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Many folks avoid the "mixed number" notation such as $4\frac{2}{3}$ due to its ambiguity. The example could mean "$4$ and two thirds", i.e. $4+\frac{2}{3}$, but one may also be tempted to multiply, resulting in $\frac{8}{3}$.

My questions pertain to what happens when we iterate this process -- alternating between changing a fraction to a mixed number, then "incorrectly" multiplying the mixed fraction. The iteration terminates when you arrive at a proper fraction (numerator $\leq$ denominator) or an integer. I'll "define" this process via sufficiently-complicated example:

$$\frac{14}{3} \rightarrow 4 \frac{2}{3} \rightarrow \frac{8}{3} \rightarrow 2 \frac{2}{3} \rightarrow \frac{4}{3} \rightarrow 1\frac{1}{3}\rightarrow \frac{1}{3}.$$

  1. Does this process always terminate?

  2. For which $(p,q)\in\mathbb{N}\times(\mathbb{N}\setminus\{0\})$ does this process, with initial iterate $\frac{p}{q}$, terminate at $\frac{p \mod q}{q}$?

Answers