On a generalization of the \(3x+1\) problem (Q5906835)

This paper considers the behaviour of iterations of periodically linear functions \(g(x)=a_rx+b_r\) when \(x\equiv r\bmod p\) for \(r\in\{0,\ldots,p-1\}\), where \(a_r=t_r/p\) with \(t_r\in\mathbb Z\) and appropriate \(b_r\in\mathbb Q\) to ensure \(g(x)\in\mathbb Z\) for \(x\in\mathbb Z\). It is shown that if (i) \(\text{gcd}(t_0t_1\ldots t_{p-1},p)=1\) and (ii) \(t_0t_1\ldots t_{p-1}<p^p\), then for any fixed \(\rho\) with \(0<\rho<1\), the set \(\{m\in\mathbb N: \exists n\) such that \(|g^n(m)|<\rho m\}\) has asymptotic density one. The proof relies on a generalization of a result proved in [\textit{C. J. Everett}, Adv. Math. 25, 42-45 (1977; Zbl 0352.10001)]. The last section of the paper is concerned with the question: when are such mappings \(g\) permutations of \(\mathbb Z\)? In theorem 4, it is shown that \(g\) is bijective if and only if \(\sum_{r=0}^{p-1}(1/ t_r)=1\) and \(g(r)\not\equiv g(s)\bmod (t_r,t_s)\) for \(0\leq r<s\leq p-1\). The geometric-harmonic mean inequality implies that condition (ii) above cannot be fulfilled when \(g\) is bijective.