Thread: even and odd

given that g is deals only with natural numbers,
g(0)=0
g(1)=1
g(n)=g(n/2) +1 when n is even and greater than 1
g(n)= g(3n+1) +1 when n is odd and greater than 1

what is g(23)

i know i need to use recursion but i cant seem to get it.

Replace n by 23 in the following.

g(n)=g(n/2) +1 when n is even and greater than 1
g(n)= g(3n+1) +1 when n is odd and greater than 1

Then choose the line that has the true condition after "when". The will show that g(23) = g(x) + 1 for some number x. Repeat with x in place of 23.