Related papers: Method Study on the 3x+1 Problem
In this paper we describe a new method of obtaining ideal solutions of the well-known Tarry-Escott problem, that is, the problem of finding two distinct sets of integers $x_i,\;i=1,\,2,\,\dots,\,k+1$ and $y_i,\;i=1,\,2,\,\dots,\,k+1$ such…
Much work has been done attempting to understand the dynamic behaviour of the so-called "3x+1" function. It is known that finite sequences of iterations with a given length and a given number of odd terms have some combinatorial properties…
The Collatz Conjecture (also known as the 3x+1 Problem) proposes that the following algorithm will, after a certain number of iterations, always yield the number 1: given a natural number, multiply by three and add one if the number is odd,…
This paper proposes a formula expression for the well-known Collatz conjecture (or 3x+1 problem), which can pinpoint all the growth points in the orbits of the Collatz map for any natural numbers. The Collatz map $Col: \mathcal{N}+1…
For any odd positive integer $x$, define $(x_n)_{n\geqslant 0} $ and $(a_n )_{n\geqslant 1} $ by setting $x_{0}=x, \,\, x_n =\cfrac{3x_{n-1} +1}{2^{a_n }}$ such that all $x_n $ are odd. The 3x+1 problem asserts that there is an $x_n =1$ for…
We study difference inequality systems for the 3x+1 problem introduced by the first author in 1989. These systemes can be used to give lower bounds for the number of integers below x that contain 1 in their forward orbit under the 3x+1 map.…
This paper studies certain trajectories of the Collatz function. I show that if for each odd number $n$, $n\sim 3n+2$ then every positive integer $n \in \mathbb{N}\setminus 2^{\mathbb{N}}$ has the representation…
For any positive integer $n$, define an iterated function $$ f(n)=\left\{\begin{array}{ll} n/2, & \mbox{$n$ even,} \\ 3n+1, & \mbox{$n$ odd.} \end{array} \right. $$ Suppose $k$ (if it exists) is the lowest number such that $f^{k}(n)<n$, and…
The Collatz conjecture can be stated in terms of the reduced Collatz function R(x) = (3x+1)/2^m (where 2^m is the larger power of 2 that divides 3x+1). The conjecture is: Starting from any odd positive integer and repeating R(x) we…
The 3x+1 Conjecture asserts that the T-orbit of every positive integer contains 1, where T maps x\mapsto x/2 for x even and x\mapsto (3x+1)/2 for x odd. A set S of positive integers is sufficient if the orbit of each positive integer…
We study whether sufficiently large integers can be written in the form cp+T_x, where p is either zero or a prime congruent to r mod d, and T_x=x(x+1)/2 is a triangular number. We also investigate whether there are infinitely many positive…
The present work focuses on the study of the renowned Collatz conjecture, also known as the $3x +1$ problem. The distinguished analysis approach lies on the dynamics of an iterative map in binary form. A new estimation of the enlargement of…
Until now, Computer Scientists have concerned themselves with identifying efficient algorithms for solving the general case of some problem -- that is finding one which performs well when the size of the input tends to infinity. In this…
By introducing the busy beaver competition of Turing machines, in 1962, Rado defined noncomputable functions on positive integers. The study of these functions and variants leads to many mathematical challenges. This article takes up the…
Since many real-world problems arising in the fields of compiler optimisation, automated software engineering, formal proof systems, and so forth are equivalent to the Halting Problem--the most notorious undecidable problem--there is a…
Approximate integer programming is the following: For a convex body $K \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$, either determine whether $K \cap \mathbb{Z}^n$ is empty, or find an integer point in the convex body scaled by $2$ from its center of gravity…
This paper discusses stochastic models for predicting the long-time behavior of the trajectories of orbits of the 3x+1 problem and, for comparison, the 5x+1 problem. The stochastic models are rigorously analyzable, and yield heuristic…
Let f(n)=1 if n=1, 2^(2^(n-2)) if n \in {2,3,4,5}, (2+2^(2^(n-4)))^(2^(n-4)) if n \in {6,7,8,...}. We conjecture that if a system T \subseteq {x_i+1=x_k, x_i \cdot x_j=x_k: i,j,k \in {1,...,n}} has only finitely many solutions in positive…
From a known result of diophantine equations of the first degree with 2 unknowns we simply find the results of the distribution function of the sequences of positive integers generated by the functions at the origin of the 3x+1 and 5x+1…
This paper gives an heuristic lower bound for the number of integers connected to 1 and less than $x$, $\theta(x) > 0.9x,$ in the context of the $3n+1$ problem.