this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2026
139 points (100.0% liked)

Math Memes

3670 readers
47 users here now

Memes related to mathematics.

Rules:
1: Memes must be related to mathematics in some way.
2: No bigotry of any kind.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
NotAUser@lemmy.blahaj.zone
139
I'd do it out of scientific curiosity. (feddit.org)
submitted 2 days ago by mech@feddit.org to c/mathmemes@lemmy.blahaj.zone
59 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Wirlocke@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

No matter what wouldn't this grow to infinite passengers? Is that supposed to be the point?

Because any even number is going to halve itself down to ~~1, which is odd~~ an odd number, then double plus one will always make another odd number so it would grow to infinity.

Edit: Misread the problem, read replies for explanations

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 days ago

2n+1 enter the trolley, meaning 3n+1, which in the case of n being an odd number, will always equal an even.

[–] Lauchmelder@feddit.org 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's stated wrongly. The Collatz Conjecture is about the case where you triple an odd number and add one, that way you enter a loop if you get down to 1 (1 -> 4 -> 2 -> 1)

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It isn't stated wrongly: 2n+1 get on, which means 3n+1 are on board