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A047988
Start with n and reach 2 by repeatedly either dividing by d where d <= the square root or by adding or subtracting 1. The division steps are free, but adding or subtracting 1 costs 1 point. a(n) is the smallest cost to reach 2.
17
0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2
OFFSET
2,18
LINKS
David A. Corneth, PARI program
Thomas Kantke, Das Spiel Minimum und die Zerlegung natürlicher Zahlen, Mathematische Unterhaltungen, Spectrum der Wissenschaft, April 1993, pp. 11-13.
EXAMPLE
From David A. Corneth, Jun 05 2020: (Start)
For n = 19 we get to 2 via
n := 19 - 1 = 2 (+1 point as we subtract 1 from n)
n := 18/3 = 6 (+0 point as we divide by a divisor)
n := 6/2 = 3 (+0 point, we divide by a divisor. we can't divide by 3 as 3 > sqrt(6)).
n := 3 - 1 = 2 (+1 point; steps end here; we have n = 2)
We earned 2 points in these steps. As this is the minimal number of points starting at n = 19, a(19) = 2. (End)
PROG
(PARI) \\ see Corneth link \\ David A. Corneth, Jun 05 2020
KEYWORD
nonn,easy
AUTHOR
Thomas Kantke (bytes.more(AT)ibm.net)
EXTENSIONS
More terms from David W. Wilson
STATUS
approved