No label defined (Q4936066)

Let \(X=(x_1,x_2,\dots,x_n)\) be an \(n\)-tuple of integers and let \[ D(X)=(|x_1-x_2|,|x_2-x_3|,\dots,|x_n-x_1|). \] The sequence \(X, D(X),D^2(X),\dots\) is called a Ducci sequence which may lead to a cycle if there exist \(i\neq j\) such that \(D^i(X)=D^j(X)\). These sequences were introduced by \textit{C. Ciamberlini} and \textit{A. Marengoni} [Period. Mat. (4) 17, 25--30 (1937; JFM 63.0112.08)], see also \textit{A. L. Ludington} [J. Number Theory 13, 255--261 (1981; Zbl 0471.05012)]. In this paper the author considers the case \(n=2^sq\), with \(s\geq 1\) and \(q>1\) odd and shows, among others, that \(X\) is in a cycle if and only if \(2^s\) associated \(q\)-tuples are in a cycle.