Collatz Conjecture program randomly stops being accurate at high digits












2














So while Wikipedia surfing, I stumbled onto the Collatz Conjecture So I decided to write a simple python program,



while True:
x = int(input("Enter a number: "))
n=0

while True:
if (x % 2) == 0:
x = x/2
n += 1
print(x)
else:
x = 3*x +1
n+=1
print(x)
if x == 1:
break
print("N = %d" %(n))


At first I played around with random numbers, and then I decided to test some of the larger numbers that the Wikipedia article represents. The program worked perfectly up until 75,128,138,247 on Wikipedia's " Examples" Section,previously it matched the number of steps exactly, and then it just randomly says "512" for N (the number of steps. I just don't understand why. Can anyone Help?










share|improve this question





























    2














    So while Wikipedia surfing, I stumbled onto the Collatz Conjecture So I decided to write a simple python program,



    while True:
    x = int(input("Enter a number: "))
    n=0

    while True:
    if (x % 2) == 0:
    x = x/2
    n += 1
    print(x)
    else:
    x = 3*x +1
    n+=1
    print(x)
    if x == 1:
    break
    print("N = %d" %(n))


    At first I played around with random numbers, and then I decided to test some of the larger numbers that the Wikipedia article represents. The program worked perfectly up until 75,128,138,247 on Wikipedia's " Examples" Section,previously it matched the number of steps exactly, and then it just randomly says "512" for N (the number of steps. I just don't understand why. Can anyone Help?










    share|improve this question



























      2












      2








      2







      So while Wikipedia surfing, I stumbled onto the Collatz Conjecture So I decided to write a simple python program,



      while True:
      x = int(input("Enter a number: "))
      n=0

      while True:
      if (x % 2) == 0:
      x = x/2
      n += 1
      print(x)
      else:
      x = 3*x +1
      n+=1
      print(x)
      if x == 1:
      break
      print("N = %d" %(n))


      At first I played around with random numbers, and then I decided to test some of the larger numbers that the Wikipedia article represents. The program worked perfectly up until 75,128,138,247 on Wikipedia's " Examples" Section,previously it matched the number of steps exactly, and then it just randomly says "512" for N (the number of steps. I just don't understand why. Can anyone Help?










      share|improve this question















      So while Wikipedia surfing, I stumbled onto the Collatz Conjecture So I decided to write a simple python program,



      while True:
      x = int(input("Enter a number: "))
      n=0

      while True:
      if (x % 2) == 0:
      x = x/2
      n += 1
      print(x)
      else:
      x = 3*x +1
      n+=1
      print(x)
      if x == 1:
      break
      print("N = %d" %(n))


      At first I played around with random numbers, and then I decided to test some of the larger numbers that the Wikipedia article represents. The program worked perfectly up until 75,128,138,247 on Wikipedia's " Examples" Section,previously it matched the number of steps exactly, and then it just randomly says "512" for N (the number of steps. I just don't understand why. Can anyone Help?







      python math






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      edited Nov 23 '18 at 17:39

























      asked Nov 23 '18 at 4:29









      Misha

      133




      133
























          1 Answer
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          2














          Float division might cause issues (note output as floats), so work in integers:



          change



          x = x/2  


          to integer division (your print correponds to Python 3, so it is available)



          x = x // 2





          share|improve this answer























          • Thank you! Worked perfectly.
            – Misha
            Nov 23 '18 at 17:57











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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          2














          Float division might cause issues (note output as floats), so work in integers:



          change



          x = x/2  


          to integer division (your print correponds to Python 3, so it is available)



          x = x // 2





          share|improve this answer























          • Thank you! Worked perfectly.
            – Misha
            Nov 23 '18 at 17:57
















          2














          Float division might cause issues (note output as floats), so work in integers:



          change



          x = x/2  


          to integer division (your print correponds to Python 3, so it is available)



          x = x // 2





          share|improve this answer























          • Thank you! Worked perfectly.
            – Misha
            Nov 23 '18 at 17:57














          2












          2








          2






          Float division might cause issues (note output as floats), so work in integers:



          change



          x = x/2  


          to integer division (your print correponds to Python 3, so it is available)



          x = x // 2





          share|improve this answer














          Float division might cause issues (note output as floats), so work in integers:



          change



          x = x/2  


          to integer division (your print correponds to Python 3, so it is available)



          x = x // 2






          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Nov 23 '18 at 4:45

























          answered Nov 23 '18 at 4:34









          MBo

          47.1k22848




          47.1k22848












          • Thank you! Worked perfectly.
            – Misha
            Nov 23 '18 at 17:57


















          • Thank you! Worked perfectly.
            – Misha
            Nov 23 '18 at 17:57
















          Thank you! Worked perfectly.
          – Misha
          Nov 23 '18 at 17:57




          Thank you! Worked perfectly.
          – Misha
          Nov 23 '18 at 17:57


















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