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PROJECT EULER · #0843

Periodic Circles

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This problem involves an iterative procedure that begins with a circle of n3 integers. At each step every number is simultaneously replaced with the absolute difference of its two neighbours.

For any initial values, the procedure eventually becomes periodic.

Let S(N) be the sum of all possible periods for 3nN. For example, S(6)=6, because the possible periods for 3n6 are 1,2,3. Specifically, n=3 and n=4 can each have period 1 only, while n=5 can have period 1 or 3, and n=6 can have period 1 or 2.

You are also given S(30)=20381.

Find S(100).

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