3x + 1 semigroup

The 3x + 1 semigroup is the multiplicative semigroup of positive rational numbers generated by the set

${\displaystyle \{2\}\cup \left\{{\frac {2k+1}{3k+2}}:k\geq 0\right\}=\left\{2,{\frac {1}{2}},{\frac {3}{5}},{\frac {5}{8}},{\frac {7}{11}},\ldots \right\}.}$

The function T : Z → Z, where Z is the set of all integers, as defined below is used in the "shortcut" definition of the Collatz conjecture:

${\displaystyle T(n)={\begin{cases}{\frac {n}{2}}&{\text{if }}n{\text{ is even}}\\[4px]{\frac {3n+1}{2}}&{\text{if }}n{\text{ is odd}}\end{cases}}}$

The Collatz conjecture asserts that for each positive integer n, there is some iterate of T with itself which maps n to 1, that is, there is some integer k such that T^(k)(n) = 1. For example if n = 7 then the values of T^(k)(n) for k = 1, 2, 3,... are 11, 17, 26, 13, 20, 10, 5, 8, 4, 2, 1 and T⁽¹¹⁾(7) = 1.

The relation between the 3x + 1 semigroup and the Collatz conjecture is that the 3x + 1 semigroup is also generated by the set

${\displaystyle \left\{{\dfrac {n}{T(n)}}:n>0\right\}.}$

The weak Collatz conjecture asserts the following: "The 3x + 1 semigroup contains every positive integer." This was formulated by Farkas and it has been proved to be true as a consequence of the following property of the 3x + 1 semigroup:[1]

The 3x + 1 semigroup S equals the set of all positive rationals a/b in lowest terms having the property that b ≠ 0 (mod 3). In particular, S contains every positive integer.

The semigroup generated by the set

${\displaystyle \left\{{\frac {1}{2}}\right\}\cup \left\{{\frac {3k+2}{2k+1}}:k\geq 0\right\},}$

which is also generated by the set

${\displaystyle \left\{{\frac {T(n)}{n}}:n>0\right\},}$

is called the wild semigroup. The integers in the wild semigroup consists of all integers m such that m ≠ 0 (mod 3).[4]

• Wild number