Geometric progression in PHP?

PHP
1

Hi,

I’m working on a referral system - the formula is exactly like the pyramid/ponzi scheme.

The system works like this:

The initial user signs up (tier 1)
The initial user refers 3 friends (tier 2)
Each of those 3 friends refer another 3, (tier3)
etc.

What would be the mathematical formula for that? (I think it’s called geometric progression)

How could I code up something in PHP where I could enter a number and it will then give me the number of tiers it has gone down and a semi-visual.

ie: I enter 13 - it displays the text “3 tiers” and then displays

     o
     |
    ooo
   / | \\
 ooooooooo
2

Mathematically, each level goes in powers of 3. The first line is 3^0, second = 3^1, third = 3^2 etc.

The sum of these is 3^0 + 3^1 + 3^2 + … 3^n. The general formula for the sum of n tiers is given as something like:


s        = (1 - 3^n)(1 - 3)
         = (3^n - 1)/2
=> 2s = 3^n - 1
=> 2s + 1 = 3^n
=> n = log(2s + 1) / log(3)
       = log(2s + 1, 3) //php notation

If the number isn’t the exact total, it will return a number lower than the row they’re on but greater than the row above, so ceil() it:

function getLevel($Number){
    return ceil(log(2s + 1, 3));
}

As for the diagram bit, I’ll leave that to you. It depends on how you want it displayed; with ascii or with graphics and the diagram itself would be a fair amount of code to be giving away for free.

3

Perfect! Thanks Jake Arkinstall :slight_smile:
Did the visual with ease after that…

Thanks again!