Bakuage Offers Prize of 120 Million JPY to Whoever Solves Collatz Conjecture, Math Problem Unsolved for 84 Years

prnewswire. com ^ | 7/7/2021 | Staff

[metmom]

Thanks for the example.

[P-Marlowe]

Have they tried cutting it in half with a sword?

[Jim W N]

The problem is stated this way:

- if “begin” n is even, then “new” n = n/2

- if “begin” n is odd, then “new” n = 3n +1

You continue the calculation as long as you can.

So far, if “begin” n = ANY whole number, the calculation ends up at “end” n =1 which infinitely loops with 4 and back to 1 again.

The mathematical issue is given any whole number as “begin” n, no understandable pattern emerges - the results seem random. The lack of a discernable pattern is apparently the mathematical problem.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5mFpVDpKX70

[jpsb]

Opps

[metmom]

I see.

Because the calculations are really pretty basic.

I get what they are looking for now.

[Deaf Smith]

Rain Man and my deceased aunt who was a female versions of Rain Man might have solved it.

Neither would be able to show their work though (proof).

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I've been working the Riemann Hypothesis too.

I just can't get past the bit where 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... = -1/12

[1FreeAmerican]

Thanks for that kosciusko51 and Svartalfiar!

A clearer understanding of the problem.

Any ideas for reading material here?

The Idiots Guide to Theoretical Mathematics?

[EEGator]

Have you tried wishful thinking?

[Svartalfiar]

For this problem? There's a couple links posted above that are decent.

For math stuff in general? I had some neat sites saved on my old laptop, I'll hafta try to dig them up.

For whatever? Jay Fisher is all about knives, and has weeks of good reading. And some cool pictures. And some awesome knives, PM me if you need an address to send one as thanks!

https://jayfisher.com/Website_Overview.htm

[dgbrown]

Kind of like finding the last prime number.

[octex]

Thanks for a succinct example. I gonna test my dau and gdau.