OFFSET
1,1
COMMENTS
Suppose that S = (s(k)), for k >= 1, is a sequence of real numbers. For n >= 1, let g(1,n) = |s(n+1)-s(n)| and g(k,n) = |g(k-1, n+1) - g(k-1,n)| for k >= 2.
We call (g(k,n)) the Gilbreath array of S and (g(n,1)) the Gilbreath transform of S, written as G(S). If S is the sequences of primes, then the Gilbreath conjecture holds that G(S) consists exclusively of 1's. It appears that there are many S such that G(S) is eventually periodic.
Conjectured examples of Gilbreath transforms:
If S = A000032 (Lucas number)s, G(S) = (2,1,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,...)
Two further conjectured examples:
(1) If S is the sequence of primes of the form k*n+2, where k is an odd positive integer and n>=0, then G(S) = (k,k,k,...).
(2) Suppose that (b(n)) is an increasing arithmetic sequence of positive integers r(s) and S is the sequence of primes p(b(n)). If b(1) = 1, so that S begins with 2, then G(S) is eventually (1,1,1,...); the same holds if b(1) > 1 and S consists of 2 followed by the terms of p(b(n)).
LINKS
EXAMPLE
Corner of successive absolute difference array (including initial row of primes p(2k-1)):
2 5 11 17 23 31 41 47 59 67
3 6 6 6 8 10 6 12 8 6
3 0 0 2 2 4 6 4 2 4
3 0 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0
3 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 4
1 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 2 0
1 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 0
MATHEMATICA
z = 130; g[t_] := Abs[Differences[t]]
t = Prime[-1 + 2 Range[140]]
s[1] = g[t]; s[n_] := g[s[n - 1]];
Table[s[n], {n, 1, z}] ;
Table[First[s[n]], {n, 1, z}]
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Clark Kimberling, Nov 27 2022
STATUS
approved