The 196-algorithm is the algorithm one uses to derive a palindromic number from an integer. The steps of it are:
- Take your integer, p
- Reverse p's digits to make q
- Let r = p + q
- Let p = r
- Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 until r is a palindromic number
Example:
Start with p = 195
Then p + q = 786
Then p = 786
So now p + q = 1473
Then p = 1473
So now p + q = 5214
Then p = 5214
So now p + q = 9339
Now we have a palindrome we can stop and say that when 195 is put through the 196-algorithm, it produces the palindrome 9339.
Why 196?
The reason this algorithm is called the 196-algorithm is because 196 is the first number which does not rapidly become a palindrome when put through the algorithm, even after thousands of iterations.