The mathematically based "Collatz Conjecture," some years back; Found its way into modern poetry. The American poetess JoAnne Growney, even composed a poem celebrating the statement.
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A Mathematician's Nightmare
 
Suppose a general store,
items with unknown values
and arbitrary prices
rounded for ease to
whole-dollar amounts.
 
Each day Madame X,
keeper of the emporium,
raises or lowers each price,
exceptional bargains
and anti-bargains.
 
Even-numbered prices
divide by two,
while odd ones climb
by half themselves
then half a dollar more
to keep the numbers whole.
 
Today I pause before
a handsome beveled mirror
priced at twenty-seven dollars.
Shall I buy or wait
for fifty-nine days
until the price is lower?
 
As you can check with the applet... {Yes folks; Among other surprises and novelties on the 'Web,' are, I believe; Several on-line 'applets' that figure out these decidedly esoteric math problems, that would only interest your friendly number-theorist; Who ISN'T likely to live 'just-down-the-street' from yourself!} --... The first time the price happens to be Lower than the original $27, comes on the 59th day. A short time afterwards, on day 69; The iterations enter the concluding 2, 1 loop}.