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Wolfram Sequences


WolframSequence32

The name Wolfram sequences is used here for the following integer sequences considered by Wolfram (2002, pp. 123 and 129). The first is related to the Collatz conjecture and is obtained by iterating

 w_n={3/2w_(n-1)   for w_(n-1) even; 3/2(w_(n-1)+1)   for w_(n-1) odd
(1)

starting with w_1=1. This gives the sequence 1, 3, 6, 9, 15, 24, 36, 54, 81, 123, ... (OEIS A070885). The first 40 iterations are illustrated above, with each row being one iteration and the number obtained in that iteration represented in binary.

WolframSequence52

Another set of sequences are given by

 w_n={5/2w_(n-1)   for w_(n-1) even; 1/2(w_(n-1)+1)   for w_(n-1) odd
(2)

starting with various positive integer initial values w_1=n. The starting values n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 give eventually periodic sequences. The displayed 100 iterations for n=6 and 8 show more complicated behavior. Wolfram (2002, pp. 123-124) reports no repetition even after a million steps starting at 6. The first 100 iterations starting at each of w_1=1 to 10 are illustrated above.

The following three recurrence relations apply for integers n>=3. Wolfram also considered the sequence 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 5, 3, ... (OEIS A070864) defined by f(1)=f(2)=1 and

 f(n)=2+f(n-f(n-1))
(3)

(Wolfram 2002, p. 129, (b)), the sequence 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, ... (OEIS A070867) defined by f(1)=f(2)=1 and

 f(n)=f(n-f(n-1)-1)+f(n-f(n-2)-1)
(4)

(Wolfram 2002, p. 129, (f)), and the sequence 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, ... (OEIS A070868) defined by f(1)=f(2)=1 and

 f(n)=f(f(n-1))+f(n-2f(n-1)+1)
(5)

(Wolfram 2002, p. 129, (h)).


See also

Collatz Conjecture

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References

Sloane, N. J. A. Sequences A070864, A070867, A070868, and A070885 in "The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences."Wolfram, S. A New Kind of Science. Champaign, IL: Wolfram Media, pp. 123-124 and 129, 2002.

Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha

Wolfram Sequences

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Wolfram Sequences." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/WolframSequences.html

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