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McCarthy 91 function

In discrete mathematics, the McCarthy 91 function is a recursive function which takes the value 91 for all positive integers less than 102. Conceived by computer scientist John McCarthy.

The McCarthy 91 function is defined as

<math>M(n)=\left\{\begin{matrix} n - 10, & \mbox{if }n > 100\mbox{ } \\ M(M(n+11)), & \mbox{if }n \le 100\mbox{ } \end{matrix}\right.</math>

Examples:

 M(99) = M(M(110)) since 99 <math>\le</math> 100
       = M(100) since 110 > 100
       = M(M(111)) since 100 <math>\le</math> 100
       = M(101) since 111 > 100
       = 91 since 101 > 100

 M(87) = M(M(98))
       = M(M(M(109)))
       = M(M(99))
       = M(M(M(110)))
       = M(M(100))
       = M(M(M(111)))
       = M(M(101))
       = M(91)
       = M(M(102))
       = M(92)
       = M(M(103))
       = M(93)
    .... Pattern continues
       = M(99)
      (same as above proof)
       = 91

Here's a sample McCarthy 91 program in Java:

 public class McCarthy extends Object
 {
        static int count = -1;

        public McCarthy()
        {
        }

        public int Mc91(int n)
        {
             count = count + 1;

             System.out.println("Number after " + count + " iteration(s): " + n);
             if ( n < 0 )
             {
                System.out.println("\n Not a positive integer");
                System.exit(-1);
             }

             if ( n > 100 )
             {
                return n-10;
             }

             if ( n < 101 )
             {
                return Mc91(Mc91(n+11));
             }

             return 0;
        }

        public static void main(String[] args)
        {
             McCarthy yorick1 = new McCarthy();
             int yorick = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
             System.out.println("\n Number: " + yorick);
             System.out.println("Final Number: " + yorick1.Mc91(yorick));
        }
 }



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