Related papers: The 3x+1 Problem and Integer Representations

The Collatz conjecture asserts that repeatedly iterating $f(x) = (3x + 1)/2^{a(x)}$, where $a(x)$ is the highest exponent for which $2^{a(x)}$ exactly divides $3x+1$, always lead to $1$ for any odd positive integer $x$. Here, we present an…

Ordinary binary multiplication of natural numbers can be generalized in a non-trivial way to a ternary operation by considering discrete volumes of lattice hexagons. With this operation, a natural notion of `3-primality' -- primality with…

We show that for most choices of an initial seed $x_0$, the sequence of the first $N$ iterates of $x_0$ under the $3x+1$ map approximately satisfies Benford's law.

We conjecture that if a system S \subseteq {x_i=1, x_i+x_j=x_k, x_i \cdot x_j=x_k: i,j,k \in {1,...,n}} has only finitely many solutions in integers x_1,...,x_n, then each such solution (x_1,...,x_n) satisfies |x_1|,...,|x_n| \leq…

Let E_n={x_i=1, x_i+x_j=x_k, x_i \cdot x_j=x_k: i,j,k \in {1,...,n}}. For a positive integer n, let f(n) denote the greatest finite total number of solutions of a subsystem of E_n in integers x_1,...,x_n. We prove: (1) the function f is…

In a 2011 paper published in the journal "Asian Journal of Algebra"(see reference[1]), the authors consider, among other equations,the diophantine equations 2xy=n(x+y) and 3xy=n(x+y). For the first equation, with n being an odd positive…

In [1] it is shown that the Diophantine equation $(k!)^n+k^n=(n!)^k+n^k$ only has the trivial solution $n=k$, and $(k!)^n-k^n=(n!)^k-n^k$ only has the solutions $n=k$, $(n, k)=(1, 2),$ and $(2, 1)$. In this article we find all solutions of…

The $3x+1$ Conjecture asserts that the $T$-orbit of every positive integer $x$ contains $1$, where $T$ maps $x$ to $x/2$ for $x$ even and to $(3x+1)/2$ for $x$ odd. Several authors have studied the analogous map, $T_q$, which maps $x\in…

Motivated by the recent result of Farhi we show that for each $n\equiv \pm 1\pmod{6}$ the title Diophantine equation has at least two solutions in integers. As a consequence, we get that each (even) perfect number is a sum of three cubes of…

In the Collatz 3x+1 problem, there are 3 possibilities: Starting from any positive number, we either reach the trivial loop (1,4,2), end up in a non-trivial loop, or go until infinity. In this paper, we shall show that if a non-trivial loop…

We enumerate total cyclic orders on $\left\{1,\ldots,n\right\}$ where we prescribe the relative cyclic order of consecutive triples $(i,{i+1},{i+2})$, these integers being taken modulo $n$. In some cases, the problem reduces to the…

In his book "250 Problems in Elementary Number Theory", W.Sierpinski shows that the numbers 1+2^(2^n)+2^(2^n+1) are divisible by 21; for n=1,2,.... In this paper, we prove a similar but more general result.Consider the natural numbers of…

For relatively prime natural numbers $a$ and $b$, we study the two equations $ax+by = (a-1)(b-1)/2$ and $ax+by+1= (a-1)(b-1)/2$, which arise from the study of cyclotomic polynomials. Previous work showed that exactly one equation has a…

Paul Erdos claimed that mathematics is not yet ready to settle the 3x+1 conjecture. I agree, but very soon it will be! With the exponential growth of computer-generated mathematics, we (or rather our silicon brethrern) would have a shot at…

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…

We prove a conjecture that classifies exceptional numbers. This conjecture arises in two different ways, from cryptography and from coding theory. An odd integer $t\geq 3$ is said to be exceptional if $f(x)=x^t$ is APN (Almost Perfect…

In the classical probability model, let $f(n)$ be the maximum number of pairwise independent events for the sample space with $n$ sample points. The determination of $f(n)$ is equivalent to the problem of determining the maximum cardinality…

For each positive integer n greater than or equal to 2, a new approach to expressing real numbers as sequences of nonnegative integers is given. The n=2 case is equivalent to the standard continued fraction algorithm. For n=3, it reduces to…

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…

In this paper, we investigate the Diophantine equation \[ (2^k - 1)(3^k - 1) = x^n \] and prove that it has no solutions in positive integers $k, x, n > 2$.