MATLAB: How would the script to show this in the command window

function

My function is [s,m]=collatz(X). If I want s to equal the number of steps it takes for the number to equal one then how would I set it up? I know the idea is that the number of steps (s) increases by one every time the number goes through the while-loop. Then I need m to equal the maxvalue which comes from the biggest value in the list. Ex: >>[s,m]=collatz(3) s=7 m=16 since the list is 3-10-5-16-8-4-2-1
function[s,m]=collatz(x)
      %This function will show the steps and maxvalue of even and odd natural
      %numbers.It will show the show the number of steps it can repeat as long as 
      %the number is greater than one. It will show the maxvalue in the list 
      %Even numbers will be divided by 2
      %Odd numbers will be multiplied by 3 and add to by one
      %both will run as long as the result is greater than 1
      clc
      s=
      m=
      while x>1
          if mod(x,2)==0 %shows x(natural number is even)
              x=x/2
          elseif mod(x,2)==1 %shows x(natural number is odd)
              x=x*3+1
          end
        end

Best Answer

Michael,
Initially, set s to be zero because no loop has been executed yet. Set m to be the same as x.
Inside the loop, s is increased by 1 after every iteration of the while-loop, like s=s+1. Set m to be equal to x if x is greater than m.
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