Problem 52422. 3n + 1 Problem (a.k.a The Collatz Conjecture)

Created by Sylvain Boutros

Solve Later

{"parts":[{"partUri":"/matlab/document.xml","contentType":"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml","content":"<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?><w:document xmlns:w=\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\"><w:body><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:b/><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>The 3n + 1 problem (a.k.a The Collatz Conjecture)</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>Consider the following algorithm to generate a sequence of numbers. Start with an integer n. If n is even, divide by 2. If n is odd, multiply by 3 and add 1. Repeat this process with the new value of n, terminating when n = 1. For example, the following sequence of numbers will be generated for n = </w:t></w:r><w:r><w:rPr><w:b/><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>22</w:t></w:r><w:r><w:rPr><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>:</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>                    </w:t></w:r><w:r><w:rPr><w:b/><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>22 11 34 17 52 26 13 40 20 10 5 16 8 4 2 1</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>For an input n, the cycle-length of n is the number of numbers generated up to and including the 1. In the example above, the cycle length of 22 is 16. Given any two numbers i and j, you are to determine the maximum cycle length over all numbers between i and j, including both endpoints.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:b/><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>Input</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>The input will consist of a series of pairs of integers i and j, one pair of integers per line. All integers will be greater than 0.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:b/><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>Output</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"text\"/><w:jc w:val=\"left\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:rPr><w:rFonts w:cs=\"monospace\"/></w:rPr><w:t>For each pair of input integers i and j, output a vector with i, j in the same order in which they appeared in the input and then the maximum cycle length for integers between and including i and j.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p><w:pPr><w:pStyle w:val=\"code\"/></w:pPr><w:r><w:t><![CDATA[% Sample Input                    Sample Output\n% 1 10                            [1, 10, 20]\n% 100 200                         [100, 200, 125]   \n% 201 210                         [201, 210, 89]\n% 900 1000                        [900, 1000, 174]]]></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:body></w:document>","relationship":null}],"relationships":[{"relationshipType":"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document","target":"/matlab/document.xml","relationshipId":"rId1"}]}

<div style = "text-align: start; line-height: 20.44px; min-height: 0px; white-space: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace; font-style: normal; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none solid rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><div style="block-size: 530px; display: block; min-width: 0px; padding-block-start: 0px; padding-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 407px 265px; transform-origin: 407px 265px; vertical-align: baseline; "><div style="block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; font-weight: 700; ">The 3n + 1 problem (a.k.a The Collatz Conjecture)</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 84px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 42px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 42px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; ">Consider the following algorithm to generate a sequence of numbers. Start with an integer n. If n is even, divide by 2. If n is odd, multiply by 3 and add 1. Repeat this process with the new value of n, terminating when n = 1. For example, the following sequence of numbers will be generated for n = </span></span><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; font-weight: 700; ">22</span></span><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; ">:</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; ">                    </span></span><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; font-weight: 700; ">22 11 34 17 52 26 13 40 20 10 5 16 8 4 2 1</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 84px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 42px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 42px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; ">For an input n, the cycle-length of n is the number of numbers generated up to and including the 1. In the example above, the cycle length of 22 is 16. Given any two numbers i and j, you are to determine the maximum cycle length over all numbers between i and j, including both endpoints.</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; font-weight: 700; ">Input</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; ">The input will consist of a series of pairs of integers i and j, one pair of integers per line. All integers will be greater than 0.</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; font-weight: 700; ">Output</span></span></div><div style="block-size: 63px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 31.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 31.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; "><span style="block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; "><span style="font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, &quot;Courier New&quot;, monospace; ">For each pair of input integers i and j, output a vector with i, j in the same order in which they appeared in the input and then the maximum cycle length for integers between and including i and j.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 100px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 50px; transform-origin: 404px 50px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; "><div style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10px; transform-origin: 404px 10px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; "><span style="border-block-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-block-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-bottom-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-left-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-right-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-top-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); caret-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); color: rgb(2, 128, 9); column-rule-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; outline-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); text-decoration: none; text-decoration-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); ">% Sample Input                    Sample Output</span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10px; transform-origin: 404px 10px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; "><span style="border-block-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-block-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-bottom-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-left-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-right-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-top-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); caret-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); color: rgb(2, 128, 9); column-rule-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; outline-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); text-decoration: none; text-decoration-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); ">% 1 10                            [1, 10, 20]</span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10px; transform-origin: 404px 10px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; "><span style="border-block-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-block-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-bottom-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-left-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-right-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-top-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); caret-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); color: rgb(2, 128, 9); column-rule-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; outline-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); text-decoration: none; text-decoration-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); ">% 100 200                         [100, 200, 125]   </span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10px; transform-origin: 404px 10px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; "><span style="border-block-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-block-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-bottom-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-left-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-right-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-top-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); caret-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); color: rgb(2, 128, 9); column-rule-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; outline-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); text-decoration: none; text-decoration-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); ">% 201 210                         [201, 210, 89]</span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10px; transform-origin: 404px 10px; white-space: nowrap; "><span style="block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; "><span style="border-block-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-block-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-bottom-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-end-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-inline-start-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-left-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-right-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); border-top-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); caret-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); color: rgb(2, 128, 9); column-rule-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; outline-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); text-decoration: none; text-decoration-color: rgb(2, 128, 9); ">% 900 1000                        [900, 1000, 174]</span></span></div></div></div></div>

The 3n + 1 problem (a.k.a The Collatz Conjecture)
Consider the following algorithm to generate a sequence of numbers. Start with an integer n. If n is even, divide by 2. If n is odd, multiply by 3 and add 1. Repeat this process with the new value of n, terminating when n = 1. For example, the following sequence of numbers will be generated for n = 22:
                    22 11 34 17 52 26 13 40 20 10 5 16 8 4 2 1
For an input n, the cycle-length of n is the number of numbers generated up to and including the 1. In the example above, the cycle length of 22 is 16. Given any two numbers i and j, you are to determine the maximum cycle length over all numbers between i and j, including both endpoints.
Input
The input will consist of a series of pairs of integers i and j, one pair of integers per line. All integers will be greater than 0.
Output
For each pair of input integers i and j, output a vector with i, j in the same order in which they appeared in the input and then the maximum cycle length for integers between and including i and j.
% Sample Input                    Sample Output
% 1 10                            [1, 10, 20]
% 100 200                         [100, 200, 125]   
% 201 210                         [201, 210, 89]
% 900 1000                        [900, 1000, 174]

Solve

Solution Stats

26 Solutions
17 Solvers

Last Solution submitted on Apr 12, 2022

Last 200 Solutions

Problem Comments

Problem Recent Solvers17

Problem Tags

collatz vector

Community Treasure Hunt

Find the treasures in MATLAB Central and discover how the community can help you!

Start Hunting!