Related papers: Integer Representations and Trajectories of the 3x…
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…
A mapping conjugate to the Collatz mapping seems to imply that $\N=\{1,2,3,\ldots\}$ is partitioned in a trivial loop $\{1\}$ and `strings' that are ordered subsets of $\{\N \setminus 1\}$ that run from an element of $\{2+3\0\}$ to an…
The 3n+1, or Collatz problem, is one of the hardest math problems, yet still unsolved. The Collatz conjecture is to prove or disprove that the Collatz sequences COL(n) always eventually reach the number of 1, for all n belongs to N+ (all…
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…
We reformulate the $3x+1$ conjecture by restricting attention to numbers congruent to $2$ (mod $3$). This leads to an equivalent conjecture for positive integers that reveals new aspects of the dynamics of the $3x+1$ problem. Advantages…
Taking a new approach towards analyzing the Collatz Problem, or, 3x+1 conjecture. Introducing some new functions, the Collatz-2 and Collatz-3 sequences, as well as deducing results related to Collatz-2 and Collatz-3 sequences.
Consider the recursive relation generating a new positive integer $n_{\ell +1}$ from the positive integer $n_{\ell }$ according to the following simple rules: if the integer $n_{\ell }$ is odd, $n_{\ell +1}=3n_{\ell }+1$; if the integer…
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…
Collatz conjecture is generalized to $3n+3^k$ ($k\in N$). Operating as usual, every sequence seems to reach $3^k$ and end up in the loop $3^k, 4.3^k, 2.3^k,3^k$. The usual $3n+1$ conjecture is recovered for $k=0$. For $k>0$, we noticed the…
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…
The Collatz conjecture, also known as the 3n+1 problem, is one of the most popular open problems in number theory. In this note, an algorithm for the verification of the Collatz conjecture is presented that works on a standard PC for…
In the paper, some special linear combinations of the terms of rational cycles of generalized Collatz sequences are studied. It is proved that if the coefficients of the linear combinations satisfy some conditions then these linear…
The Collatz map (or the $3n{+}1$-map) $f$ is defined on positive integers by setting $f(n)$ equal to $3n+1$ when $n$ is odd and $n/2$ when $n$ is even. The Collatz conjecture states that starting from any positive integer $n$, some iterate…
We study the number $\nu(n)$ of representations of a positive integer $n$ by the form $x^3+y^3+z^3-3xyz$ in the conditions $0\leq x\leq y\leq z; z\geq x+1.$ We proved the following results: (i) for every positive $n,$ except for…
An alternative computational approach to the Collatz (3n+1) conjecture is presented that may be theoretically capable of confirming the conjecture.
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…
Let $T(n)=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}3n+1&(n\hbox{ odd})\frac n2&(n\hbox{ even})\end{array}\right.$ ($n\in\mathbb Z$). We call "the orbit of the integer $n$", the set $$ \mathcal O_n:=\{m\in\mathbb Z\;:\;\exists k\ge0,\ m=T^k(n)\} $$ and we…
Let $\Bbb Z$ and $\Bbb N$ be the set of integers and the set of positive integers, respectively. For $a,b,c,d,n\in\Bbb N$ let $N(a,b,c,d;n)$ be the number of representations of $n$ by $ax^2+by^2+cz^2+dw^2$, and let $t(a,b,c,d;n)$ be the…
In this paper, we show that any proof of the Collatz 3n+1 Conjecture must have an infinite number of lines; therefore, no formal proof is possible.
Take an odd number x >0. Then 3x+1 is even and one can find an integer k> 0 so that y= 3x+1/2^k is again odd. We get in this way the mapping T, Tx=y. The paper contains two theorems describing statistical properties of T. The first…