cp's OEIS Frontend

Also referred to as T(n) or C(n+1, 2) or binomial(n+1, 2) (preferred).

Also generalized hexagonal numbers: n*(2*n-1), n=0, +-1, +-2, +-3, ... Generalized k-gonal numbers are second k-gonal numbers and positive terms of k-gonal numbers interleaved, k >= 5. In this case k = 6. - Omar E. Pol, Sep 13 2011 and Aug 04 2012

Number of edges in complete graph of order n+1, K_{n+1}.

Number of legal ways to insert a pair of parentheses in a string of n letters. E.g., there are 6 ways for three letters: (a)bc, (ab)c, (abc), a(b)c, a(bc), ab(c). Proof: there are C(n+2,2) ways to choose where the parentheses might go, but n + 1 of them are illegal because the parentheses are adjacent. Cf. A002415.

For n >= 1, a(n) is also the genus of a nonsingular curve of degree n+2, such as the Fermat curve x^(n+2) + y^(n+2) = 1. - Ahmed Fares (ahmedfares(AT)my_deja.com), Feb 21 2001

From Harnack's theorem (1876), the number of branches of a nonsingular curve of order n is bounded by a(n-1)+1, and the bound can be achieved. See also A152947. - Benoit Cloitre, Aug 29 2002. Corrected by Robert McLachlan, Aug 19 2024

Number of tiles in the set of double-n dominoes. - Scott A. Brown, Sep 24 2002

Number of ways a chain of n non-identical links can be broken up. This is based on a similar problem in the field of proteomics: the number of ways a peptide of n amino acid residues can be broken up in a mass spectrometer. In general, each amino acid has a different mass, so AB and BC would have different masses. - James A. Raymond, Apr 08 2003

Triangular numbers - odd numbers = shifted triangular numbers; 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, ... - 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, ... = 0, 0, 1, 3, 6, 10, ... - Xavier Acloque, Oct 31 2003 [Corrected by Derek Orr, May 05 2015]

Centered polygonal numbers are the result of [number of sides * A000217 + 1]. E.g., centered pentagonal numbers (1,6,16,31,...) = 5 * (0,1,3,6,...) + 1. Centered heptagonal numbers (1,8,22,43,...) = 7 * (0,1,3,6,...) + 1. - Xavier Acloque, Oct 31 2003

Maximum number of lines formed by the intersection of n+1 planes. - Ron R. King, Mar 29 2004

Number of permutations of [n] which avoid the pattern 132 and have exactly 1 descent. - Mike Zabrocki, Aug 26 2004

Number of ternary words of length n-1 with subwords (0,1), (0,2) and (1,2) not allowed. - Olivier Gérard, Aug 28 2012

Number of ways two different numbers can be selected from the set {0,1,2,...,n} without repetition, or, number of ways two different numbers can be selected from the set {1,2,...,n} with repetition.

Conjecturally, 1, 6, 120 are the only numbers that are both triangular and factorial. - Christopher M. Tomaszewski (cmt1288(AT)comcast.net), Mar 30 2005

Binomial transform is {0, 1, 5, 18, 56, 160, 432, ...}, A001793 with one leading zero. - Philippe Deléham, Aug 02 2005

Each pair of neighboring terms adds to a perfect square. - Zak Seidov, Mar 21 2006

Number of transpositions in the symmetric group of n+1 letters, i.e., the number of permutations that leave all but two elements fixed. - Geoffrey Critzer, Jun 23 2006

With rho(n):=exp(i*2*Pi/n) (an n-th root of 1) one has, for n >= 1, rho(n)^a(n) = (-1)^(n+1). Just use the triviality a(2*k+1) == 0 (mod (2*k+1)) and a(2*k) == k (mod (2*k)).

a(n) is the number of terms in the expansion of (a_1 + a_2 + a_3)^(n-1). - Sergio Falcon, Feb 12 2007

a(n+1) is the number of terms in the complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial of degree n in 2 variables. - Richard Barnes, Sep 06 2017

The number of distinct handshakes in a room with n+1 people. - Mohammad K. Azarian, Apr 12 2007 [corrected, Joerg Arndt, Jan 18 2016]

Equal to the rank (minimal cardinality of a generating set) of the semigroup PT_n\S_n, where PT_n and S_n denote the partial transformation semigroup and symmetric group on [n]. - James East, May 03 2007

a(n) gives the total number of triangles found when cevians are drawn from a single vertex on a triangle to the side opposite that vertex, where n = the number of cevians drawn+1. For instance, with 1 cevian drawn, n = 1+1 = 2 and a(n)= 2*(2+1)/2 = 3 so there is a total of 3 triangles in the figure. If 2 cevians are drawn from one point to the opposite side, then n = 1+2 = 3 and a(n) = 3*(3+1)/2 = 6 so there is a total of 6 triangles in the figure. - Noah Priluck (npriluck(AT)gmail.com), Apr 30 2007

For n >= 1, a(n) is the number of ways in which n-1 can be written as a sum of three nonnegative integers if representations differing in the order of the terms are considered to be different. In other words, for n >= 1, a(n) is the number of nonnegative integral solutions of the equation x + y + z = n-1. - Amarnath Murthy, Apr 22 2001 (edited by Robert A. Beeler)

a(n) is the number of levels with energy n + 3/2 (in units of h*f0, with Planck's constant h and the oscillator frequency f0) of the three-dimensional isotropic harmonic quantum oscillator. See the comment by A. Murthy above: n = n1 + n2 + n3 with positive integers and ordered. Proof from the o.g.f. See the A. Messiah reference. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 29 2007

From Hieronymus Fischer, Aug 06 2007: (Start)

Numbers m >= 0 such that round(sqrt(2m+1)) - round(sqrt(2m)) = 1.

Numbers m >= 0 such that ceiling(2*sqrt(2m+1)) - 1 = 1 + floor(2*sqrt(2m)).

Numbers m >= 0 such that fract(sqrt(2m+1)) > 1/2 and fract(sqrt(2m)) < 1/2, where fract(x) is the fractional part of x (i.e., x - floor(x), x >= 0). (End)

If Y and Z are 3-blocks of an n-set X, then, for n >= 6, a(n-1) is the number of (n-2)-subsets of X intersecting both Y and Z. - Milan Janjic, Nov 09 2007

Equals row sums of triangle A143320, n > 0. - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 07 2008

a(n) is also an even perfect number in A000396 iff n is a Mersenne prime A000668. - Omar E. Pol, Sep 05 2008. Unnecessary assumption removed and clarified by Rick L. Shepherd, Apr 14 2025

Equals row sums of triangle A152204. - Gary W. Adamson, Nov 29 2008

The number of matches played in a round robin tournament: n*(n-1)/2 gives the number of matches needed for n players. Everyone plays against everyone else exactly once. - Georg Wrede (georg(AT)iki.fi), Dec 18 2008

-a(n+1) = E(2)*binomial(n+2,2) (n >= 0) where E(n) are the Euler numbers in the enumeration A122045. Viewed this way, a(n) is the special case k=2 in the sequence of diagonals in the triangle A153641. - Peter Luschny, Jan 06 2009

Equivalent to the first differences of successive tetrahedral numbers. See A000292. - Jeremy Cahill (jcahill(AT)inbox.com), Apr 15 2009

The general formula for alternating sums of powers is in terms of the Swiss-Knife polynomials P(n,x) A153641 2^(-n-1)(P(n,1)-(-1)^k P(n,2k+1)). Thus a(k) = |2^(-3)(P(2,1)-(-1)^k P(2,2k+1))|. - Peter Luschny, Jul 12 2009

a(n) is the smallest number > a(n-1) such that gcd(n,a(n)) = gcd(n,a(n-1)). If n is odd this gcd is n; if n is even it is n/2. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Aug 06 2009

Partial sums of A001477. - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Jan 25 2010. [A-number corrected by Omar E. Pol, Jun 05 2012]

The numbers along the right edge of Floyd's triangle are 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, .... - Paul Muljadi, Jan 25 2010

From Charlie Marion, Dec 03 2010: (Start)

More generally, a(2k+1) == j*(2j-1) (mod 2k+2j+1) and

a(2k) == [-k + 2j*(j-1)] (mod 2k+2j).

Column sums of:

1 3 5 7 9 ...

1 3 5 ...

1 ...

...............

---------------

1 3 6 10 15 ...

Sum_{n>=1} 1/a(n)^2 = 4*Pi^2/3-12 = 12 less than the volume of a sphere with radius Pi^(1/3).

(End)

A004201(a(n)) = A000290(n); A004202(a(n)) = A002378(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 12 2011

1/a(n+1), n >= 0, has e.g.f. -2*(1+x-exp(x))/x^2, and o.g.f. 2*(x+(1-x)*log(1-x))/x^2 (see the Stephen Crowley formula line). -1/(2*a(n+1)) is the z-sequence for the Sheffer triangle of the coefficients of the Bernoulli polynomials A196838/A196839. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 26 2011

From Charlie Marion, Feb 23 2012: (Start)

a(n) + a(A002315(k)*n + A001108(k+1)) = (A001653(k+1)*n + A001109(k+1))^2. For k=0 we obtain a(n) + a(n+1) = (n+1)^2 (identity added by N. J. A. Sloane on Feb 19 2004).

a(n) + a(A002315(k)*n - A055997(k+1)) = (A001653(k+1)*n - A001109(k))^2.

(End)

Plot the three points (0,0), (a(n), a(n+1)), (a(n+1), a(n+2)) to form a triangle. The area will be a(n+1)/2. - J. M. Bergot, May 04 2012

The sum of four consecutive triangular numbers, beginning with a(n)=n*(n+1)/2, minus 2 is 2*(n+2)^2. a(n)*a(n+2)/2 = a(a(n+1)-1). - J. M. Bergot, May 17 2012

(a(n)*a(n+3) - a(n+1)*a(n+2))*(a(n+1)*a(n+4) - a(n+2)*a(n+3))/8 = a((n^2+5*n+4)/2). - J. M. Bergot, May 18 2012

a(n)*a(n+1) + a(n+2)*a(n+3) + 3 = a(n^2 + 4*n + 6). - J. M. Bergot, May 22 2012

In general, a(n)*a(n+1) + a(n+k)*a(n+k+1) + a(k-1)*a(k) = a(n^2 + (k+2)*n + k*(k+1)). - Charlie Marion, Sep 11 2012

a(n)*a(n+3) + a(n+1)*a(n+2) = a(n^2 + 4*n + 2). - J. M. Bergot, May 22 2012

In general, a(n)*a(n+k) + a(n+1)*a(n+k-1) = a(n^2 + (k+1)*n + k-1). - Charlie Marion, Sep 11 2012

a(n)*a(n+2) + a(n+1)*a(n+3) = a(n^2 + 4*n + 3). - J. M. Bergot, May 22 2012

Three points (a(n),a(n+1)), (a(n+1),a(n)) and (a(n+2),a(n+3)) form a triangle with area 4*a(n+1). - J. M. Bergot, May 23 2012

a(n) + a(n+k) = (n+k)^2 - (k^2 + (2n-1)*k -2n)/2. For k=1 we obtain a(n) + a(n+1) = (n+1)^2 (see below). - Charlie Marion, Oct 02 2012

In n-space we can define a(n-1) nontrivial orthogonal projections. For example, in 3-space there are a(2)=3 (namely point onto line, point onto plane, line onto plane). - Douglas Latimer, Dec 17 2012

From James East, Jan 08 2013: (Start)

For n >= 1, a(n) is equal to the rank (minimal cardinality of a generating set) and idempotent rank (minimal cardinality of an idempotent generating set) of the semigroup P_n\S_n, where P_n and S_n denote the partition monoid and symmetric group on [n].

For n >= 3, a(n-1) is equal to the rank and idempotent rank of the semigroup T_n\S_n, where T_n and S_n denote the full transformation semigroup and symmetric group on [n].

(End)

For n >= 3, a(n) is equal to the rank and idempotent rank of the semigroup PT_n\S_n, where PT_n and S_n denote the partial transformation semigroup and symmetric group on [n]. - James East, Jan 15 2013

Conjecture: For n > 0, there is always a prime between A000217(n) and A000217(n+1). Sequence A065383 has the first 1000 of these primes. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Mar 11 2013

The formula, a(n)*a(n+4k+2)/2 + a(k) = a(a(n+2k+1) - (k^2+(k+1)^2)), is a generalization of the formula a(n)*a(n+2)/2 = a(a(n+1)-1) in Bergot's comment dated May 17 2012. - Charlie Marion, Mar 28 2013

The series Sum_{k>=1} 1/a(k) = 2, given in a formula below by Jon Perry, Jul 13 2003, has partial sums 2*n/(n+1) (telescopic sum) = A022998(n)/A026741(n+1). - Wolfdieter Lang, Apr 09 2013

For odd m = 2k+1, we have the recurrence a(m*n + k) = m^2*a(n) + a(k). Corollary: If number T is in the sequence then so is 9*T+1. - Lekraj Beedassy, May 29 2013

Euler, in Section 87 of the Opera Postuma, shows that whenever T is a triangular number then 9*T + 1, 25*T + 3, 49*T + 6 and 81*T + 10 are also triangular numbers. In general, if T is a triangular number then (2*k + 1)^2*T + k*(k + 1)/2 is also a triangular number. - Peter Bala, Jan 05 2015

Using 1/b and 1/(b+2) will give a Pythagorean triangle with sides 2*b + 2, b^2 + 2*b, and b^2 + 2*b + 2. Set b=n-1 to give a triangle with sides of lengths 2*n,n^2-1, and n^2 + 1. One-fourth the perimeter = a(n) for n > 1. - J. M. Bergot, Jul 24 2013

a(n) = A028896(n)/6, where A028896(n) = s(n) - s(n-1) are the first differences of s(n) = n^3 + 3*n^2 + 2*n - 8. s(n) can be interpreted as the sum of the 12 edge lengths plus the sum of the 6 face areas plus the volume of an n X (n-1) X (n-2) rectangular prism. - J. M. Bergot, Aug 13 2013

Dimension of orthogonal group O(n+1). - Eric M. Schmidt, Sep 08 2013

Number of positive roots in the root system of type A_n (for n > 0). - Tom Edgar, Nov 05 2013

A formula for the r-th successive summation of k, for k = 1 to n, is binomial(n+r,r+1) [H. W. Gould]. - Gary Detlefs, Jan 02 2014

Also the alternating row sums of A095831. Also the alternating row sums of A055461, for n >= 1. - Omar E. Pol, Jan 26 2014

For n >= 3, a(n-2) is the number of permutations of 1,2,...,n with the distribution of up (1) - down (0) elements 0...011 (n-3 zeros), or, the same, a(n-2) is up-down coefficient {n,3} (see comment in A060351). - Vladimir Shevelev, Feb 14 2014

a(n) is the dimension of the vector space of symmetric n X n matrices. - Derek Orr, Mar 29 2014

Non-vanishing subdiagonal of A132440^2/2, aside from the initial zero. First subdiagonal of unsigned A238363. Cf. A130534 for relations to colored forests, disposition of flags on flagpoles, and colorings of the vertices of complete graphs. - Tom Copeland, Apr 05 2014

The number of Sidon subsets of {1,...,n+1} of size 2. - Carl Najafi, Apr 27 2014

Number of factors in the definition of the Vandermonde determinant V(x_1,x_2,...,x_n) = Product_{1 <= i < k <= n} x_i - x_k. - Tom Copeland, Apr 27 2014

Number of weak compositions of n into three parts. - Robert A. Beeler, May 20 2014

Suppose a bag contains a(n) red marbles and a(n+1) blue marbles, where a(n), a(n+1) are consecutive triangular numbers. Then, for n > 0, the probability of choosing two marbles at random and getting two red or two blue is 1/2. In general, for k > 2, let b(0) = 0, b(1) = 1 and, for n > 1, b(n) = (k-1)*b(n-1) - b(n-2) + 1. Suppose, for n > 0, a bag contains b(n) red marbles and b(n+1) blue marbles. Then the probability of choosing two marbles at random and getting two red or two blue is (k-1)/(k+1). See also A027941, A061278, A089817, A053142, A092521. - Charlie Marion, Nov 03 2014

Let O(n) be the oblong number n(n+1) = A002378 and S(n) the square number n^2 = A000290(n). Then a(4n) = O(3n) - O(n), a(4n+1) = S(3n+1) - S(n), a(4n+2) = S(3n+2) - S(n+1) and a(4n+3) = O(3n+2) - O(n). - Charlie Marion, Feb 21 2015

Consider the partition of the natural numbers into parts from the set S=(1,2,3,...,n). The length (order) of the signature of the resulting sequence is given by the triangular numbers. E.g., for n=10, the signature length is 55. - David Neil McGrath, May 05 2015

a(n) counts the partitions of (n-1) unlabeled objects into three (3) parts (labeled a,b,c), e.g., a(5)=15 for (n-1)=4. These are (aaaa),(bbbb),(cccc),(aaab),(aaac),(aabb),(aacc),(aabc),(abbc),(abcc),(abbb),(accc),(bbcc),(bccc),(bbbc). - David Neil McGrath, May 21 2015

Conjecture: the sequence is the genus/deficiency of the sinusoidal spirals of index n which are algebraic curves. The value 0 corresponds to the case of the Bernoulli Lemniscate n=2. So the formula conjectured is (n-1)(n-2)/2. - Wolfgang Tintemann, Aug 02 2015

Conjecture: Let m be any positive integer. Then, for each n = 1,2,3,... the set {Sum_{k=s..t} 1/k^m: 1 <= s <= t <= n} has cardinality a(n) = n*(n+1)/2; in other words, all the sums Sum_{k=s..t} 1/k^m with 1 <= s <= t are pairwise distinct. (I have checked this conjecture via a computer and found no counterexample.) - Zhi-Wei Sun, Sep 09 2015

The Pisano period lengths of reading the sequence modulo m seem to be A022998(m). - R. J. Mathar, Nov 29 2015

For n >= 1, a(n) is the number of compositions of n+4 into n parts avoiding the part 2. - Milan Janjic, Jan 07 2016

In this sequence only 3 is prime. - Fabian Kopp, Jan 09 2016

Suppose you are playing Bulgarian Solitaire (see A242424 and Chamberland's and Gardner's books) and, for n > 0, you are starting with a single pile of a(n) cards. Then the number of operations needed to reach the fixed state {n, n-1,...,1} is a(n-1). For example, {6}->{5,1}->{4,2}->{3,2,1}. - Charlie Marion, Jan 14 2016

Numbers k such that 8k + 1 is a square. - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Apr 09 2016

Every perfect cube is the difference of the squares of two consecutive triangular numbers. 1^2-0^2 = 1^3, 3^2-1^2 = 2^3, 6^2-3^2 = 3^3. - Miquel Cerda, Jun 26 2016

For n > 1, a(n) = tau_n(k*) where tau_n(k) is the number of ordered n-factorizations of k and k* is the square of a prime. For example, tau_3(4) = tau_3(9) = tau_3(25) = tau_3(49) = 6 (see A007425) since the number of divisors of 4, 9, 25, and 49's divisors is 6, and a(3) = 6. - Melvin Peralta, Aug 29 2016

In an (n+1)-dimensional hypercube, number of two-dimensional faces congruent with a vertex (see also A001788). - Stanislav Sykora, Oct 23 2016

Generalizations of the familiar formulas, a(n) + a(n+1) = (n+1)^2 (Feb 19 2004) and a(n)^2 + a(n+1)^2 = a((n+1)^2) (Nov 22 2006), follow: a(n) + a(n+2k-1) + 4a(k-1) = (n+k)^2 + 6a(k-1) and a(n)^2 + a(n+2k-1)^2 + (4a(k-1))^2 + 3a(k-1) = a((n+k)^2 + 6a(k-1)). - Charlie Marion, Nov 27 2016

a(n) is also the greatest possible number of diagonals in a polyhedron with n+4 vertices. - Vladimir Letsko, Dec 19 2016

For n > 0, 2^5 * (binomial(n+1,2))^2 represents the first integer in a sum of 2*(2*n + 1)^2 consecutive integers that equals (2*n + 1)^6. - Patrick J. McNab, Dec 25 2016

Does not satisfy Benford's law (cf. Ross, 2012). - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 12 2017

Number of ordered triples (a,b,c) of positive integers not larger than n such that a+b+c = 2n+1. - Aviel Livay, Feb 13 2017

Number of inequivalent tetrahedral face colorings using at most n colors so that no color appears only once. - David Nacin, Feb 22 2017

Also the Wiener index of the complete graph K_{n+1}. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 07 2017

Number of intersections between the Bernstein polynomials of degree n. - Eric Desbiaux, Apr 01 2018

a(n) is the area of a triangle with vertices at (1,1), (n+1,n+2), and ((n+1)^2, (n+2)^2). - Art Baker, Dec 06 2018

For n > 0, a(n) is the smallest k > 0 such that n divides numerator of (1/a(1) + 1/a(2) + ... + 1/a(n-1) + 1/k). It should be noted that 1/1 + 1/3 + 1/6 + ... + 2/(n(n+1)) = 2n/(n+1). - Thomas Ordowski, Aug 04 2019

Upper bound of the number of lines in an n-homogeneous supersolvable line arrangement (see Theorem 1.1 in Dimca). - Stefano Spezia, Oct 04 2019

For n > 0, a(n+1) is the number of lattice points on a triangular grid with side length n. - Wesley Ivan Hurt, Aug 12 2020

From Michael Chu, May 04 2022: (Start)

Maximum number of distinct nonempty substrings of a string of length n.

Maximum cardinality of the sumset A+A, where A is a set of n numbers. (End)

a(n) is the number of parking functions of size n avoiding the patterns 123, 132, and 312. - Lara Pudwell, Apr 10 2023

Suppose two rows, each consisting of n evenly spaced dots, are drawn in parallel. Suppose we bijectively draw lines between the dots of the two rows. For n >= 1, a(n - 1) is the maximal possible number of intersections between the lines. Equivalently, the maximal number of inversions in a permutation of [n]. - Sela Fried, Apr 18 2023

The following equation complements the generalization in Bala's Comment (Jan 05 2015). (2k + 1)^2*a(n) + a(k) = a((2k + 1)*n + k). - Charlie Marion, Aug 28 2023

a(n) + a(n+k) + a(k-1) + (k-1)*n = (n+k)^2. For k = 1, we have a(n) + a(n+1) = (n+1)^2. - Charlie Marion, Nov 17 2023

a(n+1)/3 is the expected number of steps to escape from a linear row of n positions starting at a random location and randomly performing steps -1 or +1 with equal probability. - Hugo Pfoertner, Jul 22 2025

a(n+1) is the number of nonnegative integer solutions to p + q + r = n. By Sylvester's law of inertia, it is also the number of congruence classes of real symmetric n-by-n matrices or equivalently, the number of symmetric bilinear forms on a real n-dimensional vector space. - Paawan Jethva, Jul 24 2025

Sometimes also called lambda numbers.

Also denominators of continued fraction convergents to sqrt(2): 1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29, 99/70, 239/169, 577/408, 1393/985, 3363/2378, 8119/5741, 19601/13860, 47321/33461, 114243/80782, ... = A001333/A000129.

Number of lattice paths from (0,0) to the line x=n-1 consisting of U=(1,1), D=(1,-1) and H=(2,0) steps (i.e., left factors of Grand Schroeder paths); for example, a(3)=5, counting the paths H, UD, UU, DU and DD. - Emeric Deutsch, Oct 27 2002

a(2*n) with b(2*n) := A001333(2*n), n >= 1, give all (positive integer) solutions to Pell equation b^2 - 2*a^2 = +1 (see Emerson reference). a(2*n+1) with b(2*n+1) := A001333(2*n+1), n >= 0, give all (positive integer) solutions to Pell equation b^2 - 2*a^2 = -1.

Bisection: a(2*n+1) = T(2*n+1, sqrt(2))/sqrt(2) = A001653(n), n >= 0 and a(2*n) = 2*S(n-1,6) = 2*A001109(n), n >= 0, with T(n,x), resp. S(n,x), Chebyshev's polynomials of the first, resp. second kind. S(-1,x)=0. See A053120, resp. A049310. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 10 2003

Consider the mapping f(a/b) = (a + 2b)/(a + b). Taking a = b = 1 to start with and carrying out this mapping repeatedly on each new (reduced) rational number gives the following sequence 1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29, ... converging to 2^(1/2). Sequence contains the denominators. - Amarnath Murthy, Mar 22 2003

This is also the Horadam sequence (0,1,1,2). Limit_{n->oo} a(n)/a(n-1) = sqrt(2) + 1 = A014176. - Ross La Haye, Aug 18 2003

Number of 132-avoiding two-stack sortable permutations.

From Herbert Kociemba, Jun 02 2004: (Start)

For n > 0, the number of (s(0), s(1), ..., s(n)) such that 0 < s(i) < 4 and |s(i) - s(i-1)| <= 1 for i = 1,2,...,n, s(0) = 2, s(n) = 3.

Number of (s(0), s(1), ..., s(n)) such that 0 < s(i) < 4 and |s(i) - s(i-1)| <= 1 for i = 1,2,...,n, s(0) = 1, s(n) = 2. (End)

Counts walks of length n from a vertex of a triangle to another vertex to which a loop has been added. - Mario Catalani (mario.catalani(AT)unito.it), Jul 23 2004

Apart from initial terms, Pisot sequence P(2,5). See A008776 for definition of Pisot sequences. - David W. Wilson

Sums of antidiagonals of A038207 [Pascal's triangle squared]. - Ross La Haye, Oct 28 2004

The Pell primality test is "If N is an odd prime, then P(N)-Kronecker(2,N) is divisible by N". "Most" composite numbers fail this test, so it makes a useful pseudoprimality test. The odd composite numbers which are Pell pseudoprimes (i.e., that pass the above test) are in A099011. - Jack Brennen, Nov 13 2004

a(n) = sum of n-th row of triangle in A008288 = A094706(n) + A000079(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Dec 03 2004

Pell trapezoids (cf. A084158); for n > 0, A001109(n) = (a(n-1) + a(n+1))*a(n)/2; e.g., 1189 = (12+70)*29/2. - Charlie Marion, Apr 01 2006

(0!a(1), 1!a(2), 2!a(3), 3!a(4), ...) and (1,-2,-2,0,0,0,...) form a reciprocal pair under the list partition transform and associated operations described in A133314. - Tom Copeland, Oct 29 2007

Let C = (sqrt(2)+1) = 2.414213562..., then for n > 1, C^n = a(n)*(1/C) + a(n+1). Example: C^3 = 14.0710678... = 5*(0.414213562...) + 12. Let X = the 2 X 2 matrix [0, 1; 1, 2]; then X^n * [1, 0] = [a(n-1), a(n); a(n), a(n+1)]. a(n) = numerator of n-th convergent to (sqrt(2)-1) = 0.414213562... = [2, 2, 2, ...], the convergents being [1/2, 2/5, 5/12, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 21 2007

A = sqrt(2) = 2/2 + 2/5 + 2/(5*29) + 2/(29*169) + 2/(169*985) + ...; B = ((5/2) - sqrt(2)) = 2/2 + 2/(2*12) + 2/(12*70) + 2/(70*408) + 2/(408*2378) + ...; A+B = 5/2. C = 1/2 = 2/(1*5) + 2/(2*12) + 2/(5*29) + 2/(12*70) + 2/(29*169) + ... - Gary W. Adamson, Mar 16 2008

From Clark Kimberling, Aug 27 2008: (Start)

Related convergents (numerator/denominator):

lower principal convergents: A002315/A001653

upper principal convergents: A001541/A001542

intermediate convergents: A052542/A001333

lower intermediate convergents: A005319/A001541

upper intermediate convergents: A075870/A002315

principal and intermediate convergents: A143607/A002965

lower principal and intermediate convergents: A143608/A079496

upper principal and intermediate convergents: A143609/A084068. (End)

Equals row sums of triangle A143808 starting with offset 1. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 01 2008

Binomial transform of the sequence:= 0,1,0,2,0,4,0,8,0,16,..., powers of 2 alternating with zeros. - Philippe Deléham, Oct 28 2008

a(n) is also the sum of the n-th row of the triangle formed by starting with the top two rows of Pascal's triangle and then each next row has a 1 at both ends and the interior values are the sum of the three numbers in the triangle above that position. - Patrick Costello (pat.costello(AT)eku.edu), Dec 07 2008

Starting with offset 1 = eigensequence of triangle A135387 (an infinite lower triangular matrix with (2,2,2,...) in the main diagonal and (1,1,1,...) in the subdiagonal). - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 29 2008

Starting with offset 1 = row sums of triangle A153345. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 24 2008

From Charlie Marion, Jan 07 2009: (Start)

In general, denominators, a(k,n) and numerators, b(k,n), of continued fraction convergents to sqrt((k+1)/k) may be found as follows:

let a(k,0) = 1, a(k,1) = 2k; for n > 0, a(k,2n) = 2*a(k,2n-1) + a(k,2n-2)

and a(k,2n+1) = (2k)*a(k,2n) + a(k,2n-1);

let b(k,0) = 1, b(k,1) = 2k+1; for n > 0, b(k,2n) = 2*b(k,2n-1) + b(k,2n-2)

and b(k,2n+1) = (2k)*b(k,2n) + b(k,2n-1).

For example, the convergents to sqrt(2/1) start 1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29.

In general, if a(k,n) and b(k,n) are the denominators and numerators, respectively, of continued fraction convergents to sqrt((k+1)/k) as defined above, then

k*a(k,2n)^2 - a(k,2n-1)*a(k,2n+1) = k = k*a(k,2n-2)*a(k,2n) - a(k,2n-1)^2 and

b(k,2n-1)*b(k,2n+1) - k*b(k,2n)^2 = k+1 = b(k,2n-1)^2 - k*b(k,2n-2)*b(k,2n);

for example, if k=1 and n=3, then a(1,n) = a(n+1) and

1*a(1,6)^2 - a(1,5)*a(1,7) = 1*169^2 - 70*408 = 1;

1*a(1,4)*a(1,6) - a(1,5)^2 = 1*29*169 - 70^2 = 1;

b(1,5)*b(1,7) - 1*b(1,6)^2 = 99*577 - 1*239^2 = 2;

b(1,5)^2 - 1*b(1,4)*b(1,6) = 99^2 - 1*41*239 = 2.

Cf. A001333, A142238, A142239, A153313, A153314, A153315, A153316, A153317, A153318.

(End)

Starting with offset 1 = row sums of triangle A155002, equivalent to the statement that the Fibonacci sequence convolved with the Pell sequence prefaced with a "1": (1, 1, 2, 5, 12, 29, ...) = (1, 2, 5, 12, 29, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 18 2009

It appears that P(p) == 8^((p-1)/2) (mod p), p = prime; analogous to [Schroeder, p. 90]: Fp == 5^((p-1)/2) (mod p). Example: Given P(11) = 5741, == 8^5 (mod 11). Given P(17) = 11336689, == 8^8 (mod 17) since 17 divides (8^8 - P(17)). - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 21 2009

Equals eigensequence of triangle A154325. - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 12 2009

Another combinatorial interpretation of a(n-1) arises from a simple tiling scenario. Namely, a(n-1) gives the number of ways of tiling a 1 X n rectangle with indistinguishable 1 X 2 rectangles and 1 X 1 squares that come in two varieties, say, A and B. For example, with C representing the 1 X 2 rectangle, we obtain a(4)=12 from AAA, AAB, ABA, BAA, ABB, BAB, BBA, BBB, AC, BC, CA and CB. - Martin Griffiths, Apr 25 2009

a(n+1) = 2*a(n) + a(n-1), a(1)=1, a(2)=2 was used by Theon from Smyrna. - Sture Sjöstedt, May 29 2009

The n-th Pell number counts the perfect matchings of the edge-labeled graph C_2 x P_(n-1), or equivalently, the number of domino tilings of a 2 X (n-1) cylindrical grid. - Sarah-Marie Belcastro, Jul 04 2009

As a fraction: 1/79 = 0.0126582278481... or 1/9799 = 0.000102051229...(1/119 and 1/10199 for sequence in reverse). - Mark Dols, May 18 2010

Limit_{n->oo} (a(n)/a(n-1) - a(n-1)/a(n)) tends to 2.0. Example: a(7)/a(6) - a(6)/a(7) = 169/70 - 70/169 = 2.0000845... - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 16 2010

Numbers k such that 2*k^2 +- 1 is a square. - Vincenzo Librandi, Jul 18 2010

Starting (1, 2, 5, ...) = INVERTi transform of A006190: (1, 3, 10, 33, 109, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 06 2010

[u,v] = [a(n), a(n-1)] generates all Pythagorean triples [u^2-v^2, 2uv, u^2+v^2] whose legs differ by 1. - James R. Buddenhagen, Aug 14 2010

An elephant sequence, see A175654. For the corner squares six A[5] vectors, with decimal values between 21 and 336, lead to this sequence (without the leading 0). For the central square these vectors lead to the companion sequence A078057. - Johannes W. Meijer, Aug 15 2010

Let the 2 X 2 square matrix A=[2, 1; 1, 0] then a(n) = the (1,1) element of A^(n-1). - Carmine Suriano, Jan 14 2011

Define a t-circle to be a first-quadrant circle tangent to the x- and y-axes. Such a circle has coordinates equal to its radius. Let C(0) be the t-circle with radius 1. Then for n > 0, define C(n) to be the next larger t-circle which is tangent to C(n - 1). C(n) has radius A001333(2n) + a(2n)*sqrt(2) and each of the coordinates of its point of intersection with C(n + 1) is a(2n + 1) + (A001333(2n + 1)*sqrt(2))/2. See similar Comments for A001109 and A001653, Sep 14 2005. - Charlie Marion, Jan 18 2012

A001333 and A000129 give the diagonal numbers described by Theon from Smyrna. - Sture Sjöstedt, Oct 20 2012

Pell numbers could also be called "silver Fibonacci numbers", since, for n >= 1, F(n+1) = ceiling(phi*F(n)), if n is even and F(n+1) = floor(phi*F(n)), if n is odd, where phi is the golden ratio, while a(n+1) = ceiling(delta*a(n)), if n is even and a(n+1) = floor(delta*a(n)), if n is odd, where delta = delta_S = 1+sqrt(2) is the silver ratio. - Vladimir Shevelev, Feb 22 2013

a(n) is the number of compositions (ordered partitions) of n-1 into two sorts of 1's and one sort of 2's. Example: the a(3)=5 compositions of 3-1=2 are 1+1, 1+1', 1'+1, 1'+1', and 2. - Bob Selcoe, Jun 21 2013

Between every two consecutive squares of a 1 X n array there is a flap that can be folded over one of the two squares. Two flaps can be lowered over the same square in 2 ways, depending on which one is on top. The n-th Pell number counts the ways n-1 flaps can be lowered. For example, a sideway representation for the case n = 3 squares and 2 flaps is \\., .//, \./, ./., .\., where . is an empty square. - Jean M. Morales, Sep 18 2013

Define a(-n) to be a(n) for n odd and -a(n) for n even. Then a(n) = A005319(k)*(a(n-2k+1) - a(n-2k)) + a(n-4k) = A075870(k)*(a(n-2k+2) - a(n-2k+1)) - a(n-4k+2). - Charlie Marion, Nov 26 2013

An alternative formulation of the combinatorial tiling interpretation listed above: Except for n=0, a(n-1) is the number of ways of partial tiling a 1 X n board with 1 X 1 squares and 1 X 2 dominoes. - Matthew Lehman, Dec 25 2013

Define a(-n) to be a(n) for n odd and -a(n) for n even. Then a(n) = A077444(k)*a(n-2k+1) + a(n-4k+2). This formula generalizes the formula used to define this sequence. - Charlie Marion, Jan 30 2014

a(n-1) is the top left entry of the n-th power of any of the 3 X 3 matrices [0, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1; 0, 1, 1], [0, 1, 1; 0, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1], [0, 1, 0; 1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1] or [0, 0, 1; 1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1]. - R. J. Mathar, Feb 03 2014

a(n+1) counts closed walks on K2 containing two loops on the other vertex. Equivalently the (1,1) entry of A^(n+1) where the adjacency matrix of digraph is A=(0,1;1,2). - David Neil McGrath, Oct 28 2014

For n >= 1, a(n) equals the number of ternary words of length n-1 avoiding runs of zeros of odd lengths. - Milan Janjic, Jan 28 2015

This is a divisibility sequence (i.e., if n|m then a(n)|a(m)). - Tom Edgar, Jan 28 2015

A strong divisibility sequence, that is, gcd(a(n), a(m)) = a(gcd(n, m)) for all positive integers n and m. - Michael Somos, Jan 03 2017

a(n) is the number of compositions (ordered partitions) of n-1 into two kinds of parts, n and n', when the order of the 1 does not matter, or equivalently, when the order of the 1' does not matter. Example: When the order of the 1 does not matter, the a(3)=5 compositions of 3-1=2 are 1+1, 1+1'=1+1, 1'+1', 2 and 2'. (Contrast with entry from Bob Selcoe dated Jun 21 2013.) - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 07 2017

Number of weak orderings R on {1,...,n} that are weakly single-peaked w.r.t. the total ordering 1 < ... < n and for which {1,...,n} has exactly one minimal element for the weak ordering R. - J. Devillet, Sep 28 2017

Also the number of matchings in the (n-1)-centipede graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 30 2017

Let A(r,n) be the total number of ordered arrangements of an n+r tiling of r red squares and white tiles of total length n, where the individual tile lengths can range from 1 to n. A(r,0) corresponds to a tiling of r red squares only, and so A(r,0)=1. Let A_1(r,n) = Sum_{j=0..n} A(r,j) and let A_s(r,n) = Sum_{j=0..n} A_(s-1)(r,j). Then A_0(1,n) + A_2(3,n-4) + A_4(5,n-8) + ... + A_(2j) (2j+1, n-4j) = a(n) without the initial 0. - Gregory L. Simay, May 25 2018

(1, 2, 5, 12, 29, ...) is the fourth INVERT transform of (1, -2, 5, -12, 29, ...), as shown in A073133. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 17 2019

Number of 2-compositions of n restricted to odd parts (and allowed zeros); see Hopkins & Ouvry reference. - Brian Hopkins, Aug 17 2020

Also called the 2-metallonacci sequence; the g.f. 1/(1-k*x-x^2) gives the k-metallonacci sequence. - Michael A. Allen, Jan 23 2023

Named by Lucas (1878) after the English mathematician John Pell (1611-1685). - Amiram Eldar, Oct 02 2023

a(n) is the number of compositions of n when there are F(i) parts of size i, with i,n >= 1, F(n) the Fibonacci numbers, A000045(n) (see example below). - Enrique Navarrete, Dec 15 2023

Number of n-step non-selfintersecting paths starting at (0,0) with steps of types (1,0), (-1,0) or (0,1) [Stanley].

Number of n steps one-sided prudent walks with east, west and north steps. - Shanzhen Gao, Apr 26 2011

Number of ternary strings of length n-1 with subwords (0,2) and (2,0) not allowed. - Olivier Gérard, Aug 28 2012

Number of symmetric 2n X 2 or (2n-1) X 2 crossword puzzle grids: all white squares are edge connected; at least 1 white square on every edge of grid; 180-degree rotational symmetry. - Erich Friedman

a(n+1) is the number of ways to put molecules on a 2 X n ladder lattice so that the molecules do not touch each other.

In other words, a(n+1) is the number of independent vertex sets and vertex covers in the n-ladder graph P_2 X P_n. - Eric W. Weisstein, Apr 04 2017

Number of (n-1) X 2 binary arrays with a path of adjacent 1's from top row to bottom row, see A359576. - R. H. Hardin, Mar 16 2002

a(2*n+1) with b(2*n+1) := A000129(2*n+1), n >= 0, give all (positive integer) solutions to Pell equation a^2 - 2*b^2 = -1.

a(2*n) with b(2*n) := A000129(2*n), n >= 1, give all (positive integer) solutions to Pell equation a^2 - 2*b^2 = +1 (see Emerson reference).

Bisection: a(2*n) = T(n,3) = A001541(n), n >= 0 and a(2*n+1) = S(2*n,2*sqrt(2)) = A002315(n), n >= 0, with T(n,x), resp. S(n,x), Chebyshev's polynomials of the first, resp. second kind. See A053120, resp. A049310.

Binomial transform of A077957. - Paul Barry, Feb 25 2003

For n > 0, the number of (s(0), s(1), ..., s(n)) such that 0 < s(i) < 4 and |s(i) - s(i-1)| <= 1 for i = 1,2,...,n, s(0) = 2, s(n) = 2. - Herbert Kociemba, Jun 02 2004

For n > 1, a(n) corresponds to the longer side of a near right-angled isosceles triangle, one of the equal sides being A000129(n). - Lekraj Beedassy, Aug 06 2004

Exponents of terms in the series F(x,1), where F is determined by the equation F(x,y) = xy + F(x^2*y,x). - Jonathan Sondow, Dec 18 2004

Number of n-words from the alphabet A={0,1,2} which two neighbors differ by at most 1. - Fung Cheok Yin (cheokyin_restart(AT)yahoo.com.hk), Aug 30 2006

Consider the mapping f(a/b) = (a + 2b)/(a + b). Taking a = b = 1 to start with and carrying out this mapping repeatedly on each new (reduced) rational number gives the following sequence 1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29, ... converging to 2^(1/2). Sequence contains the numerators. - Amarnath Murthy, Mar 22 2003 [Amended by Paul E. Black (paul.black(AT)nist.gov), Dec 18 2006]

Odd-indexed prime numerators are prime RMS numbers (A140480) and also NSW primes (A088165). - Ctibor O. Zizka, Aug 13 2008

The intermediate convergents to 2^(1/2) begin with 4/3, 10/7, 24/17, 58/41; essentially, numerators=A052542 and denominators here. - Clark Kimberling, Aug 26 2008

Equals right border of triangle A143966. Starting (1, 3, 7, ...) equals INVERT transform of (1, 2, 2, 2, ...) and row sums of triangle A143966. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 06 2008

Inverse binomial transform of A006012; Hankel transform is := [1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, ...]. - Philippe Deléham, Dec 04 2008

From Charlie Marion, Jan 07 2009: (Start)

In general, denominators, a(k,n) and numerators, b(k,n), of continued fraction convergents to sqrt((k+1)/k) may be found as follows:

let a(k,0) = 1, a(k,1) = 2k; for n>0, a(k,2n) = 2*a(k,2n-1) + a(k,2n-2) and a(k,2n+1) = (2k)*a(k,2n) + a(k,2n-1);

let b(k,0) = 1, b(k,1) = 2k+1; for n>0, b(k,2n) = 2*b(k,2n-1) + b(k,2n-2) and b(k,2n+1) = (2k)*b(k,2n) + b(k,2n-1).

For example, the convergents to sqrt(2/1) start 1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29.

In general, if a(k,n) and b(k,n) are the denominators and numerators, respectively, of continued fraction convergents to sqrt((k+1)/k) as defined above, then

k*a(k,2n)^2 - a(k,2n-1)*a(k,2n+1) = k = k*a(k,2n-2)*a(k,2n) - a(k,2n-1)^2 and

b(k,2n-1)*b(k,2n+1) - k*b(k,2n)^2 = k+1 = b(k,2n-1)^2 - k*b(k,2n-2)*b(k,2n);

for example, if k=1 and n=3, then b(1,n)=a(n+1) and

1*a(1,6)^2 - a(1,5)*a(1,7) = 1*169^2 - 70*408 = 1;

1*a(1,4)*a(1,6) - a(1,5)^2 = 1*29*169 - 70^2 = 1;

b(1,5)*b(1,7) - 1*b(1,6)^2 = 99*577 - 1*239^2 = 2;

b(1,5)^2 - 1*b(1,4)*b(1,6) = 99^2 - 1*41*239 = 2.

Cf. A000129, A142238-A142239, A153313-A153318.

(End)

This sequence occurs in the lower bound of the order of the set of equivalent resistances of n equal resistors combined in series and in parallel (A048211). - Sameen Ahmed Khan, Jun 28 2010

Let M = a triangle with the Fibonacci series in each column, but the leftmost column is shifted upwards one row. A001333 = lim_{n->infinity} M^n, the left-shifted vector considered as a sequence. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 27 2010

a(n) is the number of compositions of n when there are 1 type of 1 and 2 types of other natural numbers. - Milan Janjic, Aug 13 2010

Equals the INVERTi transform of A055099. - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 14 2010

From L. Edson Jeffery, Apr 04 2011: (Start)

Let U be the unit-primitive matrix (see [Jeffery])

U = U_(8,2) = (0 0 1 0)

(0 1 0 1)

(1 0 2 0)

(0 2 0 1).

Then a(n) = (1/4)*Trace(U^n). (See also A084130, A006012.)

(End)

For n >= 1, row sums of triangle

m/k.|..0.....1.....2.....3.....4.....5.....6.....7

==================================================

.0..|..1

.1..|..1.....2

.2..|..1.....2.....4

.3..|..1.....4.....4.....8

.4..|..1.....4....12.....8....16

.5..|..1.....6....12....32....16....32

.6..|..1.....6....24....32....80....32....64

.7..|..1.....8....24....80....80...192....64...128

which is the triangle for numbers 2^k*C(m,k) with duplicated diagonals. - Vladimir Shevelev, Apr 12 2012

a(n) is also the number of ways to place k non-attacking wazirs on a 2 X n board, summed over all k >= 0 (a wazir is a leaper [0,1]). - Vaclav Kotesovec, May 08 2012

The sequences a(n) and b(n) := A000129(n) are entries of powers of the special case of the Brahmagupta Matrix - for details see Suryanarayan's paper. Further, as Suryanarayan remark, if we set A = 2*(a(n) + b(n))*b(n), B = a(n)*(a(n) + 2*b(n)), C = a(n)^2 + 2*a(n)*b(n) + 2*b(n)^2 we obtain integral solutions of the Pythagorean relation A^2 + B^2 = C^2, where A and B are consecutive integers. - Roman Witula, Jul 28 2012

Pisano period lengths: 1, 1, 8, 4, 12, 8, 6, 4, 24, 12, 24, 8, 28, 6, 24, 8, 16, 24, 40, 12, .... - R. J. Mathar, Aug 10 2012

This sequence and A000129 give the diagonal numbers described by Theon of Smyrna. - Sture Sjöstedt, Oct 20 2012

a(n) is the top left entry of the n-th power of any of the following six 3 X 3 binary matrices: [1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1; 1, 0, 0] or [1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 0; 1, 1, 0] or [1, 1, 1; 1, 0, 1; 1, 1, 0] or [1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 0; 1, 0, 1] or [1, 1, 1; 1, 0, 1; 1, 0, 1] or [1, 1, 1; 1, 0, 0; 1, 1, 1]. - R. J. Mathar, Feb 03 2014

If p is prime, a(p) == 1 (mod p) (compare with similar comment for A000032). - Creighton Dement, Oct 11 2005, modified by Davide Colazingari, Jun 26 2016

a(n) = A000129(n) + A000129(n-1), where A000129(n) is the n-th Pell Number; e.g., a(6) = 99 = A000129(6) + A000129(5) = 70 + 29. Hence the sequence of fractions has the form 1 + A000129(n-1)/A000129(n), and the ratio A000129(n-1)/A000129(n)converges to sqrt(2) - 1. - Gregory L. Simay, Nov 30 2018

For n > 0, a(n+1) is the length of tau^n(1) where tau is the morphism: 1 -> 101, 0 -> 1. See Song and Wu. - Michel Marcus, Jul 21 2020

For n > 0, a(n) is the number of nonisomorphic quasitrivial semigroups with n elements, see Devillet, Marichal, Teheux. A292932 is the number of labeled quasitrivial semigroups. - Peter Jipsen, Mar 28 2021

a(n) is the permanent of the n X n tridiagonal matrix defined in A332602. - Stefano Spezia, Apr 12 2022

From Greg Dresden, May 08 2023: (Start)

For n >= 2, 4*a(n) is the number of ways to tile this T-shaped figure of length n-1 with two colors of squares and one color of domino; shown here is the figure of length 5 (corresponding to n=6), and it has 4*a(6) = 396 different tilings.

_

|| _

|||_|||

|_|

(End)

12*a(n) = number of walks of length n in the cyclic Kautz digraph CK(3,4). - Miquel A. Fiol, Feb 15 2024

Consider all Pythagorean triples (X,X+1,Z) ordered by increasing Z; sequence gives Z values.

The defining equation is X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Z^2, which when doubled gives 2Z^2 = (2X+1)^2 + 1. So the sequence gives Z's such that 2Z^2 = odd square + 1 (A069894).

(x,y) = (a(n), a(n+1)) are the solutions with x < y of x/(yz) + y/(xz) + z/(xy)=3 with z=2. - Floor van Lamoen, Nov 29 2001

Consequently the sum n^2*(2n^2 - 1) of the first n odd cubes (A002593) is also a square. - Lekraj Beedassy, Jun 05 2002

Numbers n such that 2*n^2 = ceiling(sqrt(2)*n*floor(sqrt(2)*n)). - Benoit Cloitre, May 10 2003

Also, number of domino tilings in S_5 X P_2n. - Ralf Stephan, Mar 30 2004. Here S_5 is the star graph on 5 vertices with the edges {1,2}, {1,3}, {1,4}, {1,5}.

If x is in the sequence then so is x*(8*x^2-3). - James R. Buddenhagen, Jan 13 2005

In general, Sum_{k=0..n} binomial(2n-k,k)j^(n-k) = (-1)^n*U(2n,i*sqrt(j)/2), i=sqrt(-1). - Paul Barry, Mar 13 2005

a(n) = L(n,6), where L is defined as in A108299; see also A002315 for L(n,-6). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 01 2005

Define a T-circle to be a first-quadrant circle with integral radius that is tangent to the x- and y-axes. Such a circle has coordinates equal to its radius. Let C(0) be the T-circle with radius 1. Then for n >0, define C(n) to be the largest T-circle that intersects C(n-1). C(n) has radius a(n) and the coordinates of its points of intersection with C(n-1) are A001108(n) and A055997(n). Cf. A001109. - Charlie Marion, Sep 14 2005

Number of 01-avoiding words of length n on alphabet {0,1,2,3,4,5} which do not end in 0. - Tanya Khovanova, Jan 10 2007

The lower principal convergents to 2^(1/2), beginning with 1/1, 7/5, 41/29, 239/169, comprise a strictly increasing sequence; numerators = A002315 and denominators = {a(n)}. - Clark Kimberling, Aug 26 2008

Apparently Ljunggren shows that 169 is the last square term.

If (p,q) is a solution of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Y^2 then (p+q) or (p+q+1) are perfect squares. If (p,q) is a solution of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Y^2 then (p+q) or (p+q)/8 are perfect squares. If (p,q) and (r,s) are two consecutive solutions of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Y^2 with p < r then s-r = p+q+1. - Mohamed Bouhamida, Aug 29 2009

If (p,q) and (r,s) are two consecutive solutions of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X + 1)^2 = Y^2 with p < r then r = 3p+2q+1 and s = 4p+3q+2. - Mohamed Bouhamida, Sep 02 2009

Equals INVERT transform of A005054: (1, 4, 20, 100, 500, 2500, ...) and INVERTi transform of A122074: (1, 6, 40, 268, 1796, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 22 2010

a(n) is the number of compositions of n when there are 5 types of 1 and 4 types of other natural numbers. - Milan Janjic, Aug 13 2010

The remainder after division of a(n) by a(k) appears to belong to a periodic sequence: 1, 5, ..., a(k-1), 0, a(k)-a(k-1), ..., a(k)-1, a(k)-1, ..., a(k)-a(k-1), 0, a(k-1), ..., 5, 1. See Bouhamida's Sep 01 2009 comment. - Charlie Marion, May 02 2011

Apart from initial 1: subsequence of A198389, see also A198385. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 25 2011

(a(n+1), 2*b(n+1)) and (a(n+2), 2*b(n+1)), n >= 0, with b(n):= A001109(n), give the (u(2*n), v(2*n)) and (u(2*n+1), v(2*n+1)) sequences, respectively, for Pythagorean triples (x,y,z), where x=|u^2-v^2|, y=2*u*v and z=u^2+v^2, with u odd and v even, which are generated from (u(0)=1, v(0)=2) by the substitution rule (u,v) -> (2*v+u,v) if u < v and (u,v) -> (u,2*u+v) if u > v. This leads to primitive triples because gcd(u,v) = 1 is respected. This corresponds to (primitive) Pythagorean triangles with |x-y|=1 (the catheti differ by one length unit). This (u,v) sequence starts with (1,2), (5,2), (5,12), (29,12), (29,70) ... - Wolfdieter Lang, Mar 06 2012

Area of the Fibonacci snowflake of order n. - José Luis Ramírez Ramírez, Dec 13 2012

Area of the 3-generalized Fibonacci snowflake of order n, n >= 3. - José Luis Ramírez Ramírez, Dec 13 2012

For the o.g.f. given by Johannes W. Meijer, Aug 01 2010, in the formula section see a comment under A077445. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 18 2013

Positive values of x (or y) satisfying x^2 - 6xy + y^2 + 4 = 0. - Colin Barker, Feb 04 2014

Length of period of the continued fraction expansion of a(n)*sqrt(2) is 1, the corresponding repeating value is A077444(n). - Ralf Stephan, Feb 20 2014

Positive values of x (or y) satisfying x^2 - 34xy + y^2 + 144 = 0. - Colin Barker, Mar 04 2014

The value of the hypotenuse in each triple of the Tree of primitive Pythagorean triples (cf. Wikipedia link) starting with root (3,4,5) and recursively selecting the central branch at each triple node of the tree. - Stuart E Anderson, Feb 05 2015

Positive integers z such that z^2 is a centered square number (A001844). - Colin Barker, Feb 12 2015

The aerated sequence (b(n)) n >= 1 = [1, 0, 5, 0, 29, 0, 169, 0, ...] is a fourth-order linear divisibility sequence; that is, if n | m then b(n) | b(m). It is the case P1 = 0, P2 = -8, Q = 1 of the 3-parameter family of divisibility sequences found by Williams and Guy. See A100047 for the connection with Chebyshev polynomials. - Peter Bala, Mar 25 2015

A002315(n-1)/a(n) is the closest rational approximation of sqrt(2) with a denominator not larger than a(n). These rational approximations together with those obtained from the sequences A001541 and A001542 give a complete set of closest rational approximations of sqrt(2) with restricted numerator or denominator. A002315(n-1)/a(n) < sqrt(2). - A.H.M. Smeets, May 28 2017

Equivalently, numbers x such that (x-1)*x/2 + x*(x+1)/2 = y^2 + (y+1)^2. y-values are listed in A001652. Example: for x=29 and y=20, 28*29/2 + 29*30/2 = 20^2 + 21^2. - Bruno Berselli, Mar 19 2018

From Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 13 2018: (Start)

(a(n), a(n+1)), with a(0):= 1, give all proper positive solutions m1 = m1(n) and m2 = m2(n), with m1 < m2 and n >= 0, of the Markoff triple (m, m1, m2) (see A002559) for m = 2, i.e., m1^2 - 6*m1*m2 + m2^2 = -4. Hence the unique Markoff triple with largest value m = 2 is (1, 1, 2) (for general m from A002559 this is the famous uniqueness conjecture).

For X = m2 - m1 and Y = m2 this becomes the reduced indefinite quadratic form representation X^2 + 4*X*Y - 4*Y^2 = -4, with discriminant 32, and the only proper fundamental solution (X(0), Y(0)) = (0, 1). For all nonnegative proper (X(n), Y(n)) solutions see (A005319(n) = a(n+1) - a(n), a(n+1)), for n >= 0. (End)

Each Pell(2*k+1) = a(k+1) number with k >= 3 appears as largest number of an ordered Markoff (Markov) triple [x, y, m] with smallest value x = 2 as [2, Pell(2*k-1), Pell(2*k+1)]. This known result follows also from all positive proper solutions of the Pell equation q^2 - 2*m^2 = -1 which are q = q(k) = A002315(k) and m = m(k) = Pell(2*k+1), for k >= 0. y = y(k) = m(k) - 2*q(k) = Pell(2*k-1), with Pell(-1) = 1. The k = 0 and 1 cases do not satisfy x=2 <= y(k) <= m(k). The numbers 1 and 5 appear also as largest Markoff triple members because they are also Fibonacci numbers, and for these triples x=1. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jul 11 2018

All of the positive integer solutions of a*b+1=x^2, a*c+1=y^2, b*c+1=z^2, x+z=2*y, 0 < a < b < c are given by a=A001542(n), b=A005319(n), c=A001542(n+1), x=A001541(n), y=a(n+1), z=A002315(n) with 0 < n. - Michael Somos, Jun 26 2022

8*a(n)^2 + 1 = 8*A001110(n) + 1 = A055792(n+1) is a perfect square. - Gregory V. Richardson, Oct 05 2002

For n >= 2, A001108(n) gives exactly the positive integers m such that 1,2,...,m has a perfect median. The sequence of associated perfect medians is the present sequence. Let a_1,...,a_m be an (ordered) sequence of real numbers, then a term a_k is a perfect median if Sum_{j=1..k-1} a_j = Sum_{j=k+1..m} a_j. See Puzzle 1 in MSRI Emissary, Fall 2005. - Asher Auel, Jan 12 2006

(a(n), b(n)) where b(n) = A082291(n) are the integer solutions of the equation 2*binomial(b,a) = binomial(b+2,a). - Klaus Strassburger (strass(AT)ddfi.uni-duesseldorf.de); comment revised by Michael Somos, Apr 07 2003

This sequence gives the values of y in solutions of the Diophantine equation x^2 - 8y^2 = 1. It also gives the values of the product xy where (x,y) satisfies x^2 - 2y^2 = +-1, i.e., a(n) = A001333(n)*A000129(n). a(n) also gives the inradius r of primitive Pythagorean triangles having legs whose lengths are consecutive integers, with corresponding semiperimeter s = a(n+1) = {A001652(n) + A046090(n) + A001653(n)}/2 and area rs = A029549(n) = 6*A029546(n). - Lekraj Beedassy, Apr 23 2003 [edited by Jon E. Schoenfield, May 04 2014]

n such that 8*n^2 = floor(sqrt(8)*n*ceiling(sqrt(8)*n)). - Benoit Cloitre, May 10 2003

For n > 0, ratios a(n+1)/a(n) may be obtained as convergents to continued fraction expansion of 3+sqrt(8): either successive convergents of [6;-6] or odd convergents of [5;1, 4]. - Lekraj Beedassy, Sep 09 2003

a(n+1) + A053141(n) = A001108(n+1). Generating floretion: - 2'i + 2'j - 'k + i' + j' - k' + 2'ii' - 'jj' - 2'kk' + 'ij' + 'ik' + 'ji' + 'jk' - 2'kj' + 2e ("jes" series). - Creighton Dement, Dec 16 2004

Kekulé numbers for certain benzenoids (see the Cyvin-Gutman reference). - Emeric Deutsch, Jun 19 2005

Number of D steps on the line y=x in all Delannoy paths of length n (a Delannoy path of length n is a path from (0,0) to (n,n), consisting of steps E=(1,0), N=(0,1) and D=(1,1)). Example: a(2)=6 because in the 13 (=A001850(2)) Delannoy paths of length 2, namely (DD), (D)NE, (D)EN, NE(D), NENE, NEEN, NDE, NNEE, EN(D), ENNE, ENEN, EDN and EENN, we have altogether six D steps on the line y=x (shown between parentheses). - Emeric Deutsch, Jul 07 2005

Define a T-circle to be a first-quadrant circle with integral radius that is tangent to the x- and y-axes. Such a circle has coordinates equal to its radius. Let C(0) be the T-circle with radius 1. Then for n > 0, define C(n) to be the smallest T-circle that does not intersect C(n-1). C(n) has radius a(n+1). Cf. A001653. - Charlie Marion, Sep 14 2005

Numbers such that there is an m with t(n+m)=2t(m), where t(n) are the triangular numbers A000217. For instance, t(20)=2*t(14)=210, so 6 is in the sequence. - Floor van Lamoen, Oct 13 2005

One half the bisection of the Pell numbers (A000129). - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Jan 08 2006

Pell trapezoids: for n > 0, a(n) = (A000129(n-1)+A000129(n+1))*A000129(n)/2; see also A084158. - Charlie Marion, Apr 01 2006

Tested for 2 < p < 27: If and only if 2^p - 1 (the Mersenne number M(p)) is prime then M(p) divides a(2^(p-1)). - Kenneth J Ramsey, May 16 2006

If 2^p - 1 is prime then M(p) divides a(2^(p-1)-1). - Kenneth J Ramsey, Jun 08 2006; comment corrected by Robert Israel, Mar 18 2007

If 8*n+5 and 8*n+7 are twin primes then their product divides a(4*n+3). - Kenneth J Ramsey, Jun 08 2006

If p is an odd prime, then if p == 1 or 7 (mod 8), then a((p-1)/2) == 0 (mod p) and a((p+1)/2) == 1 (mod p); if p == 3 or 5 (mod 8), then a((p-1)/2) == 1 (mod p) and a((p+1)/2) == 0 (mod p). Kenneth J Ramsey's comment about twin primes follows from this. - Robert Israel, Mar 18 2007

a(n)*(a(n+b) - a(b-2)) = (a(n+1)+1)*(a(n+b-1) - a(b-1)). This identity also applies to any series a(0) = 0 a(1) = 1 a(n) = b*a(n-1) - a(n-2). - Kenneth J Ramsey, Oct 17 2007

For n < 0, let a(n) = -a(-n). Then (a(n+j) + a(k+j)) * (a(n+b+k+j) - a(b-j-2)) = (a(n+j+1) + a(k+j+1)) * (a(n+b+k+j-1) - a(b-j-1)). - Charlie Marion, Mar 04 2011

Sequence gives y values of the Diophantine equation: 0+1+2+...+x = y^2. If (a,b) and (c,d) are two consecutive solutions of the Diophantine equation: 0+1+2+...+x = y^2 with aMohamed Bouhamida, Aug 29 2009

If (p,q) and (r,s) are two consecutive solutions of the Diophantine equation: 0+1+2+...+x = y^2 with p < r then r = 3*p+4*q+1 and s = 2*p+3*q+1. - Mohamed Bouhamida, Sep 02 2009

a(n)/A002315(n) converges to cos^2(Pi/8) (see A201488). - Gary Detlefs, Nov 25 2009

Binomial transform of A086347. - Johannes W. Meijer, Aug 01 2010

If x=a(n), y=A055997(n+1) and z = x^2+y, then x^4 + y^3 = z^2. - Bruno Berselli, Aug 24 2010

In general, if b(0)=1, b(1)=k and for n > 1, b(n) = 6*b(n-1) - b(n-2), then

for n > 0, b(n) = a(n)*k-a(n-1); e.g.,

for k=2, when b(n) = A038725(n), 2 = 1*2 - 0, 11 = 6*2 - 1, 64 = 35*2 - 6, 373 = 204*2 - 35;

for k=3, when b(n) = A001541(n), 3 = 1*3 - 0, 17 = 6*3 - 1; 99 = 35*3 - 6; 577 = 204*3 - 35;

for k=4, when b(n) = A038723(n), 4 = 1*4 - 0, 23 = 6*4 - 1; 134 = 35*4 - 6; 781 = 204*4 - 35;

for k=5, when b(n) = A001653(n), 5 = 1*5 - 0, 29 = 6*5 - 1; 169 = 35*5 - 6; 985 = 204*5 - 35.

See also A002315, A054488, A038761, A054489, A054490.

- Charlie Marion, Dec 08 2010

See a Wolfdieter Lang comment on A001653 on a sequence of (u,v) values for Pythagorean triples (x,y,z) with x=|u^2-v^2|, y=2*u*v and z=u^2+v^2, with u odd and v even, generated from (u(0)=1,v(0)=2), the triple (3,4,5), by a substitution rule given there. The present a(n) appears there as b(n). The corresponding generated triangles have catheti differing by one length unit. - Wolfdieter Lang, Mar 06 2012

a(n)*a(n+2k) + a(k)^2 and a(n)*a(n+2k+1) + a(k)*a(k+1) are triangular numbers. Generalizes description of sequence. - Charlie Marion, Dec 03 2012

a(n)*a(n+2k) + a(k)^2 is the triangular square A001110(n+k). a(n)*a(n+2k+1) + a(k)*a(k+1) is the triangular oblong A029549(n+k). - Charlie Marion, Dec 05 2012

From Richard R. Forberg, Aug 30 2013: (Start)

The squares of a(n) are the result of applying triangular arithmetic to the squares, using A001333 as the "guide" on what integers to square, as follows:

a(2n)^2 = A001333(2n)^2 * (A001333(2n)^2 - 1)/2;

a(2n+1)^2 = A001333(2n+1)^2 * (A001333(2n+1)^2 + 1)/2. (End)

For n >= 1, a(n) equals the number of 01-avoiding words of length n-1 on alphabet {0,1,...,5}. - Milan Janjic, Jan 25 2015

Panda and Rout call these "balancing numbers" and note that the period of the sequence modulo a prime p is the same as that modulo p^2 when p = 13, 31, 1546463. But these are precisely the p in A238736 such that p^2 divides A000129(p - (2/p)), where (2/p) is a Jacobi symbol. In light of the above observation by Franklin T. Adams-Watters that the present sequence is one half the bisection of the Pell numbers, i.e., a(n) = A000129(2*n)/2, it follows immediately that modulo a fixed prime p, or any power thereof, the period of a(n) is half that of A000129(n). - John Blythe Dobson, Mar 06 2015

The triangular number = square number identity Tri((T(n, 3) - 1)/2) = S(n-1, 6)^2 with Tri, T, and S given in A000217, A053120 and A049310, is the special case k = 1 of the k-family of identities Tri((T(n, 2*k+1) - 1)/2) = Tri(k)*S(n-1, 2*(2*k+1))^2, k >= 0, n >= 0, with S(-1, x) = 0. For k=2 see A108741(n) for S(n-1, 10)^2. This identity boils down to the identities S(n-1, 2*x)^2 = (T(2*n, x) - 1)/(2*(x^2-1)) and 2*T(n, x)^2 - 1 = T(2*n, x) with x = 2*k+1. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 01 2016

a(2)=6 is perfect. For n=2*k, k > 0, k not equal to 1, a(n) is a multiple of a(2) and since every multiple (beyond 1) of a perfect number is abundant, then a(n) is abundant. sigma(a(4)) = 504 > 408 = 2*a(4). For n=2*k+1, k > 0, a(n) mod 10 = A000012(n), so a(n) is odd. If a(n) is a prime number, it is deficient; otherwise a(n) has one or two distinct prime factors and is therefore deficient again. So for n=2k+1, k > 0, a(n) is deficient. sigma(a(5)) = 1260 < 2378 = 2*a(5). - Muniru A Asiru, Apr 14 2016

Behera & Panda call these the balancing numbers, and A001541 are the balancers. - Michel Marcus, Nov 07 2017

In general, a second-order linear recurrence with constant coefficients having a signature of (c,d) will be duplicated by a third-order recurrence having a signature of (x,c^2-c*x+d,-d*x+c*d). The formulas of Olivares and Bouhamida in the formula section which have signatures of (7,-7,1) and (5,5,-1), respectively, are specific instances of this general rule for x = 7 and x = 5. - Gary Detlefs, Jan 29 2021

Note that 6 is the largest triangular number in the sequence, because it is proved that 8 and 9 are the largest perfect powers which are consecutive (Catalan's conjecture). 0 and 1 are also in the sequence because they are also perfect powers and 0*1/2 = 0^2 and 8*9/2 = (2*3)^2. - Metin Sariyar, Jul 15 2021

Consider all Pythagorean triples (X, X+1, Z) ordered by increasing Z; sequence gives X values.

Numbers n such that triangular number t(n) (see A000217) = n(n+1)/2 is a product of two consecutive integers (cf. A097571).

Members of Diophantine pairs. Solution to a*(a+1) = 2*b*(b+1) in natural numbers including 0; a = a(n), b = b(n) = A053141(n); The solution of a special case of a binomial problem of H. Finner and K. Strassburger (strass(AT)godot.dfi.uni-duesseldorf.de).

The index of all triangular numbers T(a(n)) for which 4T(n)+1 is a perfect square.

The three sequences x (A001652), y (A046090) and z (A001653) may be obtained by setting u and v equal to the Pell numbers (A000129) in the formulas x = 2uv, y = u^2 - v^2, z = u^2 + v^2 [Joseph Wiener and Donald Skow]. - Antonio Alberto Olivares, Dec 22 2003

All Pythagorean triples {X(n), Y(n)=X(n)+1, Z(n)} with X M*W(n), where W(n)=transpose of vector [X(n) Y(n) Z(n)] and M a 3 X 3 matrix given by [2 1 2 / 1 2 2 / 2 2 3]. - Lekraj Beedassy, Aug 14 2006

Let b(n) = A053141 then a(n)*b(n+1) = b(n)*a(n+1) + b(n). - Kenneth J Ramsey, Sep 22 2007

In general, if b(n) = A053141(n), then a(n)*b(n+k) = a(n+k)*b(n)+b(k); e.g., 3*84 = 119*2+14; 3*2870 = 4059*2+492; 20*2870 = 5741*14+84. - Charlie Marion, Nov 19 2007

Limit_{n -> oo} a(n)/a(n-1) = 3+2*sqrt(2) = A156035. - Klaus Brockhaus, Feb 17 2009

If (p,q) is a solution of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Y^2 then (p+q) or (p+q+1) are perfect squares. If (p,q) is a solution of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Y^2 then (p+q) or (p+q)/8 are perfect squares. If (p,q) and (r,s) are two consecutive solutions of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X+1)^2 = Y^2 with pMohamed Bouhamida, Aug 29 2009

If (p,q) and (r,s) are two consecutive solutions of the Diophantine equation: X^2 + (X + 1)^2 = y^2 with pMohamed Bouhamida, Sep 02 2009

a(n+k) = A001541(k)*a(n) + A001542(k)*A001653(n+1) + A001108(k). - Charlie Marion, Dec 10 2010

The numbers 3*A001652 = (0, 9, 60, 357, 2088, 12177, 70980, ...) are all the nonnegative values of X such that X^2 + (X+3)^2 = Z^2 (Z is in A075841). - Bruno Berselli, Aug 26 2010

Let T(n) = n*(n+1)/2 (the n-th triangular number). For n > 0,

T(a(n) + 2*k*A001653(n+1)) = 2*T(A053141(n-1) + k*A002315(n)) + k^2 and

T(a(n) + (2*k+1)*A001653(n+1)) = (A001109(n+1) + k*A002315(n))^2 + k*(k+1).

Also (a(n) + k*A001653(n))^2 + (a(n) + k*A001653(n) + 1)^2 = (A001653(n+1) + k*A002315(n))^2 + k^2. - Charlie Marion, Dec 09 2010

For n>0, A143608(n) divides a(n). - Kenneth J Ramsey, Jun 28 2012

Set a(n)=p; a(n)+1=q; the generated triple x=p^2+pq; y=q^2+pq; k=p^2+q^2 satisfies x^2+y^2=k(x+y). - Carmine Suriano, Dec 17 2013

The arms of the triangle are found with (b(n),c(n)) for 2*b(n)*c(n) and c(n)^2 - b(n)^2. Let b(1) = 1 and c(1) = 2, then b(n) = c(n-1) and c(n) = 2*c(n-1) + b(n-1). Alternatively, b(n) = c(n-1) and c(n) equals the nearest integer to b(n)*(1+sqrt(2)). - J. M. Bergot, Oct 09 2014

Conjecture: For n>1 a(n) is the index of the first occurrence of n in sequence A123737. - Vaclav Kotesovec, Jun 02 2015

Numbers m such that Product_{k=1..m} (4*k^4+1) is a square (see A274307). - Chai Wah Wu, Jun 21 2016

Numbers m such that m^2+(m+1)^2 is a square. - César Aguilera, Aug 14 2017

For integers a and d, let P(a,d,1) = a, P(a,d,2) = a+d, and, for n>2, P(a,d,n) = 2*P(a,d,n-1) + P(a,d,n-2). Further, let p(n) = Sum_{i=1..2n} P(a,d,i). Then p(n)^2 + (p(n)+d)^2 + a^2 = P(a,d,2n+1)^2 + d^2. When a = 1 and d = 1, p(n) = a(n) and P(a,d,n) = A000129(n), the n-th Pell number. - Charlie Marion, Dec 08 2018

The terms of this sequence satisfy the Diophantine equation k^2 + (k+1)^2 = m^2, which is equivalent to (2k+1)^2 - 2*m^2 = -1. Now, with x=2k+1 and y=m, we get the Pell-Fermat equation x^2 - 2*y^2 = -1. The solutions (x,y) of this equation are respectively in A002315 and A001653. The relation k = (x-1)/2 explains Lekraj Beedassy's Nov 25 2003 formula. Thus, the corresponding numbers m = y, which express the length of the hypotenuse of these right triangles (k,k+1,m) are in A001653. - Bernard Schott, Mar 10 2019

Members of Diophantine pairs. Related to solutions of p^2 = 2q^2 + 2 in natural numbers; p = p(n) = 2*sqrt(4T(a(n))+1), q = q(n) = sqrt(8*T(a(n))+1). Note that this implies that 4*T(a(n))+1 is a perfect square (numbers of the form 8*T(n)+1 are perfect squares for all n); these T(a(n))'s are the only solutions to the given Diophantine equation. - Steven Blasberg, Mar 04 2021

Named after the Newman-Shanks-Williams reference.

Also numbers k such that A125650(3*k^2) is an odd perfect square. Such numbers 3*k^2 form a bisection of A125651. - Alexander Adamchuk, Nov 30 2006

For positive n, a(n) corresponds to the sum of legs of near-isosceles primitive Pythagorean triangles (with consecutive legs). - Lekraj Beedassy, Feb 06 2007

Also numbers m such that m^2 is a centered 16-gonal number; or a number of the form 8k(k+1)+1, where k = A053141(m) = {0, 2, 14, 84, 492, 2870, ...}. - Alexander Adamchuk, Apr 21 2007

The lower principal convergents to 2^(1/2), beginning with 1/1, 7/5, 41/29, 239/169, comprise a strictly increasing sequence; numerators=A002315 and denominators=A001653. - Clark Kimberling, Aug 27 2008

The upper intermediate convergents to 2^(1/2) beginning with 10/7, 58/41, 338/239, 1970/1393 form a strictly decreasing sequence; essentially, numerators=A075870, denominators=A002315. - Clark Kimberling, Aug 27 2008

General recurrence is a(n) = (a(1)-1)*a(n-1) - a(n-2), a(1) >= 4, lim_{n->oo} a(n) = x*(k*x+1)^n, k = (a(1)-3), x = (1+sqrt((a(1)+1)/(a(1)-3)))/2. Examples in OEIS: a(1)=4 gives A002878. a(1)=5 gives A001834. a(1)=6 gives A030221. a(1)=7 gives A002315. a(1)=8 gives A033890. a(1)=9 gives A057080. a(1)=10 gives A057081. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Sep 02 2008

Numbers k such that (ceiling(sqrt(k*k/2)))^2 = (1+k*k)/2. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Nov 09 2009

A001109(n)/a(n) converges to cos^2(Pi/8) = 1/2 + 2^(1/2)/4. - Gary Detlefs, Nov 25 2009

The values 2(a(n)^2+1) are all perfect squares, whose square root is given by A075870. - Neelesh Bodas (neelesh.bodas(AT)gmail.com), Aug 13 2010

a(n) represents all positive integers K for which 2(K^2+1) is a perfect square. - Neelesh Bodas (neelesh.bodas(AT)gmail.com), Aug 13 2010

For positive n, a(n) equals the permanent of the (2n) X (2n) tridiagonal matrix with sqrt(8)'s along the main diagonal, and i's along the superdiagonal and subdiagonal (i is the imaginary unit). - John M. Campbell, Jul 08 2011

Integers k such that A000217(k-2) + A000217(k-1) + A000217(k) + A000217(k+1) is a square (cf. A202391). - Max Alekseyev, Dec 19 2011

Integer square roots of floor(k^2/2 - 1) or A047838. - Richard R. Forberg, Aug 01 2013

Remark: x^2 - 2*y^2 = +2*k^2, with positive k, and X^2 - 2*Y^2 = +2 reduce to the present Pell equation a^2 - 2*b^2 = -1 with x = k*X = 2*k*b and y = k*Y = k*a. (After a proposed solution for k = 3 by Alexander Samokrutov.) - Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 21 2015

If p is an odd prime, a((p-1)/2) == 1 (mod p). - Altug Alkan, Mar 17 2016

a(n)^2 + 1 = 2*b(n)^2, with b(n) = A001653(n), is the necessary and sufficient condition for a(n) to be a number k for which the diagonal of a 1 X k rectangle is an integer multiple of the diagonal of a 1 X 1 square. If squares are laid out thus along one diagonal of a horizontal 1 X a(n) rectangle, from the lower left corner to the upper right, the number of squares is b(n), and there will always be a square whose top corner lies exactly within the top edge of the rectangle. Numbering the squares 1 to b(n) from left to right, the number of the one square that has a corner in the top edge of the rectangle is c(n) = (2*b(n) - a(n) + 1)/2, which is A055997(n). The horizontal component of the corner of the square in the edge of the rectangle is also an integer, namely d(n) = a(n) - b(n), which is A001542(n). - David Pasino, Jun 30 2016

(a(n)^2)-th triangular number is a square; a(n)^2 = A008843(n) is a subsequence of A001108. - Jaroslav Krizek, Aug 05 2016

a(n-1)/A001653(n) is the closest rational approximation of sqrt(2) with a numerator not larger than a(n-1). These rational approximations together with those obtained from the sequences A001541 and A001542 give a complete set of closest rational approximations of sqrt(2) with restricted numerator or denominator. a(n-1)/A001653(n) < sqrt(2). - A.H.M. Smeets, May 28 2017

Consider the quadrant of a circle with center (0,0) bounded by the positive x and y axes. Now consider, as the start of a series, the circle contained within this quadrant which kisses both axes and the outer bounding circle. Consider further a succession of circles, each kissing the x-axis, the outer bounding circle, and the previous circle in the series. See Holmes link. The center of the n-th circle in this series is ((A001653(n)*sqrt(2)-1)/a(n-1), (A001653(n)*sqrt(2)-1)/a(n-1)^2), the y-coordinate also being its radius. It follows that a(n-1) is the cotangent of the angle subtended at point (0,0) by the center of the n-th circle in the series with respect to the x-axis. - Graham Holmes, Aug 31 2019

There is a link between the two sequences present at the numerator and at the denominator of the fractions that give the coordinates of the center of the kissing circles. A001653 is the sequence of numbers k such that 2*k^2 - 1 is a square, and here, we have 2*A001653(n)^2 - 1 = a(n-1)^2. - Bernard Schott, Sep 02 2019

Let G be a sequence satisfying G(i) = 2*G(i-1) + G(i-2) for arbitrary integers i and without regard to the initial values of G. Then a(n) = (G(i+4*n+2) - G(i))/(2*G(i+2*n+1)) as long as G(i+2*n+1) != 0. - Klaus Purath, Mar 25 2021

All of the positive integer solutions of a*b+1=x^2, a*c+1=y^2, b*c+1=z^2, x+z=2*y, 0 < a < b < c are given by a=A001542(n), b=A005319(n), c=A001542(n+1), x=A001541(n), y=A001653(n+1), z=A002315(n) with 0 < n. - Michael Somos, Jun 26 2022

3*a(n-1) is the n-th almost Lucas-cobalancing number of second type (see Tekcan and Erdem). - Stefano Spezia, Nov 26 2022

In Moret-Blanc (1881) on page 259 some solution of m^2 - 2n^2 = -1 are listed. The values of m give this sequence, and the values of n give A001653. - Michael Somos, Oct 25 2023

From Klaus Purath, May 11 2024: (Start)

For any two consecutive terms (a(n), a(n+1)) = (x,y): x^2 - 6xy + y^2 = 8 = A028884(1). In general, the following applies to all sequences (t) satisfying t(i) = 6t(i-1) - t(i-2) with t(0) = 1 and two consecutive terms (x,y): x^2 - 6xy + y^2 = A028884(t(1)-6). This includes and interprets the Feb 04 2014 comment on A001541 by Colin Barker as well as the Mar 17 2021 comment on A054489 by John O. Oladokun and the Sep 28 2008 formula on A038723 by Michael Somos. By analogy to this, for three consecutive terms (x,y,z) y^2 - xz = A028884(t(1)-6) always applies.

If (t) is a sequence satisfying t(k) = 7t(k-1) - 7t(k-2) + t(k-3) or t(k) = 6t(k-1) - t(k-2) without regard to initial values and including this sequence itself, then a(n) = (t(k+2n+1) - t(k))/(t(k+n+1) - t(k+n)) always applies, as long as t(k+n+1) - t(k+n) != 0 for integer k and n >= 0. (End)

Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind evaluated at 3.

This sequence gives the values of x in solutions of the Diophantine equation x^2 - 8*y^2 = 1, the corresponding values of y are in A001109. For n > 0, the ratios a(n)/A001090(n) may be obtained as convergents to sqrt(8): either successive convergents of [3; -6] or odd convergents of [2; 1, 4]. - Lekraj Beedassy, Sep 09 2003 [edited by Jon E. Schoenfield, May 04 2014]

Also gives solutions to the equation x^2 - 1 = floor(x*r*floor(x/r)) where r = sqrt(8). - Benoit Cloitre, Feb 14 2004

Appears to give all solutions greater than 1 to the equation: x^2 = ceiling(x*r*floor(x/r)) where r = sqrt(2). - Benoit Cloitre, Feb 24 2004

This sequence give numbers n such that (n-1)*(n+1)/2 is a perfect square. Remark: (i-1)*(i+1)/2 = (i^2-1)/2 = -1 = i^2 with i = sqrt(-1) so i is also in the sequence. - Pierre CAMI, Apr 20 2005

a(n) is prime for n = {1, 2, 4, 8}. Prime a(n) are {3, 17, 577, 665857}, which belong to A001601(n). a(2k-1) is divisible by a(1) = 3. a(4k-2) is divisible by a(2) = 17. a(8k-4) is divisible by a(4) = 577. a(16k-8) is divisible by a(8) = 665857. - Alexander Adamchuk, Nov 24 2006

The upper principal convergents to 2^(1/2), beginning with 3/2, 17/12, 99/70, 577/408, comprise a strictly decreasing sequence; essentially, numerators=A001541 and denominators=A001542. - Clark Kimberling, Aug 26 2008

Also index of sequence A082532 for which A082532(n) = 1. - Carmine Suriano, Sep 07 2010

Numbers n such that sigma(n-1) and sigma(n+1) are both odd numbers. - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Mar 28 2011

Also, numbers such that floor(a(n)^2/2) is a square: base 2 analog of A031149, A204502, A204514, A204516, A204518, A204520, A004275, A001075. - M. F. Hasler, Jan 15 2012

Numbers such that 2n^2 - 2 is a square. Also integer square roots of the expression 2*n^2 + 1, at values of n given by A001542. Also see A228405 regarding 2n^2 -+ 2^k generally for k >= 0. - Richard R. Forberg, Aug 20 2013

Values of x (or y) in the solutions to x^2 - 6xy + y^2 + 8 = 0. - Colin Barker, Feb 04 2014

Panda and Ray call the numbers in this sequence the Lucas-balancing numbers C_n (see references and links).

Partial sums of X or X+1 of Pythagorean triples (X,X+1,Z). - Peter M. Chema, Feb 03 2017

a(n)/A001542(n) is the closest rational approximation to sqrt(2) with a numerator not larger than a(n), and 2*A001542(n)/a(n) is the closest rational approximation to sqrt(2) with a denominator not larger than a(n). These rational approximations together with those obtained from the sequences A001653 and A002315 give a complete set of closest rational approximations to sqrt(2) with restricted numerator or denominator. a(n)/A001542(n) > sqrt(2) > 2*A001542(n)/a(n). - A.H.M. Smeets, May 28 2017

x = a(n), y = A001542(n) are solutions of the Diophantine equation x^2 - 2y^2 = 1 (Pell equation). x = 2*A001542(n), y = a(n) are solutions of the Diophantine equation x^2 - 2y^2 = -2. Both together give the set of fractional approximations for sqrt(2) obtained from limited fractions obtained from continued fraction representation to sqrt(2). - A.H.M. Smeets, Jun 22 2017

a(n) is the radius of the n-th circle among the sequence of circles generated as follows: Starting with a unit circle centered at the origin, every subsequent circle touches the previous circle as well as the two limbs of hyperbola x^2 - y^2 = 1, and lies in the region y > 0. - Kaushal Agrawal, Nov 10 2018

All of the positive integer solutions of a*b+1=x^2, a*c+1=y^2, b*c+1=z^2, x+z=2*y, 0A001542(n), b=A005319(n), c=A001542(n+1), x=A001541(n), y=A001653(n+1), z=A002315(n) with 0Michael Somos, Jun 26 2022

Satisfies a recurrence of S_r type for r=36: 0, 1, 36 and a(n-1)*a(n+1)=(a(n)-1)^2. First observed by Colin Dickson in alt.math.recreational, Mar 07 2004. - Rainer Rosenthal, Mar 14 2004

For every n, a(n) is the first of three triangular numbers in geometric progression. The third number in the progression is a(n+1). The middle triangular number is sqrt(a(n)*a(n+1)). Chen and Fang prove that four distinct triangular numbers are never in geometric progression. - T. D. Noe, Apr 30 2007

The sum of any two terms is never equal to a Fermat number. - Arkadiusz Wesolowski, Feb 14 2012

Conjecture: No a(2^k), where k is a nonnegative integer, can be expressed as a sum of a positive square number and a positive triangular number. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Sep 19 2012

For n=2k+1, A010888(a(n))=1 and for n=2k, k > 0, A010888(a(n))=9. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Oct 12 2013

For n > 0, these are the triangular numbers which are the sum of two consecutive triangular numbers, for instance 36 = 15 + 21 and 1225 = 595 + 630. - Michel Marcus, Feb 18 2014

The sequence is the case P1 = 36, P2 = 68, Q = 1 of the 3-parameter family of 4th order linear divisibility sequences found by Williams and Guy. - Peter Bala, Apr 03 2014

For n=2k, k > 0, a(n) is divisible by 12 and is therefore abundant. I conjecture that for n=2k+1 a(n) is deficient [true for k up to 43 incl.]. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Sep 30 2014

The conjecture is true for all k > 0 because: For n=2k+1, k > 0, a(n) is odd. If a(n) is a prime number, it is deficient; otherwise a(n) has one or two distinct prime factors and is therefore deficient again. So for n=2k+1, k > 0, a(n) is deficient. - Muniru A Asiru, Apr 13 2016

Numbers k for which A139275(k) is a perfect square. - Bruno Berselli, Jan 16 2018