Goodstein sequence

A Goodstein sequence is a certain class of integer sequences Gk(n) that give rise to a quickly growing function.

Definition
Suppose we write a nonnegative integer n as a sum of powers of k, then we write the k exponents themselves as similar sums of powers, repeating this process until we get all topmost exponents less than k. For example, we can write 100 as  +   +   =   +   +. We call this the base-k hereditary representation as n.

In the above representation of 100, we can "bump" the base 2 up by one, forming a different number  +   +. We write this larger number as B[2](100), and in general, B[b](n) means finding the base-b hereditary representation of n and bumping the base.

Now we define the recursive sequence G0(n) = n and Gk(n) = B[k + 1](Gk - 1(n)) - 1. In other words, as k increases, we are repeatedly bumping the base and subtracting one:


 * G0(100) = 100 =  +   +
 * G1(100) = B[2](100) - 1 =  +   +   - 1 = 91507169819870
 * G2(100) = B[3](G1(100)) - 1 =  +   + 2 x   + 2 x 1 - 1 = 3.486030062 x

This rapidly growing sequence is known a Goodstein sequence. Surprisingly, for all values of n, Gk(n) eventually peaks, declines, and returns to zero. This fact is known as Goodstein's theorem. Even more surprisingly, it can be shown that Goodstein's theorem cannot be proved in Peano arithmetic.

Unprovability
Let G(n) be the number of steps it takes for the Goodstein sequence starting on n to terminate (i.e. reach zero). Formally, G(n) as the smallest k for which Gk(n) = 0. G(n) is an extremely fast-growing function.

Define \(R^\omega_b (n)\) to be the ordinal obtained by writing n in base-b hereditary notation, then replacing every instance of b by \(\omega\), for instance

\[R^\omega_2 (100) = R^\omega_2 (2^{2^2 + 2} + 2^{2^2 + 1} + 2^2) = \omega^{\omega^\omega + \omega} + \omega^{\omega^\omega + 1} + \omega^\omega\]

Then \(G(n) = H_{R^\omega_2 (n)} (3) - 3\) in the Hardy hierarchy, which shows that \(G(2 \uparrow\uparrow n)\) is \(H_{\varepsilon_0} (n)-3\). So, it grows as fast as Jonathan Bowers' tetrational arrays. Since this function grows faster than any function provably recursive in Peano arithmetic, Goodstein's theorem is not provable in Peano arithmetic.

Weak Goodstein function
If we use the ordinary base representation instead of the hereditary representation, Goodstein's theorem still holds. The sequences in this system are called weak Goodstein sequences, producing the weak Goodstein function \(g(n)\).

Like its stronger cousin, \(g(n)\) can be computed using the Hardy hierarchy, putting it on par with \(f_{\omega}(n)\) in the fast-growing hierarchy, or about \(2 \uparrow^{n-1} n\) in arrow notation.