cp's OEIS Frontend

This is a front-end for the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, made by Christian Perfect. The idea is to provide OEIS entries in non-ancient HTML, and then to think about how they're presented visually. The source code is on GitHub.

A000108 Catalan numbers: C(n) = binomial(2n,n)/(n+1) = (2n)!/(n!(n+1)!).

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 1, 2, 5, 14, 42, 132, 429, 1430, 4862, 16796, 58786, 208012, 742900, 2674440, 9694845, 35357670, 129644790, 477638700, 1767263190, 6564120420, 24466267020, 91482563640, 343059613650, 1289904147324, 4861946401452, 18367353072152, 69533550916004, 263747951750360, 1002242216651368, 3814986502092304
Offset: 0

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These were formerly sometimes called Segner numbers.
A very large number of combinatorial interpretations are known - see references, esp. R. P. Stanley, "Catalan Numbers", Cambridge University Press, 2015. This is probably the longest entry in the OEIS, and rightly so.
The solution to Schröder's first problem: number of ways to insert n pairs of parentheses in a word of n+1 letters. E.g., for n=2 there are 2 ways: ((ab)c) or (a(bc)); for n=3 there are 5 ways: ((ab)(cd)), (((ab)c)d), ((a(bc))d), (a((bc)d)), (a(b(cd))).
Consider all the binomial(2n,n) paths on squared paper that (i) start at (0, 0), (ii) end at (2n, 0) and (iii) at each step, either make a (+1,+1) step or a (+1,-1) step. Then the number of such paths that never go below the x-axis (Dyck paths) is C(n). [Chung-Feller]
Number of noncrossing partitions of the n-set. For example, of the 15 set partitions of the 4-set, only [{13},{24}] is crossing, so there are a(4)=14 noncrossing partitions of 4 elements. - Joerg Arndt, Jul 11 2011
Noncrossing partitions are partitions of genus 0. - Robert Coquereaux, Feb 13 2024
a(n-1) is the number of ways of expressing an n-cycle (123...n) in the symmetric group S_n as a product of n-1 transpositions (u_1,v_1)*(u_2,v_2)*...*(u_{n-1},v_{n-1}) where u_iA000272. - Joerg Arndt and Greg Stevenson, Jul 11 2011
a(n) is the number of ordered rooted trees with n nodes, not including the root. See the Conway-Guy reference where these rooted ordered trees are called plane bushes. See also the Bergeron et al. reference, Example 4, p. 167. - Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 07 2007
As shown in the paper from Beineke and Pippert (1971), a(n-2)=D(n) is the number of labeled dissections of a disk, related to the number R(n)=A001761(n-2) of labeled planar 2-trees having n vertices and rooted at a given exterior edge, by the formula D(n)=R(n)/(n-2)!. - M. F. Hasler, Feb 22 2012
Shifts one place left when convolved with itself.
For n >= 1, a(n) is also the number of rooted bicolored unicellular maps of genus 0 on n edges. - Ahmed Fares (ahmedfares(AT)my-deja.com), Aug 15 2001
Number of ways of joining 2n points on a circle to form n nonintersecting chords. (If no such restriction imposed, then the number of ways of forming n chords is given by (2n-1)!! = (2n)!/(n!*2^n) = A001147(n).)
Arises in Schubert calculus - see Sottile reference.
Inverse Euler transform of sequence is A022553.
With interpolated zeros, the inverse binomial transform of the Motzkin numbers A001006. - Paul Barry, Jul 18 2003
The Hankel transforms of this sequence or of this sequence with the first term omitted give A000012 = 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, ...; example: Det([1, 1, 2, 5; 1, 2, 5, 14; 2, 5, 14, 42; 5, 14, 42, 132]) = 1 and Det([1, 2, 5, 14; 2, 5, 14, 42; 5, 14, 42, 132; 14, 42, 132, 429]) = 1. - Philippe Deléham, Mar 04 2004
a(n) equals the sum of squares of terms in row n of triangle A053121, which is formed from successive self-convolutions of the Catalan sequence. - Paul D. Hanna, Apr 23 2005
Also coefficients of the Mandelbrot polynomial M iterated an infinite number of times. Examples: M(0) = 0 = 0*c^0 = [0], M(1) = c = c^1 + 0*c^0 = [1 0], M(2) = c^2 + c = c^2 + c^1 + 0*c^0 = [1 1 0], M(3) = (c^2 + c)^2 + c = [0 1 1 2 1], ... ... M(5) = [0 1 1 2 5 14 26 44 69 94 114 116 94 60 28 8 1], ... - Donald D. Cross (cosinekitty(AT)hotmail.com), Feb 04 2005
The multiplicity with which a prime p divides C_n can be determined by first expressing n+1 in base p. For p=2, the multiplicity is the number of 1 digits minus 1. For p an odd prime, count all digits greater than (p+1)/2; also count digits equal to (p+1)/2 unless final; and count digits equal to (p-1)/2 if not final and the next digit is counted. For example, n=62, n+1 = 223_5, so C_62 is not divisible by 5. n=63, n+1 = 224_5, so 5^3 | C_63. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Feb 08 2006
Koshy and Salmassi give an elementary proof that the only prime Catalan numbers are a(2) = 2 and a(3) = 5. Is the only semiprime Catalan number a(4) = 14? - Jonathan Vos Post, Mar 06 2006
The answer is yes. Using the formula C_n = binomial(2n,n)/(n+1), it is immediately clear that C_n can have no prime factor greater than 2n. For n >= 7, C_n > (2n)^2, so it cannot be a semiprime. Given that the Catalan numbers grow exponentially, the above consideration implies that the number of prime divisors of C_n, counted with multiplicity, must grow without limit. The number of distinct prime divisors must also grow without limit, but this is more difficult. Any prime between n+1 and 2n (exclusive) must divide C_n. That the number of such primes grows without limit follows from the prime number theorem. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Apr 14 2006
The number of ways to place n indistinguishable balls in n numbered boxes B1,...,Bn such that at most a total of k balls are placed in boxes B1,...,Bk for k=1,...,n. For example, a(3)=5 since there are 5 ways to distribute 3 balls among 3 boxes such that (i) box 1 gets at most 1 ball and (ii) box 1 and box 2 together get at most 2 balls:(O)(O)(O), (O)()(OO), ()(OO)(O), ()(O)(OO), ()()(OOO). - Dennis P. Walsh, Dec 04 2006
a(n) is also the order of the semigroup of order-decreasing and order-preserving full transformations (of an n-element chain) - now known as the Catalan monoid. - Abdullahi Umar, Aug 25 2008
a(n) is the number of trivial representations in the direct product of 2n spinor (the smallest) representations of the group SU(2) (A(1)). - Rutger Boels (boels(AT)nbi.dk), Aug 26 2008
The invert transform appears to converge to the Catalan numbers when applied infinitely many times to any starting sequence. - Mats Granvik, Gary W. Adamson and Roger L. Bagula, Sep 09 2008, Sep 12 2008
Limit_{n->oo} a(n)/a(n-1) = 4. - Francesco Antoni (francesco_antoni(AT)yahoo.com), Nov 24 2008
Starting with offset 1 = row sums of triangle A154559. - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 11 2009
C(n) is the degree of the Grassmannian G(1,n+1): the set of lines in (n+1)-dimensional projective space, or the set of planes through the origin in (n+2)-dimensional affine space. The Grassmannian is considered a subset of N-dimensional projective space, N = binomial(n+2,2) - 1. If we choose 2n general (n-1)-planes in projective (n+1)-space, then there are C(n) lines that meet all of them. - Benji Fisher (benji(AT)FisherFam.org), Mar 05 2009
Starting with offset 1 = A068875: (1, 2, 4, 10, 18, 84, ...) convolved with Fine numbers, A000957: (1, 0, 1, 2, 6, 18, ...). a(6) = 132 = (1, 2, 4, 10, 28, 84) dot (18, 6, 2, 1, 0, 1) = (18 + 12 + 8 + 10 + 0 + 84) = 132. - Gary W. Adamson, May 01 2009
Convolved with A032443: (1, 3, 11, 42, 163, ...) = powers of 4, A000302: (1, 4, 16, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 15 2009
Sum_{k>=1} C(k-1)/2^(2k-1) = 1. The k-th term in the summation is the probability that a random walk on the integers (beginning at the origin) will arrive at positive one (for the first time) in exactly (2k-1) steps. - Geoffrey Critzer, Sep 12 2009
C(p+q)-C(p)*C(q) = Sum_{i=0..p-1, j=0..q-1} C(i)*C(j)*C(p+q-i-j-1). - Groux Roland, Nov 13 2009
Leonhard Euler used the formula C(n) = Product_{i=3..n} (4*i-10)/(i-1) in his 'Betrachtungen, auf wie vielerley Arten ein gegebenes polygonum durch Diagonallinien in triangula zerschnitten werden könne' and computes by recursion C(n+2) for n = 1..8. (Berlin, 4th September 1751, in a letter to Goldbach.) - Peter Luschny, Mar 13 2010
Let A179277 = A(x). Then C(x) is satisfied by A(x)/A(x^2). - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 07 2010
a(n) is also the number of quivers in the mutation class of type B_n or of type C_n. - Christian Stump, Nov 02 2010
From Matthew Vandermast, Nov 22 2010: (Start)
Consider a set of A000217(n) balls of n colors in which, for each integer k = 1 to n, exactly one color appears in the set a total of k times. (Each ball has exactly one color and is indistinguishable from other balls of the same color.) a(n+1) equals the number of ways to choose 0 or more balls of each color while satisfying the following conditions: 1. No two colors are chosen the same positive number of times. 2. For any two colors (c, d) that are chosen at least once, color c is chosen more times than color d iff color c appears more times in the original set than color d.
If the second requirement is lifted, the number of acceptable ways equals A000110(n+1). See related comments for A016098, A085082. (End)
Deutsch and Sagan prove the Catalan number C_n is odd if and only if n = 2^a - 1 for some nonnegative integer a. Lin proves for every odd Catalan number C_n, we have C_n == 1 (mod 4). - Jonathan Vos Post, Dec 09 2010
a(n) is the number of functions f:{1,2,...,n}->{1,2,...,n} such that f(1)=1 and for all n >= 1 f(n+1) <= f(n)+1. For a nice bijection between this set of functions and the set of length 2n Dyck words, see page 333 of the Fxtbook (see link below). - Geoffrey Critzer, Dec 16 2010
Postnikov (2005) defines "generalized Catalan numbers" associated with buildings (e.g., Catalan numbers of Type B, see A000984). - N. J. A. Sloane, Dec 10 2011
Number of permutations in S(n) for which length equals depth. - Bridget Tenner, Feb 22 2012
a(n) is also the number of standard Young tableau of shape (n,n). - Thotsaporn Thanatipanonda, Feb 25 2012
a(n) is the number of binary sequences of length 2n+1 in which the number of ones first exceed the number of zeros at entry 2n+1. See the example below in the example section. - Dennis P. Walsh, Apr 11 2012
Number of binary necklaces of length 2*n+1 containing n 1's (or, by symmetry, 0's). All these are Lyndon words and their representatives (as cyclic maxima) are the binary Dyck words. - Joerg Arndt, Nov 12 2012
Number of sequences consisting of n 'x' letters and n 'y' letters such that (counting from the left) the 'x' count >= 'y' count. For example, for n=3 we have xxxyyy, xxyxyy, xxyyxy, xyxxyy and xyxyxy. - Jon Perry, Nov 16 2012
a(n) is the number of Motzkin paths of length n-1 in which the (1,0)-steps come in 2 colors. Example: a(4)=14 because, denoting U=(1,1), H=(1,0), and D=(1,-1), we have 8 paths of shape HHH, 2 paths of shape UHD, 2 paths of shape UDH, and 2 paths of shape HUD. - José Luis Ramírez Ramírez, Jan 16 2013
If p is an odd prime, then (-1)^((p-1)/2)*a((p-1)/2) mod p = 2. - Gary Detlefs, Feb 20 2013
Conjecture: For any positive integer n, the polynomial Sum_{k=0..n} a(k)*x^k is irreducible over the field of rational numbers. - Zhi-Wei Sun, Mar 23 2013
a(n) is the size of the Jones monoid on 2n points (cf. A225798). - James Mitchell, Jul 28 2013
For 0 < p < 1, define f(p) = Sum_{n>=0} a(n)*(p*(1-p))^n, then f(p) = min{1/p, 1/(1-p)}, so f(p) reaches its maximum value 2 at p = 0.5, and p*f(p) is constant 1 for 0.5 <= p < 1. - Bob Selcoe, Nov 16 2013 [Corrected by Jianing Song, May 21 2021]
No a(n) has the form x^m with m > 1 and x > 1. - Zhi-Wei Sun, Dec 02 2013
From Alexander Adamchuk, Dec 27 2013: (Start)
Prime p divides a((p+1)/2) for p > 3. See A120303(n) = Largest prime factor of Catalan number.
Reciprocal Catalan Constant C = 1 + 4*sqrt(3)*Pi/27 = 1.80613.. = A121839.
Log(Phi) = (125*C - 55) / (24*sqrt(5)), where C = Sum_{k>=1} (-1)^(k+1)*1/a(k). See A002390 = Decimal expansion of natural logarithm of golden ratio.
3-d analog of the Catalan numbers: (3n)!/(n!(n+1)!(n+2)!) = A161581(n) = A006480(n) / ((n+1)^2*(n+2)), where A006480(n) = (3n)!/(n!)^3 De Bruijn's S(3,n). (End)
For a relation to the inviscid Burgers's, or Hopf, equation, see A001764. - Tom Copeland, Feb 15 2014
From Fung Lam, May 01 2014: (Start)
One class of generalized Catalan numbers can be defined by g.f. A(x) = (1-sqrt(1-q*4*x*(1-(q-1)*x)))/(2*q*x) with nonzero parameter q. Recurrence: (n+3)*a(n+2) -2*q*(2*n+3)*a(n+1) +4*q*(q-1)*n*a(n) = 0 with a(0)=1, a(1)=1.
Asymptotic approximation for q >= 1: a(n) ~ (2*q+2*sqrt(q))^n*sqrt(2*q*(1+sqrt(q))) /sqrt(4*q^2*Pi*n^3).
For q <= -1, the g.f. defines signed sequences with asymptotic approximation: a(n) ~ Re(sqrt(2*q*(1+sqrt(q)))*(2*q+2*sqrt(q))^n) / sqrt(q^2*Pi*n^3), where Re denotes the real part. Due to Stokes' phenomena, accuracy of the asymptotic approximation deteriorates at/near certain values of n.
Special cases are A000108 (q=1), A068764 to A068772 (q=2 to 10), A240880 (q=-3).
(End)
Number of sequences [s(0), s(1), ..., s(n)] with s(n)=0, Sum_{j=0..n} s(j) = n, and Sum_{j=0..k} s(j)-1 >= 0 for k < n-1 (and necessarily Sum_{j=0..n-1} s(j)-1 = 0). These are the branching sequences of the (ordered) trees with n non-root nodes, see example. - Joerg Arndt, Jun 30 2014
Number of stack-sortable permutations of [n], these are the 231-avoiding permutations; see the Bousquet-Mélou reference. - Joerg Arndt, Jul 01 2014
a(n) is the number of increasing strict binary trees with 2n-1 nodes that avoid 132. For more information about increasing strict binary trees with an associated permutation, see A245894. - Manda Riehl, Aug 07 2014
In a one-dimensional medium with elastic scattering (zig-zag walk), first recurrence after 2n+1 scattering events has the probability C(n)/2^(2n+1). - Joachim Wuttke, Sep 11 2014
The o.g.f. C(x) = (1 - sqrt(1-4x))/2, for the Catalan numbers, with comp. inverse Cinv(x) = x*(1-x) and the functions P(x) = x / (1 + t*x) and its inverse Pinv(x,t) = -P(-x,t) = x / (1 - t*x) form a group under composition that generates or interpolates among many classic arrays, such as the Motzkin (Riordan, A005043), Fibonacci (A000045), and Fine (A000957) numbers and polynomials (A030528), and enumerating arrays for Motzkin, Dyck, and Łukasiewicz lattice paths and different types of trees and non-crossing partitions (A091867, connected to sums of the refined Narayana numbers A134264). - Tom Copeland, Nov 04 2014
Conjecture: All the rational numbers Sum_{i=j..k} 1/a(i) with 0 < min{2,k} <= j <= k have pairwise distinct fractional parts. - Zhi-Wei Sun, Sep 24 2015
The Catalan number series A000108(n+3), offset n=0, gives Hankel transform revealing the square pyramidal numbers starting at 5, A000330(n+2), offset n=0 (empirical observation). - Tony Foster III, Sep 05 2016
Hankel transforms of the Catalan numbers with the first 2, 4, and 5 terms omitted give A001477, A006858, and A091962, respectively, without the first 2 terms in all cases. More generally, the Hankel transform of the Catalan numbers with the first k terms omitted is H_k(n) = Product_{j=1..k-1} Product_{i=1..j} (2*n+j+i)/(j+i) [see Cigler (2011), Eq. (1.14) and references therein]; together they form the array A078920/A123352/A368025. - Andrey Zabolotskiy, Oct 13 2016
Presumably this satisfies Benford's law, although the results in Hürlimann (2009) do not make this clear. See S. J. Miller, ed., 2015, p. 5. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 09 2017
Coefficients of the generating series associated to the Magmatic and Dendriform operadic algebras. Cf. p. 422 and 435 of the Loday et al. paper. - Tom Copeland, Jul 08 2018
Let M_n be the n X n matrix with M_n(i,j) = binomial(i+j-1,2j-2); then det(M_n) = a(n). - Tony Foster III, Aug 30 2018
Also the number of Catalan trees, or planted plane trees (Bona, 2015, p. 299, Theorem 4.6.3). - N. J. A. Sloane, Dec 25 2018
Number of coalescent histories for a caterpillar species tree and a matching caterpillar gene tree with n+1 leaves (Rosenberg 2007, Corollary 3.5). - Noah A Rosenberg, Jan 28 2019
Finding solutions of eps*x^2+x-1 = 0 for eps small, that is, writing x = Sum_{n>=0} x_{n}*eps^n and expanding, one finds x = 1 - eps + 2*eps^2 - 5*eps^3 + 14*eps^3 - 42*eps^4 + ... with x_{n} = (-1)^n*C(n). Further, letting x = 1/y and expanding y about 0 to find large roots, that is, y = Sum_{n>=1} y_{n}*eps^n, one finds y = 0 - eps + eps^2 - 2*eps^3 + 5*eps^3 - ... with y_{n} = (-1)^n*C(n-1). - Derek Orr, Mar 15 2019
Permutations of length n that produce a bipartite permutation graph of order n [see Knuth (1973), Busch (2006), Golumbic and Trenk (2004)]. - Elise Anderson, R. M. Argus, Caitlin Owens, Tessa Stevens, Jun 27 2019
For n > 0, a random selection of n + 1 objects (the minimum number ensuring one pair by the pigeonhole principle) from n distinct pairs of indistinguishable objects contains only one pair with probability 2^(n-1)/a(n) = b(n-1)/A098597(n), where b is the 0-offset sequence with the terms of A120777 repeated (1,1,4,4,8,8,64,64,128,128,...). E.g., randomly selecting 6 socks from 5 pairs that are black, blue, brown, green, and white, results in only one pair of the same color with probability 2^(5-1)/a(5) = 16/42 = 8/21 = b(4)/A098597(5). - Rick L. Shepherd, Sep 02 2019
See Haran & Tabachnikov link for a video discussing Conway-Coxeter friezes. The Conway-Coxeter friezes with n nontrivial rows are generated by the counts of triangles at each vertex in the triangulations of regular n-gons, of which there are a(n). - Charles R Greathouse IV, Sep 28 2019
For connections to knot theory and scattering amplitudes from Feynman diagrams, see Broadhurst and Kreimer, and Todorov. Eqn. 6.12 on p. 130 of Bessis et al. becomes, after scaling, -12g * r_0(-y/(12g)) = (1-sqrt(1-4y))/2, the o.g.f. (expressed as a Taylor series in Eqn. 7.22 in 12gx) given for the Catalan numbers in Copeland's (Sep 30 2011) formula below. (See also Mizera p. 34, Balduf pp. 79-80, Keitel and Bartosch.) - Tom Copeland, Nov 17 2019
Number of permutations in S_n whose principal order ideals in the weak order are modular lattices. - Bridget Tenner, Jan 16 2020
Number of permutations in S_n whose principal order ideals in the weak order are distributive lattices. - Bridget Tenner, Jan 16 2020
Legendre gives the following formula for computing the square root modulo 2^m:
sqrt(1 + 8*a) mod 2^m = (1 + 4*a*Sum_{i=0..m-4} C(i)*(-2*a)^i) mod 2^m
as cited by L. D. Dickson, History of the Theory of Numbers, Vol. 1, 207-208. - Peter Schorn, Feb 11 2020
a(n) is the number of length n permutations sorted to the identity by a consecutive-132-avoiding stack followed by a classical-21-avoiding stack. - Kai Zheng, Aug 28 2020
Number of non-crossing partitions of a 2*n-set with n blocks of size 2. Also number of non-crossing partitions of a 2*n-set with n+1 blocks of size at most 3, and without cyclical adjacencies. The two partitions can be mapped by rotated Kreweras bijection. - Yuchun Ji, Jan 18 2021
Named by Riordan (1968, and earlier in Mathematical Reviews, 1948 and 1964) after the French and Belgian mathematician Eugène Charles Catalan (1814-1894) (see Pak, 2014). - Amiram Eldar, Apr 15 2021
For n >= 1, a(n-1) is the number of interpretations of x^n is an algebra where power-associativity is not assumed. For example, for n = 4 there are a(3) = 5 interpretations: x(x(xx)), x((xx)x), (xx)(xx), (x(xx))x, ((xx)x)x. See the link "Non-associate powers and a functional equation" from I. M. H. Etherington and the page "Nonassociative Product" from Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics for detailed information. See also A001190 for the case where multiplication is commutative. - Jianing Song, Apr 29 2022
Number of states in the transition diagram associated with the Laplacian system over the complete graph K_N, corresponding to ordered initial conditions x_1 < x_2 < ... < x_N. - Andrea Arlette España, Nov 06 2022
a(n) is the number of 132-avoiding stabilized-interval-free permutations of size n+1. - Juan B. Gil, Jun 22 2023
Number of rooted polyominoes composed of n triangular cells of the hyperbolic regular tiling with Schläfli symbol {3,oo}. A rooted polyomino has one external edge identified, and chiral pairs are counted as two. A stereographic projection of the {3,oo} tiling on the Poincaré disk can be obtained via the Christensson link. - Robert A. Russell, Jan 27 2024
a(n) is the number of extremely lucky Stirling permutations of order n; i.e., the number of Stirling permutations of order n that have exactly n lucky cars. (see Colmenarejo et al. reference) - Bridget Tenner, Apr 16 2024

Examples

			From _Joerg Arndt_ and Greg Stevenson, Jul 11 2011: (Start)
The following products of 3 transpositions lead to a 4-cycle in S_4:
(1,2)*(1,3)*(1,4);
(1,2)*(1,4)*(3,4);
(1,3)*(1,4)*(2,3);
(1,4)*(2,3)*(2,4);
(1,4)*(2,4)*(3,4). (End)
G.f. = 1 + x + 2*x^2 + 5*x^3 + 14*x^4 + 42*x^5 + 132*x^6 + 429*x^7 + ...
For n=3, a(3)=5 since there are exactly 5 binary sequences of length 7 in which the number of ones first exceed the number of zeros at entry 7, namely, 0001111, 0010111, 0011011, 0100111, and 0101011. - _Dennis P. Walsh_, Apr 11 2012
From _Joerg Arndt_, Jun 30 2014: (Start)
The a(4) = 14 branching sequences of the (ordered) trees with 4 non-root nodes are (dots denote zeros):
01:  [ 1 1 1 1 . ]
02:  [ 1 1 2 . . ]
03:  [ 1 2 . 1 . ]
04:  [ 1 2 1 . . ]
05:  [ 1 3 . . . ]
06:  [ 2 . 1 1 . ]
07:  [ 2 . 2 . . ]
08:  [ 2 1 . 1 . ]
09:  [ 2 1 1 . . ]
10:  [ 2 2 . . . ]
11:  [ 3 . . 1 . ]
12:  [ 3 . 1 . . ]
13:  [ 3 1 . . . ]
14:  [ 4 . . . . ]
(End)
		

References

  • The large number of references and links demonstrates the ubiquity of the Catalan numbers.
  • R. Alter, Some remarks and results on Catalan numbers, pp. 109-132 in Proceedings of the Louisiana Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Computer Science. Vol. 2, edited R. C. Mullin et al., 1971.
  • Miklos Bona, editor, Handbook of Enumerative Combinatorics, CRC Press, 2015, many references.
  • L. Comtet, Advanced Combinatorics, Reidel, 1974, p. 53.
  • J. H. Conway and R. K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1995, ch. 4, pp. 96-106.
  • S. J. Cyvin and I. Gutman, Kekulé structures in benzenoid hydrocarbons, Lecture Notes in Chemistry, No. 46, Springer, New York, 1988 (see pp. 183, 196, etc.).
  • Michael Dairyko, Samantha Tyner, Lara Pudwell, and Casey Wynn, Non-contiguous pattern avoidance in binary trees. Electron. J. Combin. 19 (2012), no. 3, Paper 22, 21 pp. MR2967227.
  • E. Deutsch, Dyck path enumeration, Discrete Math., 204, 167-202, 1999.
  • E. Deutsch and L. Shapiro, Seventeen Catalan identities, Bulletin of the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications, 31, 31-38, 2001.
  • L. E. Dickson, History of the Theory of Numbers. Carnegie Institute Public. 256, Washington, DC, Vol. 1, 1919; Vol. 2, 1920; Vol. 3, 1923, see vol. 1, 207-208.
  • Tomislav Doslic and Darko Veljan, Logarithmic behavior of some combinatorial sequences. Discrete Math. 308 (2008), no. 11, 2182-2212. MR2404544 (2009j:05019)
  • S. Dulucq and J.-G. Penaud, Cordes, arbres et permutations. Discrete Math. 117 (1993), no. 1-3, 89-105.
  • A. Errera, Analysis situs - Un problème d'énumération, Mémoires Acad. Bruxelles, Classe des sciences, Série 2, Vol. XI, Fasc. 6, No. 1421 (1931), 26 pp.
  • Ehrenfeucht, Andrzej; Haemer, Jeffrey; Haussler, David. Quasimonotonic sequences: theory, algorithms and applications. SIAM J. Algebraic Discrete Methods 8 (1987), no. 3, 410-429. MR0897739 (88h:06026)
  • I. M. H. Etherington, Non-associate powers and a functional equation. The Mathematical Gazette, 21 (1937): 36-39; addendum 21 (1937), 153.
  • I. M. H. Etherington, On non-associative combinations, Proc. Royal Soc. Edinburgh, 59 (Part 2, 1938-39), 153-162.
  • I. M. H. Etherington, Some problems of non-associative combinations (I), Edinburgh Math. Notes, 32 (1940), pp. i-vi. Part II is by A. Erdelyi and I. M. H. Etherington, and is on pages vii-xiv of the same issue.
  • K. Fan, Structure of a Hecke algebra quotient, J. Amer. Math. Soc., 10 (1997), 139-167.
  • Susanna Fishel, Myrto Kallipoliti and Eleni Tzanaki, Facets of the Generalized Cluster Complex and Regions in the Extended Catalan Arrangement of Type A, The electronic Journal of Combinatorics 20(4) (2013), #P7.
  • D. Foata and D. Zeilberger, A classic proof of a recurrence for a very classical sequence, J. Comb Thy A 80 380-384 1997.
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Crossrefs

A row of A060854.
See A001003, A001190, A001699, A000081 for other ways to count parentheses.
Enumerates objects encoded by A014486.
A diagonal of any of the essentially equivalent arrays A009766, A030237, A033184, A059365, A099039, A106566, A130020, A047072.
Cf. A051168 (diagonal of the square array described).
Cf. A033552, A176137 (partitions into Catalan numbers).
Cf. A000753, A000736 (Boustrophedon transforms).
Cf. A120303 (largest prime factor of Catalan number).
Cf. A121839 (reciprocal Catalan constant), A268813.
Cf. A038003, A119861, A119908, A120274, A120275 (odd Catalan number).
Cf. A002390 (decimal expansion of natural logarithm of golden ratio).
Coefficients of square root of the g.f. are A001795/A046161.
For a(n) mod 6 see A259667.
For a(n) in base 2 see A264663.
Hankel transforms with first terms omitted: A001477, A006858, A091962, A078920, A123352, A368025.
Cf. A332602 (conjectured production matrix).
Polyominoes: A001683(n+2) (oriented), A000207 (unoriented), A369314 (chiral), A208355(n-1) (achiral), A001764 {4,oo}.

Programs

  • GAP
    A000108:=List([0..30],n->Binomial(2*n,n)/(n+1)); # Muniru A Asiru, Feb 17 2018
  • Haskell
    import Data.List (genericIndex)
    a000108 n = genericIndex a000108_list n
    a000108_list = 1 : catalan [1] where
       catalan cs = c : catalan (c:cs) where
          c = sum $ zipWith (*) cs $ reverse cs
    -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 12 2011
    a000108 = map last $ iterate (scanl1 (+) . (++ [0])) [1]
    -- David Spies, Aug 23 2015
    
  • Magma
    C:= func< n | Binomial(2*n,n)/(n+1) >; [ C(n) : n in [0..60]];
    
  • Magma
    [Catalan(n): n in [0..40]]; // Vincenzo Librandi, Apr 02 2011
    
  • Maple
    A000108 := n->binomial(2*n,n)/(n+1);
    G000108 := (1 - sqrt(1 - 4*x)) / (2*x);
    spec := [ A, {A=Prod(Z,Sequence(A))}, unlabeled ]: [ seq(combstruct[count](spec, size=n+1), n=0..42) ];
    with(combstruct): bin := {B=Union(Z,Prod(B,B))}: seq(count([B,bin,unlabeled],size=n+1), n=0..25); # Zerinvary Lajos, Dec 05 2007
    gser := series(G000108, x=0, 42): seq(coeff(gser, x, n), n=0..41); # Zerinvary Lajos, May 21 2008
    seq((2*n)!*coeff(series(hypergeom([],[2],x^2),x,2*n+2),x,2*n),n=0..30); # Peter Luschny, Jan 31 2015
    A000108List := proc(m) local A, P, n; A := [1, 1]; P := [1];
    for n from 1 to m - 2 do P := ListTools:-PartialSums([op(P), A[-1]]);
    A := [op(A), P[-1]] od; A end: A000108List(31); # Peter Luschny, Mar 24 2022
  • Mathematica
    Table[(2 n)!/n!/(n + 1)!, {n, 0, 20}]
    Table[4^n Gamma[n + 1/2]/(Sqrt[Pi] Gamma[n + 2]), {n, 0, 20}] (* Eric W. Weisstein, Oct 31 2024 *)
    Table[Hypergeometric2F1[1 - n, -n, 2, 1], {n, 0, 20}] (* Richard L. Ollerton, Sep 13 2006 *)
    Table[CatalanNumber @ n, {n, 0, 20}] (* Robert G. Wilson v, Feb 15 2011 *)
    CatalanNumber[Range[0, 20]] (* Eric W. Weisstein, Oct 31 2024 *)
    CoefficientList[InverseSeries[Series[x/Sum[x^n, {n, 0, 31}], {x, 0, 31}]]/x, x] (* Mats Granvik, Nov 24 2013 *)
    CoefficientList[Series[(1 - Sqrt[1 - 4 x])/(2 x), {x, 0, 20}], x] (* Stefano Spezia, Aug 31 2018 *)
  • Maxima
    A000108(n):=binomial(2*n,n)/(n+1)$ makelist(A000108(n),n,0,30); /* Martin Ettl, Oct 24 2012 */
    
  • MuPAD
    combinat::dyckWords::count(n) $ n = 0..38 // Zerinvary Lajos, Apr 14 2007
    
  • PARI
    a(n)=binomial(2*n,n)/(n+1) \\ M. F. Hasler, Aug 25 2012
    
  • PARI
    a(n) = (2*n)! / n! / (n+1)!
    
  • PARI
    a(n) = my(A, m); if( n<0, 0, m=1; A = 1 + x + O(x^2); while(m<=n, m*=2; A = sqrt(subst(A, x, 4*x^2)); A += (A - 1) / (2*x*A)); polcoeff(A, n));
    
  • PARI
    {a(n) = if( n<1, n==0, polcoeff( serreverse( x / (1 + x)^2 + x * O(x^n)), n))}; /* Michael Somos */
    
  • PARI
    (recur(a,b)=if(b<=2,(a==2)+(a==b)+(a!=b)*(1+a/2), (1+a/b)*recur(a,b-1))); a(n)=recur(n,n); \\ R. J. Cano, Nov 22 2012
    
  • PARI
    x='x+O('x^40); Vec((1-sqrt(1-4*x))/(2*x)) \\ Altug Alkan, Oct 13 2015
    
  • Python
    from gmpy2 import divexact
    A000108 = [1, 1]
    for n in range(1, 10**3):
        A000108.append(divexact(A000108[-1]*(4*n+2),(n+2))) # Chai Wah Wu, Aug 31 2014
    
  • Python
    # Works in Sage also.
    A000108 = [1]
    for n in range(1000):
        A000108.append(A000108[-1]*(4*n+2)//(n+2)) # Günter Rote, Nov 08 2023
    
  • Sage
    [catalan_number(i) for i in range(27)] # Zerinvary Lajos, Jun 26 2008
    
  • Sage
    # Generalized algorithm of L. Seidel
    def A000108_list(n) :
        D = [0]*(n+1); D[1] = 1
        b = True; h = 1; R = []
        for i in range(2*n-1) :
            if b :
                for k in range(h,0,-1) : D[k] += D[k-1]
                h += 1; R.append(D[1])
            else :
                for k in range(1,h, 1) : D[k] += D[k+1]
            b = not b
        return R
    A000108_list(31) # Peter Luschny, Jun 02 2012
    

Formula

a(n) = binomial(2*n, n)/(n+1) = (2*n)!/(n!*(n+1)!) = A000984(n)/(n+1).
Recurrence: a(n) = 2*(2*n-1)*a(n-1)/(n+1) with a(0) = 1.
Recurrence: a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n-1} a(k)a(n-1-k).
G.f.: A(x) = (1 - sqrt(1 - 4*x)) / (2*x), and satisfies A(x) = 1 + x*A(x)^2.
a(n) = Product_{k=2..n} (1 + n/k).
a(n+1) = Sum_{i} binomial(n, 2*i)*2^(n-2*i)*a(i). - Touchard
It is known that a(n) is odd if and only if n=2^k-1, k=0, 1, 2, 3, ... - Emeric Deutsch, Aug 04 2002, corrected by M. F. Hasler, Nov 08 2015
Using the Stirling approximation in A000142 we get the asymptotic expansion a(n) ~ 4^n / (sqrt(Pi * n) * (n + 1)). - Dan Fux (dan.fux(AT)OpenGaia.com or danfux(AT)OpenGaia.com), Apr 13 2001
Integral representation: a(n) = (1/(2*Pi))*Integral_{x=0..4} x^n*sqrt((4-x)/x). - Karol A. Penson, Apr 12 2001
E.g.f.: exp(2*x)*(I_0(2*x)-I_1(2*x)), where I_n is Bessel function. - Karol A. Penson, Oct 07 2001
a(n) = polygorial(n, 6)/polygorial(n, 3). - Daniel Dockery (peritus(AT)gmail.com), Jun 24 2003
G.f. A(x) satisfies ((A(x) + A(-x)) / 2)^2 = A(4*x^2). - Michael Somos, Jun 27 2003
G.f. A(x) satisfies Sum_{k>=1} k(A(x)-1)^k = Sum_{n>=1} 4^{n-1}*x^n. - Shapiro, Woan, Getu
a(n+m) = Sum_{k} A039599(n, k)*A039599(m, k). - Philippe Deléham, Dec 22 2003
a(n+1) = (1/(n+1))*Sum_{k=0..n} a(n-k)*binomial(2k+1, k+1). - Philippe Deléham, Jan 24 2004
a(n) = Sum_{k>=0} A008313(n, k)^2. - Philippe Deléham, Feb 14 2004
a(m+n+1) = Sum_{k>=0} A039598(m, k)*A039598(n, k). - Philippe Deléham, Feb 15 2004
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} (-1)^k*2^(n-k)*binomial(n, k)*binomial(k, floor(k/2)). - Paul Barry, Jan 27 2005
Sum_{n>=0} 1/a(n) = 2 + 4*Pi/3^(5/2) = F(1,2;1/2;1/4) = A268813 = 2.806133050770763... (see L'Univers de Pi link). - Gerald McGarvey and Benoit Cloitre, Feb 13 2005
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..floor(n/2)} ((n-2*k+1)*binomial(n, n-k)/(n-k+1))^2, which is equivalent to: a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} A053121(n, k)^2, for n >= 0. - Paul D. Hanna, Apr 23 2005
a((m+n)/2) = Sum_{k>=0} A053121(m, k)*A053121(n, k) if m+n is even. - Philippe Deléham, May 26 2005
E.g.f. Sum_{n>=0} a(n) * x^(2*n) / (2*n)! = BesselI(1, 2*x) / x. - Michael Somos, Jun 22 2005
Given g.f. A(x), then B(x) = x * A(x^3) satisfies 0 = f(x, B(X)) where f(u, v) = u - v + (u*v)^2 or B(x) = x + (x * B(x))^2 which implies B(-B(x)) = -x and also (1 + B^3) / B^2 = (1 - x^3) / x^2. - Michael Somos, Jun 27 2005
a(n) = a(n-1)*(4-6/(n+1)). a(n) = 2a(n-1)*(8a(n-2)+a(n-1))/(10a(n-2)-a(n-1)). - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Feb 08 2006
Sum_{k>=1} a(k)/4^k = 1. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Jun 28 2006
a(n) = A047996(2*n+1, n). - Philippe Deléham, Jul 25 2006
Binomial transform of A005043. - Philippe Deléham, Oct 20 2006
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} (-1)^k*A116395(n,k). - Philippe Deléham, Nov 07 2006
a(n) = (1/(s-n))*Sum_{k=0..n} (-1)^k (k+s-n)*binomial(s-n,k) * binomial(s+n-k,s) with s a nonnegative free integer [H. W. Gould].
a(k) = Sum_{i=1..k} |A008276(i,k)| * (k-1)^(k-i) / k!. - André F. Labossière, May 29 2007
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} A129818(n,k) * A007852(k+1). - Philippe Deléham, Jun 20 2007
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} A109466(n,k) * A127632(k). - Philippe Deléham, Jun 20 2007
Row sums of triangle A124926. - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 22 2007
Limit_{n->oo} (1 + Sum_{k=0..n} a(k)/A004171(k)) = 4/Pi. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Aug 26 2008
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} A120730(n,k)^2 and a(k+1) = Sum_{n>=k} A120730(n,k). - Philippe Deléham, Oct 18 2008
Given an integer t >= 1 and initial values u = [a_0, a_1, ..., a_{t-1}], we may define an infinite sequence Phi(u) by setting a_n = a_{n-1} + a_0*a_{n-1} + a_1*a_{n-2} + ... + a_{n-2}*a_1 for n >= t. For example, the present sequence is Phi([1]) (also Phi([1,1])). - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 27 2008
a(n) = Sum_{l_1=0..n+1} Sum_{l_2=0..n}...Sum_{l_i=0..n-i}...Sum_{l_n=0..1} delta(l_1,l_2,...,l_i,...,l_n) where delta(l_1,l_2,...,l_i,...,l_n) = 0 if any l_i < l_(i+1) and l_(i+1) <> 0 for i=1..n-1 and delta(l_1,l_2,...,l_i,...,l_n) = 1 otherwise. - Thomas Wieder, Feb 25 2009
a(n) = A000680(n)/A006472(n+1). - Mark Dols, Jul 14 2010; corrected by M. F. Hasler, Nov 08 2015
Let A(x) be the g.f., then B(x)=x*A(x) satisfies the differential equation B'(x)-2*B'(x)*B(x)-1=0. - Vladimir Kruchinin, Jan 18 2011
Complement of A092459; A010058(a(n)) = 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 29 2011
G.f.: 1/(1-x/(1-x/(1-x/(...)))) (continued fraction). - Joerg Arndt, Mar 18 2011
With F(x) = (1-2*x-sqrt(1-4*x))/(2*x) an o.g.f. in x for the Catalan series, G(x) = x/(1+x)^2 is the compositional inverse of F (nulling the n=0 term). - Tom Copeland, Sep 04 2011
With H(x) = 1/(dG(x)/dx) = (1+x)^3 / (1-x), the n-th Catalan number is given by (1/n!)*((H(x)*d/dx)^n)x evaluated at x=0, i.e., F(x) = exp(x*H(u)*d/du)u, evaluated at u = 0. Also, dF(x)/dx = H(F(x)), and H(x) is the o.g.f. for A115291. - Tom Copeland, Sep 04 2011
From Tom Copeland, Sep 30 2011: (Start)
With F(x) = (1-sqrt(1-4*x))/2 an o.g.f. in x for the Catalan series, G(x)= x*(1-x) is the compositional inverse and this relates the Catalan numbers to the row sums of A125181.
With H(x) = 1/(dG(x)/dx) = 1/(1-2x), the n-th Catalan number (offset 1) is given by (1/n!)*((H(x)*d/dx)^n)x evaluated at x=0, i.e., F(x) = exp(x*H(u)*d/du)u, evaluated at u = 0. Also, dF(x)/dx = H(F(x)). (End)
G.f.: (1-sqrt(1-4*x))/(2*x) = G(0) where G(k) = 1 + (4*k+1)*x/(k+1-2*x*(k+1)*(4*k+3)/(2*x*(4*k+3)+(2*k+3)/G(k+1))); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Nov 30 2011
E.g.f.: exp(2*x)*(BesselI(0,2*x) - BesselI(1,2*x)) = G(0) where G(k) = 1 + (4*k+1)*x/((k+1)*(2*k+1)-x*(k+1)*(2*k+1)*(4*k+3)/(x*(4*k+3)+(k+1)*(2*k+3)/G(k+1))); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Nov 30 2011
E.g.f.: Hypergeometric([1/2],[2],4*x) which coincides with the e.g.f. given just above, and also by Karol A. Penson further above. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 13 2012
A076050(a(n)) = n + 1 for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 17 2012
a(n) = A208355(2*n-1) = A208355(2*n) for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 04 2012
a(n+1) = A214292(2*n+1,n) = A214292(2*n+2,n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 12 2012
G.f.: 1 + 2*x/(U(0)-2*x) where U(k) = k*(4*x+1) + 2*x + 2 - x*(2*k+3)*(2*k+4)/U(k+1); (continued fraction, Euler's 1st kind, 1-step). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Sep 20 2012
G.f.: hypergeom([1/2,1],[2],4*x). - Joerg Arndt, Apr 06 2013
Special values of Jacobi polynomials, in Maple notation: a(n) = 4^n*JacobiP(n,1,-1/2-n,-1)/(n+1). - Karol A. Penson, Jul 28 2013
For n > 0: a(n) = sum of row n in triangle A001263. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 10 2013
a(n) = binomial(2n,n-1)/n and a(n) mod n = binomial(2n,n) mod n = A059288(n). - Jonathan Sondow, Dec 14 2013
a(n-1) = Sum_{t1+2*t2+...+n*tn=n} (-1)^(1+t1+t2+...+tn)*multinomial(t1+t2 +...+tn,t1,t2,...,tn)*a(1)^t1*a(2)^t2*...*a(n)^tn. - Mircea Merca, Feb 27 2014
a(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} binomial(n+k-1,n)/n if n > 0. Alexander Adamchuk, Mar 25 2014
a(n) = -2^(2*n+1) * binomial(n-1/2, -3/2). - Peter Luschny, May 06 2014
a(n) = (4*A000984(n) - A000984(n+1))/2. - Stanislav Sykora, Aug 09 2014
a(n) = A246458(n) * A246466(n). - Tom Edgar, Sep 02 2014
a(n) = (2*n)!*[x^(2*n)]hypergeom([],[2],x^2). - Peter Luschny, Jan 31 2015
a(n) = 4^(n-1)*hypergeom([3/2, 1-n], [3], 1). - Peter Luschny, Feb 03 2015
a(2n) = 2*A000150(2n); a(2n+1) = 2*A000150(2n+1) + a(n). - John Bodeen, Jun 24 2015
a(n) = Sum_{t=1..n+1} n^(t-1)*abs(Stirling1(n+1, t)) / Sum_{t=1..n+1} abs(Stirling1(n+1, t)), for n > 0, see (10) in Cereceda link. - Michel Marcus, Oct 06 2015
a(n) ~ 4^(n-2)*(128 + 160/N^2 + 84/N^4 + 715/N^6 - 10180/N^8)/(N^(3/2)*Pi^(1/2)) where N = 4*n+3. - Peter Luschny, Oct 14 2015
a(n) = Sum_{k=1..floor((n+1)/2)} (-1)^(k-1)*binomial(n+1-k,k)*a(n-k) if n > 0; and a(0) = 1. - David Pasino, Jun 29 2016
Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^n/a(n) = 14/25 - 24*arccsch(2)/(25*sqrt(5)) = 14/25 - 24*A002390/(25*sqrt(5)) = 0.353403708337278061333... - Ilya Gutkovskiy, Jun 30 2016
C(n) = (1/n) * Sum_{i+j+k=n-1} C(i)*C(j)*C(k)*(k+1), n >= 1. - Yuchun Ji, Feb 21 2016
C(n) = 1 + Sum_{i+j+kYuchun Ji, Sep 01 2016
a(n) = A001700(n) - A162551(n) = binomial(2*n+1,n+1). - 2*binomial(2*n,n-1). - Taras Goy, Aug 09 2018
G.f.: A(x) = (1 - sqrt(1 - 4*x)) / (2*x) = 2F1(1/2,1;2;4*x). G.f. A(x) satisfies A = 1 + x*A^2. - R. J. Mathar, Nov 17 2018
C(n) = 1 + Sum_{i=0..n-1} A000245(i). - Yuchun Ji, Jan 10 2019
From A.H.M. Smeets, Apr 11 2020: (Start)
(1+sqrt(1+4*x))/2 = 1-Sum_{i >= 0} a(i)*(-x)^(i+1), for any complex x with |x| < 1/4; and sqrt(x+sqrt(x+sqrt(x+...))) = 1-Sum_{i >= 0} a(i)*(-x)^(i+1), for any complex x with |x| < 1/4 and x <> 0. (End)
a(3n+1)*a(5n+4)*a(15n+10) = a(3n+2)*a(5n+2)*a(15n+11). The first case of Catalan product equation of a triple partition of 23n+15. - Yuchun Ji, Sep 27 2020
a(n) = 4^n * (-1)^(n+1) * 3F2[{n + 1,n + 1/2,n}, {3/2,1}, -1], n >= 1. - Sergii Voloshyn, Oct 22 2020
a(n) = 2^(1 + 2 n) * (-1)^(n)/(1 + n) * 3F2[{n, 1/2 + n, 1 + n}, {1/2, 1}, -1], n >= 1. - Sergii Voloshyn, Nov 08 2020
a(n) = (1/Pi)*4^(n+1)*Integral_{x=0..Pi/2} cos(x)^(2*n)*sin(x)^2 dx. - Greg Dresden, May 30 2021
From Peter Bala, Aug 17 2021: (Start)
G.f. A(x) satisfies A(x) = 1/sqrt(1 - 4*x) * A( -x/(1 - 4*x) ) and (A(x) + A(-x))/2 = 1/sqrt(1 - 4*x) * A( -2*x/(1 - 4*x) ); these are the cases k = 0 and k = -1 of the general formula 1/sqrt(1 - 4*x) * A( (k-1)*x/(1 - 4*x) ) = Sum_{n >= 0} ((k^(n+1) - 1)/(k - 1))*Catalan(n)*x^n.
2 - sqrt(1 - 4*x)/A( k*x/(1 - 4*x) ) = 1 + Sum_{n >= 1} (1 + (k + 1)^n) * Catalan(n-1)*x^n. (End)
Sum_{n>=0} a(n)*(-1/4)^n = 2*(sqrt(2)-1) (A163960). - Amiram Eldar, Mar 22 2022
0 = a(n)*(16*a(n+1) - 10*a(n+2)) + a(n+1)*(2*a(n+1) + a(n+2)) for all n>=0. - Michael Somos, Dec 12 2022
G.f.: (offset 1) 1/G(x), with G(x) = 1 - 2*x - x^2/G(x) (Jacobi continued fraction). - Nikolaos Pantelidis, Feb 01 2023
a(n) = K^(2n+1, n, 1) for all n >= 0, where K^(n, s, x) is the Krawtchouk polynomial defined to be Sum_{k=0..s} (-1)^k * binomial(n-x, s-k) * binomial(x, k). - Vladislav Shubin, Aug 17 2023
From Peter Bala, Feb 03 2024: (Start)
The g.f. A(x) satisfies the following functional equations:
A(x) = 1 + x/(1 - 4*x) * A(-x/(1 - 4*x))^2,
A(x^2) = 1/(1 - 2*x) * A(- x/(1 - 2*x))^2 and, for arbitrary k,
1/(1 - k*x) * A(x/(1 - k*x))^2 = 1/(1 - (k+4)*x) * A(-x/(1 - (k+4)*x))^2. (End)
a(n) = A363448(n) + A363449(n). - Julien Rouyer, Jun 28 2024