Can you solve this? If yes then what is the answer?
Number Theory
Level
2
Pick any number. If that number is even, divide it by 2. If it's odd, multiply it by 3 and add 1. Now repeat the process with your new number. If you keep going, you'll eventually end up at 1. Find a number that doesn't.
324
46
643
There is no answer
This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try
refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and,
finally, (c)
loading the
non-javascript version of this page
. We're sorry about the hassle.
3 2 4 , 1 6 2 , 8 1 , 2 4 4 , 1 2 2 , 6 1 , 1 8 4 , 9 2 , 4 6 , 2 3 , 7 0 , 3 5 , 1 0 6 , 5 3 , 1 6 0 , 8 0 , 4 0 , 2 0 , 1 0 , 5 , 1 6 , 8 , 4 , 2 , 1
6 4 3 , 1 9 3 0 , 9 6 5 , 2 8 9 6 , 1 4 4 8 , 7 2 4 , 3 6 2 , 1 8 1 , 5 4 4 , 2 7 2 , 1 3 6 , 6 8 , 3 4 , 1 7 , 5 2 , 2 6 , 1 3 , 4 0 , 2 0 , 1 0 , 5 , 1 6 , 8 , 4 , 2 , 1
4 6 , 2 3 , 7 0 , 3 5 , 1 0 6 , 5 3 , 1 6 0 , 8 0 , 4 0 , 2 0 , 1 0 , 5 , 1 6 , 8 , 4 , 2 , 1
It is not known if every number goes to 1, but out of the options listed, "There is no answer" would be right.
(A number doesn't need to go to 1 if 1. it is in some loop, or 2. it increases indefinitely. However, we haven't found any number yet that fits one of these criteria.)