Lower bounds for the total stopping time of 3X+1 iterates

dc.creatorApplegate, David
dc.creatorLagarias, Jeffrey C.
dc.date2001-03-08
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T04:40:33Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T04:40:33Z
dc.descriptionThe 3X+1 function T(n) is (3n+1)/2 if n is odd and n/2 if n is even. The total stopping time σ_\infty (n) for a positive integer n is the number of iterations of the 3x+1 function to reach 1 starting from n, and is \infty if 1 is never reached. The 3x+1 conjecture states that this function is finite. We show that infinitely many n have a finite total stopping time with σ_\infty(n) > 6.14316 log n. The proof uses a very large computation. It is believed that almost all positive integers have σ_\infty (n) > 6.95212 \log n. The method of the paper should extend to prove infinitely many integers have this property, but it would require a much larger computation.
dc.description21 pages latex, 1 figure
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/math/0103054
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/math/0103054
dc.identifierMath. Comp. 72 (2003), 1035--1049.
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/61062
dc.subjectNumber Theory
dc.subjectDynamical Systems
dc.subject11B83; 11Y16
dc.titleLower bounds for the total stopping time of 3X+1 iterates
dc.typetext

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