OFFSET
1,1
FORMULA
a(n)=A074473[4n-1]
EXAMPLE
n=6: 4n-1=23, the list={23,70,35,106,53,160,80,40,20, 10,5,16,8,4,2,1} sinks first below iv=23 at 20, the 9th term, so a(6)=9. Observe several (provable) modular rules with respect of initial value: e.g. regular appearance of 9 and 7.
MATHEMATICA
Table[Function[k, Length@ NestWhileList[If[EvenQ@ #, #/2, 3 # + 1] &, k, # >= k &]][4 n - 1], {n, 120}] (* Michael De Vlieger, Feb 20 2017 *)
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Labos Elemer, Sep 19 2002
STATUS
approved