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Dalmatians

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Challenge Level Yellow star
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Investigate the sequences obtained by starting with any positive 2 digit number $(10a+b)$ and repeatedly using the rule

$10a + b \to 10b -a$

to get the next number in the sequence.
 

NOTES AND BACKGROUND

You can take any number and write it in the form $10a+b$ , that is as a multiple of ten plus a number $b$ between 0 and 9, for example:

$$57 = 10 \times 5 + 7\quad\quad -6 = 10 \times (-1) + 4 \quad\quad 123 = 10\times 12 + 3$$

This iterative procedure is an example of a dynamical system which can be studied in more detail at university; you may read an introduction to this fascinating subject in Whole Number Dynamics 1 . Dynamical systems using decimals can have many strange and interesting properties; they form the foundation of the subject of chaos, which you can read about on the Plus website .


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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

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