The 2-complexity conjecture for powers of 6 and 10

Let n2\|n\|_2 denote the 22-complexity of an even positive integer nn, namely the minimal number of 22's needed to express nn using addition, multiplication, and parentheses.

2-complexity conjecture. For m0m\geq0 and r1r\geq1,

2m6r2=m+3r\|2^m\cdot 6^r\|_2=m+3r

and

2m10r2=m+4r.\|2^m\cdot 10^r\|_2=m+4r.

The conjecture extends the preceding theorem, which proves these equalities only for bounded values of rr and gives partial bounds in two additional cases. The paper explicitly cautions that the claim may fail for large rr, and the supplied text gives no resolution.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Pengcheng Zhang, “The 2-complexity of even positive integers”, arXiv:2411.19364 (2024).

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