Mean-median map stabilization conjecture

Let [x1,,xn0][x_1,\ldots,x_{n_0}] be a finite non-empty real multiset, and let the mean-median map adjoin xn+1x_{n+1} so that the arithmetic mean of the enlarged multiset equals the median of the preceding one:

xn+1=(n+1)MnSn.x_{n+1}=(n+1)\mathcal{M}_n-\mathcal{S}_n.

Here Mn\mathcal{M}_n and Sn\mathcal{S}_n are the median and sum of [x1,,xn][x_1,\ldots,x_n], respectively, and (xn)n=1(x_n)_{n=1}^{\infty} is the resulting orbit. Mean-median map stabilization conjecture. The mean-median map orbit of every initial set stabilizes. This is a fundamental open question about the long-term behavior of the mean-median map; the source states that it remains open even for initial sets of size three.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Jonathan Hoseana, “The Akiyama Mean-Median Map Has Unbounded Transit Time and Discontinuous Limit”, arXiv:2106.06953 (2021).

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