cp's OEIS Frontend

a(n) is also the number of n X n symmetric permutation matrices.

a(n) is also the number of matchings (Hosoya index) in the complete graph K(n). - Ola Veshta (olaveshta(AT)my-deja.com), Mar 25 2001

a(n) is also the number of independent vertex sets and vertex covers in the n-triangular graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, May 22 2017

Equivalently, this is the number of graphs on n labeled nodes with degrees at most 1. - Don Knuth, Mar 31 2008

a(n) is also the sum of the degrees of the irreducible representations of the symmetric group S_n. - Avi Peretz (njk(AT)netvision.net.il), Apr 01 2001

a(n) is the number of partitions of a set of n distinguishable elements into sets of size 1 and 2. - Karol A. Penson, Apr 22 2003

Number of tableaux on the edges of the star graph of order n, S_n (sometimes T_n). - Roberto E. Martinez II, Jan 09 2002

The Hankel transform of this sequence is A000178 (superfactorials). Sequence is also binomial transform of the sequence 1, 0, 1, 0, 3, 0, 15, 0, 105, 0, 945, ... (A001147 with interpolated zeros). - Philippe Deléham, Jun 10 2005

Row sums of the exponential Riordan array (e^(x^2/2),x). - Paul Barry, Jan 12 2006

a(n) is the number of nonnegative lattice paths of upsteps U = (1,1) and downsteps D = (1,-1) that start at the origin and end on the vertical line x = n in which each downstep (if any) is marked with an integer between 1 and the height of its initial vertex above the x-axis. For example, with the required integer immediately preceding each downstep, a(3) = 4 counts UUU, UU1D, UU2D, U1DU. - David Callan, Mar 07 2006

Equals row sums of triangle A152736 starting with offset 1. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 12 2008

Proof of the recurrence relation a(n) = a(n-1) + (n-1)*a(n-2): number of involutions of [n] containing n as a fixed point is a(n-1); number of involutions of [n] containing n in some cycle (j, n), where 1 <= j <= n-1, is (n-1) times the number of involutions of [n] containing the cycle (n-1 n) = (n-1)*a(n-2). - Emeric Deutsch, Jun 08 2009

Number of ballot sequences (or lattice permutations) of length n. A ballot sequence B is a string such that, for all prefixes P of B, h(i) >= h(j) for i < j, where h(x) is the number of times x appears in P. For example, the ballot sequences of length 4 are 1111, 1112, 1121, 1122, 1123, 1211, 1212, 1213, 1231, and 1234. The string 1221 does not appear in the list because in the 3-prefix 122 there are two 2's but only one 1. (Cf. p. 176 of Bruce E. Sagan: "The Symmetric Group"). - Joerg Arndt, Jun 28 2009

Number of standard Young tableaux of size n; the ballot sequences are obtained as a length-n vector v where v_k is the (number of the) row in which the number r occurs in the tableaux. - Joerg Arndt, Jul 29 2012

Number of factorial numbers of length n-1 with no adjacent nonzero digits. For example the 10 such numbers (in rising factorial radix) of length 3 are 000, 001, 002, 003, 010, 020, 100, 101, 102, and 103. - Joerg Arndt, Nov 11 2012

Also called restricted Stirling numbers of the second kind (see Mezo). - N. J. A. Sloane, Nov 27 2013

a(n) is the number of permutations of [n] that avoid the consecutive patterns 123 and 132. Proof. Write a self-inverse permutation in standard cycle form: smallest entry in each cycle in first position, first entries decreasing. For example, (6,7)(3,4)(2)(1,5) is in standard cycle form. Then erase parentheses. This is a bijection to the permutations that avoid consecutive 123 and 132 patterns. - David Callan, Aug 27 2014

Getu (1991) says these numbers are also known as "telephone numbers". - N. J. A. Sloane, Nov 23 2015

a(n) is the number of elements x in the symmetric group S_n such that x^2 = e where e is the identity. - Jianing Song, Aug 22 2018 [Edited on Jul 24 2025]

a(n) is the number of congruence orbits of upper-triangular n X n matrices on skew-symmetric matrices, or the number of Borel orbits in largest sect of the type DIII symmetric space SO_{2n}(C)/GL_n(C). Involutions can also be thought of as fixed-point-free partial involutions. See [Bingham and Ugurlu] link. - Aram Bingham, Feb 08 2020

From Thomas Anton, Apr 20 2020: (Start)

Apparently a(n) = b*c where b is odd iff a(n+b) (when a(n) is defined) is divisible by b.

Apparently a(n) = 2^(f(n mod 4)+floor(n/4))*q where f:{0,1,2,3}->{0,1,2} is given by f(0),f(1)=0, f(2)=1 and f(3)=2 and q is odd. (End)

From Iosif Pinelis, Mar 12 2021: (Start)

a(n) is the n-th initial moment of the normal distribution with mean 1 and variance 1. This follows because the moment generating function of that distribution is the e.g.f. of the sequence of the a(n)'s.

The recurrence a(n) = a(n-1) + (n-1)*a(n-2) also follows, by writing E(Z+1)^n=EZ(Z+1)^(n-1)+E(Z+1)^(n-1), where Z is a standard normal random variable, and then taking the first of the latter two integrals by parts. (End)

Number of linear extensions of the "zig-zag" poset. See ch. 3, prob. 23 of Stanley. - Mitch Harris, Dec 27 2005

Number of increasing 0-1-2 trees on n vertices. - David Callan, Dec 22 2006

Also the number of refinements of partitions. - Heinz-Richard Halder (halder.bichl(AT)t-online.de), Mar 07 2008

The ratio a(n)/n! is also the probability that n numbers x1,x2,...,xn randomly chosen uniformly and independently in [0,1] satisfy x1 > x2 < x3 > x4 < ... xn. - Pietro Majer, Jul 13 2009

For n >= 2, a(n-2) = number of permutations w of an ordered n-set {x_1 < ... x_n} with the following properties: w(1) = x_n, w(n) = x_{n-1}, w(2) > w(n-1), and neither any subword of w, nor its reversal, has the first three properties. The count is unchanged if the third condition is replaced with w(2) < w(n-1). - Jeremy L. Martin, Mar 26 2010

A partition of zigzag permutations of order n+1 by the smallest or the largest, whichever is behind. This partition has the same recurrent relation as increasing 1-2 trees of order n, by induction the bijection follows. - Wenjin Woan, May 06 2011

As can be seen from the asymptotics given in the FORMULA section, one has lim_{n->oo} 2*n*a(n-1)/a(n) = Pi; see A132049/A132050 for the simplified fractions. - M. F. Hasler, Apr 03 2013

a(n+1) is the sum of row n in triangle A008280. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 05 2013

M. Josuat-Verges, J.-C. Novelli and J.-Y. Thibon (2011) give a far-reaching generalization of the bijection between Euler numbers and alternating permutations. - N. J. A. Sloane, Jul 09 2015

Number of treeshelves avoiding pattern T321. Treeshelves are ordered binary (0-1-2) increasing trees where every child is connected to its parent by a left or a right link, see A278678 for more definitions and examples. - Sergey Kirgizov, Dec 24 2016

Number of sequences (e(1), ..., e(n-1)), 0 <= e(i) < i, such that no three terms are equal. [Theorem 7 of Corteel, Martinez, Savage, and Weselcouch] - Eric M. Schmidt, Jul 17 2017

Number of self-dual edge-labeled trees with n vertices under "mind-body" duality. Also number of self-dual rooted edge-labeled trees with n vertices. See my paper linked below. - Nikos Apostolakis, Aug 01 2018

The ratio a(n)/n! is the volume of the convex polyhedron defined as the set of (x_1,...,x_n) in [0,1]^n such that x_i + x_{i+1} <= 1 for every 1 <= i <= n-1; see the solutions by Macdonald and Nelsen to the Amer. Math. Monthly problem referenced below. - Sanjay Ramassamy, Nov 02 2018

Number of total cyclic orders on {0,1,...,n} such that the triple (i-1,i,i+1) is positively oriented for every 1 <= i <= n-1; see my paper on cyclic orders linked below. - Sanjay Ramassamy, Nov 02 2018

The number of binary, rooted, unlabeled histories with n+1 leaves (following the definition of Rosenberg 2006). Also termed Tajima trees, Tajima genealogies, or binary, rooted, unlabeled ranked trees (Palacios et al. 2015). See Disanto & Wiehe (2013) for a proof. - Noah A Rosenberg, Mar 10 2019

From Gus Wiseman, Dec 31 2019: (Start)

Also the number of non-isomorphic balanced reduced multisystems with n + 1 distinct atoms and maximum depth. A balanced reduced multisystem is either a finite multiset, or a multiset partition with at least two parts, not all of which are singletons, of a balanced reduced multisystem. The labeled version is A006472. For example, non-isomorphic representatives of the a(0) = 1 through a(4) = 5 multisystems are (commas elided):

{1} {12} {{1}{23}} {{{1}}{{2}{34}}} {{{{1}}}{{{2}}{{3}{45}}}}

{{{12}}{{3}{4}}} {{{{1}}}{{{23}}{{4}{5}}}}

{{{{1}{2}}}{{{3}}{{45}}}}

{{{{1}{23}}}{{{4}}{{5}}}}

{{{{12}}}{{{3}}{{4}{5}}}}

Also the number of balanced reduced multisystems with n + 1 equal atoms and maximum depth. This is possibly the meaning of Heinz-Richard Halder's comment (see also A002846, A213427, A265947). The non-maximum-depth version is A318813. For example, the a(0) = 1 through a(4) = 5 multisystems are (commas elided):

{1} {11} {{1}{11}} {{{1}}{{1}{11}}} {{{{1}}}{{{1}}{{1}{11}}}}

{{{11}}{{1}{1}}} {{{{1}}}{{{11}}{{1}{1}}}}

{{{{1}{1}}}{{{1}}{{11}}}}

{{{{1}{11}}}{{{1}}{{1}}}}

{{{{11}}}{{{1}}{{1}{1}}}}

(End)

With s_n denoting the sum of n independent uniformly random numbers chosen from [-1/2,1/2], the probability that the closest integer to s_n is even is exactly 1/2 + a(n)/(2*n!). (See Hambardzumyan et al. 2023, Appendix B.) - Suhail Sherif, Mar 31 2024

The number of permutations of size n+1 that require exactly n passes through a stack (i.e. have reverse-tier n-1) with an algorithm that prioritizes outputting the maximum possible prefix of the identity in a given pass and reverses the remainder of the permutation for prior to the next pass. - Rebecca Smith, Jun 05 2024

This is the total number of hierarchies of n labeled elements arranged on 1 to n levels. A distribution of elements onto levels is "hierarchical" if a level l+1 contains <= elements than level l. Thus for n=4 the arrangement {1,2}:{3}{4} is not allowed. See also A140585. Examples: Let the colon ":" separate two consecutive levels l and l+1. Then n=2 --> 3: {1}{2}, {1}:{2}, {2}:{1}, n=3 --> 10: {1}{2}{3}, {1}{2}:{3}, {3}{1}:{2}, {2}{3}:{1}, {1}:{2}:{3}, {3}:{1}:{2}, {2}:{3}:{1}, {1}:{3}:{2}, {2}:{1}:{3}, {3}:{2}:{1}. - Thomas Wieder, May 17 2008

n identical objects are painted by dipping them into a long row of cans of paint of distinct colors. Begining with the first can and not skipping any cans k, 1<=k<=n, objects are dipped (painted) and not more objects are dipped into any subsequent can than were dipped into the previous can. The painted objects are then linearly ordered. - Geoffrey Critzer, Jun 08 2009

a(n) is the number of partitions of n where each part i is marked with a word of length i over an n-ary alphabet whose letters appear in alphabetical order and all n letters occur exactly once in the partition. a(3) = 10: 3abc, 2ab1c, 2ac1b, 2bc1a, 1a1b1c, 1a1c1b, 1b1a1c, 1b1c1a, 1c1a1b, 1c1b1a. - Alois P. Heinz, Aug 30 2015

Also the number of ordered set partitions of {1,...,n} with weakly decreasing block sizes. - Gus Wiseman, Sep 03 2018

The parity of a(n) is that of A000110(A000120(n)), so a(n) is even if and only if A000120(n) == 2 (mod 3). - Álvar Ibeas, Aug 11 2020

Number of complete set partitions of the integer partitions of n. This is the Euler transform of A000009. If we change the combstruct command from unlabeled to labeled, then we get A000258. - Thomas Wieder, Aug 01 2008

Number of set multipartitions (multisets of sets) of integer partitions of n. Also a(n) < A270995(n) for n>5. - Gus Wiseman, Apr 10 2016

Coefficients of (D^k f)(g(t))*(D g(t))^k1*(D^2 g(t))^k2*... in the Faa di Bruno formula for D^m(f(g(t))) where k = k1 + k2 + ..., m = 1*k1 + 2*k2 + ....

Number of set partitions whose block sizes are the prime indices of n (i.e., the integer partition with Heinz number n). - Gus Wiseman, Sep 12 2018

Product of first (n-1) positive triangular numbers. - Amarnath Murthy, May 19 2002, corrected by Alex Ratushnyak, Dec 03 2013

Number of ways of transforming n distinguishable objects into n singletons via a sequence of n-1 refinements. Example: a(3)=3 because we have XYZ->X|YZ->X|Y|Z, XYZ->Y|XZ->X|Y|Z and XYZ->Z|XY->X|Y|Z. - Emeric Deutsch, Jan 23 2005

In other words, a(n) is the number of maximal chains in the lattice of set partitions of {1, ..., n} ordered by refinement. - Gus Wiseman, Jul 22 2018

From David Callan, Aug 27 2009: (Start)

With offset 0, a(n) = number of unordered increasing full binary trees of 2n edges with leaf set {n,n+1,...,2n}, where full binary means each nonleaf vertex has two children, increasing means the vertices are labeled 0,1,2,...,2n and each child is greater than its parent, unordered might as well mean ordered and each pair of sibling vertices is increasing left to right. For example, a(2)=3 counts the trees with edge lists {01,02,13,14}, {01,03,12,14}, {01,04,12,13}.

PROOF. Given such a tree of size n, to produce a tree of size n+1, two new leaves must be added to the leaf n. Choose any two of the leaf set {n+1,...,2n,2n+1,2n+2} for the new leaves and use the rest to replace the old leaves n+1,...,2n, maintaining relative order. Thus each tree of size n yields (n+2)-choose-2 trees of the next size up. Since the ratio a(n+1)/a(n)=(n+2)-choose-2, the result follows by induction.

Without the condition on the leaves, these trees are counted by the reduced tangent numbers A002105. (End)

a(n) = Sum(M(t)N(t)), where summation is over all rooted trees t with n vertices, M(t) is the number of ways to take apart t by sequentially removing terminal edges (see A206494) and N(t) is the number of ways to build up t from the one-vertex tree by adding successively edges to the existing vertices (the Connes-Moscovici weight; see A206496). See Remark on p. 3801 of the Hoffman reference. Example: a(3) = 3; indeed, there are two rooted trees with 3 vertices: t' = the path r-a-b and t" = V; we have M(t')=N(t')=1 and M(t") =1, N(t")=2, leading to M(t')N(t') + M(t")N(t")=3. - Emeric Deutsch, Jul 20 2012

Number of coalescence sequences or labeled histories for n lineages: the number of sequences by which n distinguishable leaves can coalesce to a single sequence. The coalescence process merges pairs of lineages into new lineages, labeling each newly formed lineage l by a subset of the n initial lineages corresponding to the union of all initial lineages that feed into lineage l. - Noah A Rosenberg, Jan 28 2019

Conjecture: For n > 1, n divides 2*a(n-1) + 4 if and only if n is prime. - Werner Schulte, Oct 04 2020

For a proof of the above conjecture see Himane. The list of primes p such that p^2 divides (2*a(p-1) + 4) (analog of A007540 - Wilson primes) begins [239, 24049, ...]. - Peter Bala, Nov 06 2024

a(n) is the number of maximal chains in the poset of set of permutations of {1, ..., n} ordered by containment. - Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra, Sep 03 2025

First column in A154960. - Mats Granvik, Jan 18 2009

Number of chains from minimum to maximum in the lattice of set partitions of {1, ..., n} ordered by refinement. - Gus Wiseman, Jul 22 2018

Row sums of A004248, A009998, A009999.

First differences are in A047970.

First differences of A103439.

Antidiagonal sums of array A003992.

a(n-1), for n>=1, is the number of length-n restricted growth strings (RGS) [s(0),s(1),...,s(n-1)] where s(0)=0 and s(k)<=1+max(prefix) for k>=1, that are simultaneously projections as maps f: [n] -> [n] where f(x)<=x and f(f(x))=f(x); see example and the two comments (Arndt, Apr 30 2011 Jan 04 2013) in A000110. - Joerg Arndt, Mar 07 2015

Number of finite sequences s of length n+1 whose discriminator sequence is s itself. Here the discriminator sequence of s is the one where the n-th term (n>=1) is the least positive integer k such that the first n terms are pairwise incongruent, modulo k. - Jeffrey Shallit, May 17 2016

From Gus Wiseman, Jan 08 2019: (Start)

Also the number of set partitions of {1,...,n+1} whose minima form an initial interval of positive integers. For example, the a(3) = 9 set partitions are:

{{1},{2},{3},{4}}

{{1},{2},{3,4}}

{{1},{2,4},{3}}

{{1,4},{2},{3}}

{{1},{2,3,4}}

{{1,3},{2,4}}

{{1,4},{2,3}}

{{1,3,4},{2}}

{{1,2,3,4}}

Missing from this list are:

{{1},{2,3},{4}}

{{1,2},{3},{4}}

{{1,3},{2},{4}}

{{1,2},{3,4}}

{{1,2,3},{4}}

{{1,2,4},{3}}

(End)

a(n) is the number of m-tuples of nonnegative integers less than or equal to n-m (including the "0-tuple"). - Mathew Englander, Apr 11 2021

a(n) depends only on prime signature of n (cf. A025487). So a(24) = a(375) since 24 = 2^3*3 and 375 = 3*5^3 both have prime signature (3,1).

A refinement of Stirling numbers of the first kind.