cp's OEIS Frontend

Also a(n) = Sum_{i=0..n} binomial(n,n-i) (2*i+1)$ where i$ denotes the swinging factorial of i (A056040).

Also a(n) = sum {i=0..n} (-1)^(n-i) binomial(n,n-i) (2*i+1)$ where i$ denotes the swinging factorial of i (A056040).

a(n) is the determinant of the symmetric matrix (if(j<=floor((i+j)/2), A000108(j+1), A000108(i+1)))_{0<=i,j<=n}.

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

Devadoss refers to these numbers as type B Catalan numbers (cf. A000108).

Equal to the binomial coefficient sum Sum_{k=0..n} binomial(n,k)^2.

Number of possible interleavings of a program with n atomic instructions when executed by two processes. - Manuel Carro (mcarro(AT)fi.upm.es), Sep 22 2001

Convolving a(n) with itself yields A000302, the powers of 4. - T. D. Noe, Jun 11 2002

Number of ordered trees with 2n+1 edges, having root of odd degree and nonroot nodes of outdegree 0 or 2. - Emeric Deutsch, Aug 02 2002

Also number of directed, convex polyominoes having semiperimeter n+2.

Also number of diagonally symmetric, directed, convex polyominoes having semiperimeter 2n+2. - Emeric Deutsch, Aug 03 2002

The second inverse binomial transform of this sequence is this sequence with interpolated zeros. Its g.f. is (1 - 4*x^2)^(-1/2), with n-th term C(n,n/2)(1+(-1)^n)/2. - Paul Barry, Jul 01 2003

Number of possible values of a 2n-bit binary number for which half the bits are on and half are off. - Gavin Scott (gavin(AT)allegro.com), Aug 09 2003

Ordered partitions of n with zeros to n+1, e.g., for n=4 we consider the ordered partitions of 11110 (5), 11200 (30), 13000 (20), 40000 (5) and 22000 (10), total 70 and a(4)=70. See A001700 (esp. Mambetov Bektur's comment). - Jon Perry, Aug 10 2003

Number of nondecreasing sequences of n integers from 0 to n: a(n) = Sum_{i_1=0..n} Sum_{i_2=i_1..n}...Sum_{i_n=i_{n-1}..n}(1). - J. N. Bearden (jnb(AT)eller.arizona.edu), Sep 16 2003

Number of peaks at odd level in all Dyck paths of semilength n+1. Example: a(2)=6 because we have U*DU*DU*D, U*DUUDD, UUDDU*D, UUDUDD, UUU*DDD, where U=(1,1), D=(1,-1) and * indicates a peak at odd level. Number of ascents of length 1 in all Dyck paths of semilength n+1 (an ascent in a Dyck path is a maximal string of up steps). Example: a(2)=6 because we have uDuDuD, uDUUDD, UUDDuD, UUDuDD, UUUDDD, where an ascent of length 1 is indicated by a lower case letter. - Emeric Deutsch, Dec 05 2003

a(n-1) = number of subsets of 2n-1 distinct elements taken n at a time that contain a given element. E.g., n=4 -> a(3)=20 and if we consider the subsets of 7 taken 4 at a time with a 1 we get (1234, 1235, 1236, 1237, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1256, 1257, 1267, 1345, 1346, 1347, 1356, 1357, 1367, 1456, 1457, 1467, 1567) and there are 20 of them. - Jon Perry, Jan 20 2004

The dimension of a particular (necessarily existent) absolutely universal embedding of the unitary dual polar space DSU(2n,q^2) where q>2. - J. Taylor (jt_cpp(AT)yahoo.com), Apr 02 2004.

Number of standard tableaux of shape (n+1, 1^n). - Emeric Deutsch, May 13 2004

Erdős, Graham et al. conjectured that a(n) is never squarefree for sufficiently large n (cf. Graham, Knuth, Patashnik, Concrete Math., 2nd ed., Exercise 112). Sárközy showed that if s(n) is the square part of a(n), then s(n) is asymptotically (sqrt(2)-2) * (sqrt(n)) * zeta(1/2). Granville and Ramare proved that the only squarefree values are a(1)=2, a(2)=6 and a(4)=70. - Jonathan Vos Post, Dec 04 2004 [For more about this conjecture, see A261009. - N. J. A. Sloane, Oct 25 2015]

The MathOverflow link contains the following comment (slightly edited): The Erdős squarefree conjecture (that a(n) is never squarefree for n>4) was proved in 1980 by Sárközy, A. (On divisors of binomial coefficients. I. J. Number Theory 20 (1985), no. 1, 70-80.) who showed that the conjecture holds for all sufficiently large values of n, and by A. Granville and O. Ramaré (Explicit bounds on exponential sums and the scarcity of squarefree binomial coefficients. Mathematika 43 (1996), no. 1, 73-107) who showed that it holds for all n>4. - Fedor Petrov, Nov 13 2010. [From N. J. A. Sloane, Oct 29 2015]

p divides a((p-1)/2)-1=A030662(n) for prime p=5, 13, 17, 29, 37, 41, 53, 61, 73, 89, 97, ... = A002144(n) Pythagorean primes: primes of form 4n+1. - Alexander Adamchuk, Jul 04 2006

The number of direct routes from my home to Granny's when Granny lives n blocks south and n blocks east of my home in Grid City. To obtain a direct route, from the 2n blocks, choose n blocks on which one travels south. For example, a(2)=6 because there are 6 direct routes: SSEE, SESE, SEES, EESS, ESES and ESSE. - Dennis P. Walsh, Oct 27 2006

Inverse: With q = -log(log(16)/(pi a(n)^2)), ceiling((q + log(q))/log(16)) = n. - David W. Cantrell (DWCantrell(AT)sigmaxi.net), Feb 26 2007

Number of partitions with Ferrers diagrams that fit in an n X n box (including the empty partition of 0). Example: a(2) = 6 because we have: empty, 1, 2, 11, 21 and 22. - Emeric Deutsch, Oct 02 2007

So this is the 2-dimensional analog of A008793. - William Entriken, Aug 06 2013

The number of walks of length 2n on an infinite linear lattice that begins and ends at the origin. - Stefan Hollos (stefan(AT)exstrom.com), Dec 10 2007

The number of lattice paths from (0,0) to (n,n) using steps (1,0) and (0,1). - Joerg Arndt, Jul 01 2011

Integral representation: C(2n,n)=1/Pi Integral [(2x)^(2n)/sqrt(1 - x^2),{x,-1, 1}], i.e., C(2n,n)/4^n is the moment of order 2n of the arcsin distribution on the interval (-1,1). - N-E. Fahssi, Jan 02 2008

Also the Catalan transform of A000079. - R. J. Mathar, Nov 06 2008

Straub, Amdeberhan and Moll: "... it is conjectured that there are only finitely many indices n such that C_n is not divisible by any of 3, 5, 7 and 11." - Jonathan Vos Post, Nov 14 2008

Equals INVERT transform of A081696: (1, 1, 3, 9, 29, 97, 333, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 15 2009

Also, in sports, the number of ordered ways for a "Best of 2n-1 Series" to progress. For example, a(2) = 6 means there are six ordered ways for a "best of 3" series to progress. If we write A for a win by "team A" and B for a win by "team B" and if we list the played games chronologically from left to right then the six ways are AA, ABA, BAA, BB, BAB, and ABB. (Proof: To generate the a(n) ordered ways: Write down all a(n) ways to designate n of 2n games as won by team A. Remove the maximal suffix of identical letters from each of these.) - Lee A. Newberg, Jun 02 2009

Number of n X n binary arrays with rows, considered as binary numbers, in nondecreasing order, and columns, considered as binary numbers, in nonincreasing order. - R. H. Hardin, Jun 27 2009

Hankel transform is 2^n. - Paul Barry, Aug 05 2009

It appears that a(n) is also the number of quivers in the mutation class of twisted type BC_n for n>=2.

Central terms of Pascal's triangle: a(n) = A007318(2*n,n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 09 2011

Number of words on {a,b} of length 2n such that no prefix of the word contains more b's than a's. - Jonathan Nilsson, Apr 18 2012

From Pascal's triangle take row(n) with terms in order a1,a2,..a(n) and row(n+1) with terms b1,b2,..b(n), then 2*(a1*b1 + a2*b2 + ... + a(n)*b(n)) to get the terms in this sequence. - J. M. Bergot, Oct 07 2012. For example using rows 4 and 5: 2*(1*(1) + 4*(5) + 6*(10) + 4*(10) + 1*(5)) = 252, the sixth term in this sequence.

Take from Pascal's triangle row(n) with terms b1, b2, ..., b(n+1) and row(n+2) with terms c1, c2, ..., c(n+3) and find the sum b1*c2 + b2*c3 + ... + b(n+1)*c(n+2) to get A000984(n+1). Example using row(3) and row(5) gives sum 1*(5)+3*(10)+3*(10)+1*(5) = 70 = A000984(4). - J. M. Bergot, Oct 31 2012

a(n) == 2 mod n^3 iff n is a prime > 3. (See Mestrovic link, p. 4.) - Gary Detlefs, Feb 16 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. In general, for any integer m>1 and n>0, the polynomial f_{m,n}(x) = Sum_{k=0..n} (m*k)!/(k!)^m*x^k is irreducible over the field of rational numbers. - Zhi-Wei Sun, Mar 23 2013

This comment generalizes the comment dated Oct 31 2012 and the second of the sequence's original comments. For j = 1 to n, a(n) = Sum_{k=0..j} C(j,k)* C(2n-j, n-k) = 2*Sum_{k=0..j-1} C(j-1,k)*C(2n-j, n-k). - Charlie Marion, Jun 07 2013

The differences between consecutive terms of the sequence of the quotients between consecutive terms of this sequence form a sequence containing the reciprocals of the triangular numbers. In other words, a(n+1)/a(n)-a(n)/a(n-1) = 2/(n*(n+1)). - Christian Schulz, Jun 08 2013

Number of distinct strings of length 2n using n letters A and n letters B. - Hans Havermann, May 07 2014

From Fung Lam, May 19 2014: (Start)

Expansion of G.f. A(x) = 1/(1+q*x*c(x)), where parameter q is positive or negative (except q=-1), and c(x) is the g.f. of A000108 for Catalan numbers. The case of q=-1 recovers the g.f. of A000108 as xA^2-A+1=0. The present sequence A000984 refers to q=-2. Recurrence: (1+q)*(n+2)*a(n+2) + ((q*q-4*q-4)*n + 2*(q*q-q-1))*a(n+1) - 2*q*q*(2*n+1)*a(n) = 0, a(0)=1, a(1)=-q. Asymptotics: a(n) ~ ((q+2)/(q+1))*(q^2/(-q-1))^n, q<=-3, a(n) ~ (-1)^n*((q+2)/(q+1))*(q^2/(q+1))^n, q>=5, and a(n) ~ -Kq*2^(2*n)/sqrt(Pi*n^3), where the multiplicative constant Kq is given by K1=1/9 (q=1), K2=1/8 (q=2), K3=3/25 (q=3), K4=1/9 (q=4). These formulas apply to existing sequences A126983 (q=1), A126984 (q=2), A126982 (q=3), A126986 (q=4), A126987 (q=5), A127017 (q=6), A127016 (q=7), A126985 (q=8), A127053 (q=9), and to A007854 (q=-3), A076035 (q=-4), A076036 (q=-5), A127628 (q=-6), A126694 (q=-7), A115970 (q=-8). (End)

a(n)*(2^n)^(j-2) equals S(n), where S(n) is the n-th number in the self-convolved sequence which yields the powers of 2^j for all integers j, n>=0. For example, when n=5 and j=4, a(5)=252; 252*(2^5)^(4-2) = 252*1024 = 258048. The self-convolved sequence which yields powers of 16 is {1, 8, 96, 1280, 17920, 258048, ...}; i.e., S(5) = 258048. Note that the convolved sequences will be composed of numbers decreasing from 1 to 0, when j<2 (exception being j=1, where the first two numbers in the sequence are 1 and all others decreasing). - Bob Selcoe, Jul 16 2014

The variance of the n-th difference of a sequence of pairwise uncorrelated random variables each with variance 1. - Liam Patrick Roche, Jun 04 2015

Number of ordered trees with n edges where vertices at level 1 can be of 2 colors. Indeed, the standard decomposition of ordered trees leading to the equation C = 1 + zC^2 (C is the Catalan function), yields this time G = 1 + 2zCG, from where G = 1/sqrt(1-4z). - Emeric Deutsch, Jun 17 2015

Number of monomials of degree at most n in n variables. - Ran Pan, Sep 26 2015

Let V(n, r) denote the volume of an n-dimensional sphere with radius r, then V(n, 2^n) / Pi = V(n-1, 2^n) * a(n/2) for all even n. - Peter Luschny, Oct 12 2015

a(n) is the number of sets {i1,...,in} of length n such that n >= i1 >= i2 >= ... >= in >= 0. For instance, a(2) = 6 as there are only 6 such sets: (2,2) (2,1) (2,0) (1,1) (1,0) (0,0). - Anton Zakharov, Jul 04 2016

From Ralf Steiner, Apr 07 2017: (Start)

By analytic continuation to the entire complex plane there exist regularized values for divergent sums such as:

Sum_{k>=0} a(k)/(-2)^k = 1/sqrt(3).

Sum_{k>=0} a(k)/(-1)^k = 1/sqrt(5).

Sum_{k>=0} a(k)/(-1/2)^k = 1/3.

Sum_{k>=0} a(k)/(1/2)^k = -1/sqrt(7)i.

Sum_{k>=0} a(k)/(1)^k = -1/sqrt(3)i.

Sum_{k>=0} a(k)/2^k = -i. (End)

Number of sequences (e(1), ..., e(n+1)), 0 <= e(i) < i, such that there is no triple i < j < k with e(i) > e(j). [Martinez and Savage, 2.18] - Eric M. Schmidt, Jul 17 2017

The o.g.f. for the sequence equals the diagonal of any of the following the rational functions: 1/(1 - (x + y)), 1/(1 - (x + y*z)), 1/(1 - (x + x*y + y*z)) or 1/(1 - (x + y + y*z)). - Peter Bala, Jan 30 2018

From Colin Defant, Sep 16 2018: (Start)

Let s denote West's stack-sorting map. a(n) is the number of permutations pi of [n+1] such that s(pi) avoids the patterns 132, 231, and 321. a(n) is also the number of permutations pi of [n+1] such that s(pi) avoids the patterns 132, 312, and 321.

a(n) is the number of permutations of [n+1] that avoid the patterns 1342, 3142, 3412, and 3421. (End)

All binary self-dual codes of length 4n, for n>0, must contain at least a(n) codewords of weight 2n. More to the point, there will always be at least one, perhaps unique, binary self-dual code of length 4n that will contain exactly a(n) codewords that have a hamming weight equal to half the length of the code (2n). This code can be constructed by direct summing the unique binary self-dual code of length 2 (up to permutation equivalence) to itself an even number of times. A permutation equivalent code can be constructed by augmenting two identity matrices of length 2n together. - Nathan J. Russell, Nov 25 2018

From Isaac Saffold, Dec 28 2018: (Start)

Let [b/p] denote the Legendre symbol and 1/b denote the inverse of b mod p. Then, for m and n, where n is not divisible by p,

[(m+n)/p] == [n/p]*Sum_{k=0..(p-1)/2} (-m/(4*n))^k * a(k) (mod p).

Evaluating this identity for m = -1 and n = 1 demonstrates that, for all odd primes p, Sum_{k=0..(p-1)/2} (1/4)^k * a(k) is divisible by p. (End)

Number of vertices of the subgraph of the (2n-1)-dimensional hypercube induced by all bitstrings with n-1 or n many 1s. The middle levels conjecture asserts that this graph has a Hamilton cycle. - Torsten Muetze, Feb 11 2019

a(n) is the number of walks of length 2n from the origin with steps (1,1) and (1,-1) that stay on or above the x-axis. Equivalently, a(n) is the number of walks of length 2n from the origin with steps (1,0) and (0,1) that stay in the first octant. - Alexander Burstein, Dec 24 2019

Number of permutations of length n>0 avoiding the partially ordered pattern (POP) {3>1, 1>2} of length 4. That is, number of length n permutations having no subsequences of length 4 in which the first element is larger than the second element but smaller than the third elements. - Sergey Kitaev, Dec 08 2020

From Gus Wiseman, Jul 21 2021: (Start)

Also the number of integer compositions of 2n+1 with alternating sum 1, where the alternating sum of a sequence (y_1,...,y_k) is Sum_i (-1)^(i-1) y_i. For example, the a(0) = 1 through a(2) = 6 compositions are:

(1) (2,1) (3,2)

(1,1,1) (1,2,2)

(2,2,1)

(1,1,2,1)

(2,1,1,1)

(1,1,1,1,1)

The following relate to these compositions:

- The unordered version is A000070.

- The alternating sum -1 version is counted by A001791, ranked by A345910/A345912.

- The alternating sum 0 version is counted by A088218, ranked by A344619.

- Including even indices gives A126869.

- The complement is counted by A202736.

- Ranked by A345909 (reverse: A345911).

Equivalently, a(n) counts binary numbers with 2n+1 digits and one more 1 than 0's. For example, the a(2) = 6 binary numbers are: 10011, 10101, 10110, 11001, 11010, 11100.

(End)

From Michael Wallner, Jan 25 2022: (Start)

a(n) is the number of nx2 Young tableaux with a single horizontal wall between the first and second column. If there is a wall between two cells, the entries may be decreasing; see [Banderier, Wallner 2021].

Example for a(2)=6:

3 4 2 4 3 4 3|4 4|3 2|4

1|2, 1|3, 2|1, 1 2, 1 2, 1 3

a(n) is also the number of nx2 Young tableaux with n "walls" between the first and second column.

Example for a(2)=6:

3|4 2|4 4|3 3|4 4|3 4|2

1|2, 1|3, 1|2, 2|1, 2|1, 3|1 (End)

From Shel Kaphan, Jan 12 2023: (Start)

a(n)/4^n is the probability that a fair coin tossed 2n times will come up heads exactly n times and tails exactly n times, or that a random walk with steps of +-1 will return to the starting point after 2n steps (not necessarily for the first time). As n becomes large, this number asymptotically approaches 1/sqrt(n*Pi), using Stirling's approximation for n!.

a(n)/(4^n*(2n-1)) is the probability that a random walk with steps of +-1 will return to the starting point for the first time after 2n steps. The absolute value of the n-th term of A144704 is denominator of this fraction.

Considering all possible random walks of exactly 2n steps with steps of +-1, a(n)/(2n-1) is the number of such walks that return to the starting point for the first time after 2n steps. See the absolute values of A002420 or A284016 for these numbers. For comparison, as mentioned by Stefan Hollos, Dec 10 2007, a(n) is the number of such walks that return to the starting point after 2n steps, but not necessarily for the first time. (End)

p divides a((p-1)/2) + 1 for primes p of the form 4*k+3 (A002145). - Jules Beauchamp, Feb 11 2023

Also the size of the shuffle product of two words of length n, such that the union of the two words consist of 2n distinct elements. - Robert C. Lyons, Mar 15 2023

a(n) is the number of vertices of the n-dimensional cyclohedron W_{n+1}. - Jose Bastidas, Mar 25 2025

Consider a stack of pancakes of height n, where the only allowed operation is reversing the top portion of the stack. First, perform a series of reversals of increasing sizes, followed by a series of reversals of decreasing sizes. The number of distinct permutations of the initial stack that can be reached through these operations is a(n). - Thomas Baruchel, May 12 2025

A similar sequence, with the initial 0 replaced by 1, namely A094258, is defined by the recurrence a(2) = 1, a(n) = a(n-1)*(n-1)^2/(n-2). - Andrey Ryshevich (ryshevich(AT)notes.idlab.net), May 21 2002

Denominators in power series expansion of E_1(x) + gamma + log(x), x > 0. - Michael Somos, Dec 11 2002

If all the permutations of any length k are arranged in lexicographic order, the n-th term in this sequence (n <= k) gives the index of the permutation that rotates the last n elements one position to the right. E.g., there are 24 permutations of 4 items. In lexicographic order they are (0,1,2,3), (0,1,3,2), (0,2,1,3), ... (3,2,0,1), (3,2,1,0). Permutation 0 is (0,1,2,3), which rotates the last 1 element, i.e., it makes no change. Permutation 1 is (0,1,3,2), which rotates the last 2 elements. Permutation 4 is (0,3,1,2), which rotates the last 3 elements. Permutation 18 is (3,0,1,2), which rotates the last 4 elements. The same numbers work for permutations of any length. - Henry H. Rich (glasss(AT)bellsouth.net), Sep 27 2003

Stirling transform of a(n+1)=[4,18,96,600,...] is A083140(n+1)=[4,22,154,...]. - Michael Somos, Mar 04 2004

From Michael Somos, Apr 27 2012: (Start)

Stirling transform of a(n)=[1,4,18,96,...] is A069321(n)=[1,5,31,233,...].

Partial sums of a(n)=[0,1,4,18,...] is A033312(n+1)=[0,1,5,23,...].

Binomial transform of A000166(n+1)=[0,1,2,9,...] is a(n)=[0,1,4,18,...].

Binomial transform of A000255(n+1)=[1,3,11,53,...] is a(n+1)=[1,4,18,96,...].

Binomial transform of a(n)=[0,1,4,18,...] is A093964(n)=[0,1,6,33,...].

Partial sums of A001564(n)=[1,3,4,14,...] is a(n+1)=[1,4,18,96,...].

(End)

Number of small descents in all permutations of [n+1]. A small descent in a permutation (x_1,x_2,...,x_n) is a position i such that x_i - x_(i+1) =1. Example: a(2)=4 because there are 4 small descents in the permutations 123, 13\2, 2\13, 231, 312, 3\2\1 of {1,2,3} (shown by \). a(n)=Sum_{k=0..n-1}k*A123513(n,k). - Emeric Deutsch, Oct 02 2006

Equivalently, in the notation of David, Kendall and Barton, p. 263, this is the total number of consecutive ascending pairs in all permutations on n+1 letters (cf. A010027). - N. J. A. Sloane, Apr 12 2014

a(n-1) is the number of permutations of n in which n is not fixed; equivalently, the number of permutations of the positive integers in which n is the largest element that is not fixed. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Nov 29 2006

Number of factors in a determinant when writing down all multiplication permutations. - Mats Granvik, Sep 12 2008

a(n) is also the sum of the positions of the left-to-right maxima in all permutations of [n]. Example: a(3)=18 because the positions of the left-to-right maxima in the permutations 123,132,213,231,312 and 321 of [3] are 123, 12, 13, 12, 1 and 1, respectively and 1+2+3+1+2+1+3+1+2+1+1=18. - Emeric Deutsch, Sep 21 2008

Equals eigensequence of triangle A002024 ("n appears n times"). - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 29 2008

Preface the series with another 1: (1, 1, 4, 18, ...); then the next term = dot product of the latter with "n occurs n times". Example: 96 = (1, 1, 4, 8) dot (4, 4, 4, 4) = (4 + 4 + 16 + 72). - Gary W. Adamson, Apr 17 2009

Row lengths of the triangle in A030298. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 29 2012

a(n) is also the number of minimum (n-)distinguishing labelings of the star graph S_{n+1} on n+1 nodes. - Eric W. Weisstein, Oct 14 2014

When the numbers denote finite permutations (as row numbers of A055089) these are the circular shifts to the right, i.e., a(n) is the permutation with the cycle notation (0 1 ... n-1 n). Compare array A051683 for circular shifts to the right in a broader sense. Compare sequence A007489 for circular shifts to the left. - Tilman Piesk, Apr 29 2017

a(n-1) is the number of permutations on n elements with no cycles of length n. - Dennis P. Walsh, Oct 02 2017

The number of pandigital numbers in base n+1, such that each digit appears exactly once. For example, there are a(9) = 9*9! = 3265920 pandigital numbers in base 10 (A050278). - Amiram Eldar, Apr 13 2020

Number of peaks at even level in all Dyck paths of semilength n+1. Example: a(2)=4 because UDUDUD, UDUU*DD, UU*DDUD, UU*DU*DD, UUUDDD, where U=(1,1), D=(1,-1) and the peaks at even level are shown by *. - Emeric Deutsch, Dec 05 2003

Also number of long ascents (i.e., ascents of length at least two) in all Dyck paths of semilength n+1. Example: a(2)=4 because in the five Dyck paths of semilength 3, namely UDUDUD, UD(UU)DD, (UU)DDUD, (UU)DUDD and (UUU)DDD, we have four long ascents (shown between parentheses). Here U=(1,1) and D=(1,-1). Also number of branch nodes (i.e., vertices of outdegree at least two) in all ordered trees with n+1 edges. - Emeric Deutsch, Feb 22 2004

Number of lattice paths from (0,0) to (n,n) with steps E=(1,0) and N=(0,1) which touch or cross the line x-y=1. Example: For n=2 these are the paths EENN, ENEN, ENNE and NEEN. - Herbert Kociemba, May 23 2004

Narayana transform (A001263) of [1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ...] = (1, 4, 15, 56, 210, ...). Row sums of triangles A136534 and A136536. - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 04 2008

Starting with offset 1 = the Catalan sequence starting (1, 2, 5, 14, ...) convolved with A000984: (1, 2, 6, 20, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 17 2009

Also number of peaks plus number of valleys in all Dyck n-paths. - David Scambler, Oct 08 2012

Apparently counts UDDUD in all Dyck paths of semilength n+2. - David Scambler, Apr 22 2013

Apparently the number of peaks strictly left of the midpoint in all Dyck paths of semilength n+1. - David Scambler, Apr 30 2013

For n>0, a(n) is the number of compositions of n into at most n parts if zeros are allowed as parts (so-called "weak" compositions). - L. Edson Jeffery, Jul 24 2014

Number of paths in the half-plane x >= 0, from (0,0) to (2n,2), and consisting of steps U=(1,1) and D=(1,-1). For example, for n=2, we have the 4 paths: UUUD, UUDU, UDUU, DUUU. - José Luis Ramírez Ramírez, Apr 19 2015

For n>1, 1/a(n) is the probability that when a stick is broken up at n points independently and uniformly chosen at random along its length any triple of pieces of the n+1 pieces can form a triangle. The corresponding probability for the existence of at least one triple is A339392(n)/A339393(n). - Amiram Eldar, Dec 04 2020

a(n) is the number of lattice paths of 2n steps taken from the step set {U=(1,1), D=(1,-1)} that start at the origin, never go below the x-axis, and end strictly above the x-axis; more succinctly, proper left factors of Dyck paths. For example, a(2)=4 counts UUUU, UUUD, UUDU, UDUU. - David Callan and Emeric Deutsch, Jan 25 2021

From Gus Wiseman, Jul 21 2021: (Start)

Also the number of integer compositions of 2n+1 with alternating sum -1, where the alternating sum of a sequence (y_1,...,y_k) is Sum_i (-1)^(i-1) y_i. For example, the a(1) = 1 through a(3) = 15 compositions are:

(1,2) (2,3) (3,4)

(1,3,1) (1,4,2)

(1,1,1,2) (2,4,1)

(1,2,1,1) (1,1,2,3)

(1,2,2,2)

(1,3,2,1)

(2,1,1,3)

(2,2,1,2)

(2,3,1,1)

(1,1,1,3,1)

(1,2,1,2,1)

(1,3,1,1,1)

(1,1,1,1,1,2)

(1,1,1,2,1,1)

(1,2,1,1,1,1)

The following relate to these compositions.

- The unordered version is A000070.

- Allowing any negative alternating sum gives A000346.

- The opposite (positive 1) version is A000984.

- The version for reverse-alternating sum is also A001791 (this sequence).

- Taking alternating sum -2 instead of -1 gives A002054.

- The shifted version for alternating sum 0 is counted by A088218 and ranked by A344619.

- Ranked by A345910 (reverse: A345912).

Equivalently, a(n) counts binary numbers with 2n+1 digits and one more 0 than 1's. For example, the a(2) = 4 binary numbers are: 10001, 10010, 10100, 11000.

(End)

The diagonal of a square n X n matrix where cells of the first row are the nonnegative integers and cells of subsequent rows are sums of cells of the previous row up to and including n. - Torlach Rush, Apr 24 2024

For n>=1, a(n) is the independence number of the odd graph O_{n+1}. - Miquel A. Fiol, Jul 07 2024