Proof of the Collatz Conjecture via Binary Towers

This paper presents a proposed proof of the Collatz conjecture for all positive integers based on the structure of binary towers. The argument works directly with binary representations and ordinary carry operations. Its basic mechanism is the identity b + (b + 2b) = 4b, which allows an incoming block to pass through a two-level tower in exactly two carries. The proof develops this local mechanism into a global construction using three finite integer descent arguments. These establish the attainment of successive binary scales, the completion of finite buffers between towers, and the merging of the initial components. The final stage produces a power of two, followed by repeated halving to 1. The approach does not use probabilistic assumptions, statistical estimates, iteration trees, heuristic arguments, or exhaustive computational searches. The preprint is available in English and Russian.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-11-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24144001
Primary Topic
Analytic Number Theory Research
Type
preprint
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preprint

Proof of the Collatz Conjecture via Binary Towers

Alexander S. Glukhov
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Analytic Number Theory Research
preprint

Proof of the Collatz Conjecture via Binary Towers

Alexander S. Glukhov
preprint en

Abstract

This paper presents a proposed proof of the Collatz conjecture for all positive integers based on the structure of binary towers. The argument works directly with binary representations and ordinary carry operations. Its basic mechanism is the identity b + (b + 2b) = 4b, which allows an incoming block to pass through a two-level tower in exactly two carries. The proof develops this local mechanism into a global construction using three finite integer descent arguments. These establish the attainment of successive binary scales, the completion of finite buffers between towers, and the merging of the initial components. The final stage produces a power of two, followed by repeated halving to 1. The approach does not use probabilistic assumptions, statistical estimates, iteration trees, heuristic arguments, or exhaustive computational searches. The preprint is available in English and Russian.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Analytic Number Theory Research
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