JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

JavaScript

function findSolution(target) {
  function find(start, history) {
    if (start == target)
      return history;
    else if (start > target) {
    	console.log(history + ' ← null here')
      return null;
    }
    else {
      console.log(history)
      return find(start + 5, "(" + history + " + 5)") ||
             find(start * 3, "(" + history + " * 3)");
    }
  }
  return find(1, "1");
}

console.log(findSolution(13));