\in \mathbb{N}$, let $R_S(n)$ denote the number of solutions of the equation $n=s_1+s_2$, $s_1,s_2\in S$ and $s_1<s_2$. Let $A$ be the set of all…
We prove that there are exactly five sequences, including the triangular numbers, that satisfy the product rule $T(mn) = T(m) T(n) + T(m-1) T(n-1)$ for all $m, n \ge 1$.
Pairs of consecutive integers have the same height in the Collatz problem with surprising frequency. Garner gave a conjectural family of conditions for exactly when this occurs. Our main result is an infinite family of counterexamples to…
Pilz's conjecture states that for any finite set $A=\{a_1,a_2,\dots,a_k\}$ of positive integers and positive integer $n$ in the union of the sets $\{a_1,2a_1,\dots,na_1\},\dots, \{a_k,2a_k,\dots,na_k\}$ (considered as a multiset) at least…