cp's OEIS Frontend

Partial sums of A155980 for n > 2. - Klaus Purath, Jan 30 2021

With [0,0,0] prepended to it, this is an autosequence of the first kind. - Jean-François Alcover, Oct 21 2019

Related to binary partitions (A000123); A131205 is defined by a(n) = a(n-1) + a(floor(n/2)) + a(ceiling(n/2)) and A005578(n) = (2^(n+1)+3+(-1)^n)/6.

Don Knuth points out (personal communication) that Jacobsthal may never have seen the actual values of this sequence. However, Horadam uses the name "Jacobsthal sequence", such an important sequence needs a name, and there is a law that says the name for something should never be that of its discoverer. - N. J. A. Sloane, Dec 26 2020

Number of ways to tile a 3 X (n-1) rectangle with 1 X 1 and 2 X 2 square tiles.

Also, number of ways to tile a 2 X (n-1) rectangle with 1 X 2 dominoes and 2 X 2 squares. - Toby Gottfried, Nov 02 2008

Also a(n) counts each of the following four things: n-ary quasigroups of order 3 with automorphism group of order 3, n-ary quasigroups of order 3 with automorphism group of order 6, (n-1)-ary quasigroups of order 3 with automorphism group of order 2 and (n-2)-ary quasigroups of order 3. See the McKay-Wanless (2008) paper. - Ian Wanless, Apr 28 2008

Also the number of ways to tie a necktie using n + 2 turns. So three turns make an "oriental", four make a "four in hand" and for 5 turns there are 3 methods: "Kelvin", "Nicky" and "Pratt". The formula also arises from a special random walk on a triangular grid with side conditions (see Fink and Mao, 1999). - arne.ring(AT)epost.de, Mar 18 2001

Also the number of compositions of n + 1 ending with an odd part (a(2) = 3 because 3, 21, 111 are the only compositions of 3 ending with an odd part). Also the number of compositions of n + 2 ending with an even part (a(2) = 3 because 4, 22, 112 are the only compositions of 4 ending with an even part). - Emeric Deutsch, May 08 2001

Arises in study of sorting by merge insertions and in analysis of a method for computing GCDs - see Knuth reference.

Number of perfect matchings of a 2 X n grid upon replacing unit squares with tetrahedra (C_4 to K_4):

o----o----o----o...

| \/ | \/ | \/ |

| /\ | /\ | /\ |

o----o----o----o... - Roberto E. Martinez II, Jan 07 2002

Also the numerators of the reduced fractions in the alternating sum 1/2 - 1/4 + 1/8 - 1/16 + 1/32 - 1/64 + ... - Joshua Zucker, Feb 07 2002

Also, if A(n), B(n), C(n) are the angles of the n-orthic triangle of ABC then A(1) = Pi - 2*A, A(n) = s(n)*Pi + (-2)^n*A where s(n) = (-1)^(n-1) * a(n) [1-orthic triangle = the orthic triangle of ABC, n-orthic triangle = the orthic triangle of the (n-1)-orthic triangle]. - Antreas P. Hatzipolakis (xpolakis(AT)otenet.gr), Jun 05 2002

Also the number of words of length n+1 in the two letters s and t that reduce to the identity 1 by using the relations sss = 1, tt = 1 and stst = 1. The generators s and t and the three stated relations generate the group S3. - John W. Layman, Jun 14 2002

Sums of pairs of consecutive terms give all powers of 2 in increasing order. - Amarnath Murthy, Aug 15 2002

Excess clockwise moves (over counterclockwise) needed to move a tower of size n to the clockwise peg is -(-1)^n*(2^n - (-1)^n)/3; a(n) is its unsigned version. - Wouter Meeussen, Sep 01 2002

Also the absolute value of the number represented in base -2 by the string of n 1's, the negabinary repunit. The Mersenne numbers (A000225 and its subsequences) are the binary repunits. - Rick L. Shepherd, Sep 16 2002

Note that 3*a(n) + (-1)^n = 2^n is significant for Pascal's triangle A007318. It arises from a Jacobsthal decomposition of Pascal's triangle illustrated by 1 + 7 + 21 + 35 + 35 + 21 + 7 + 1 = (7 + 35 + 1) + (1 + 35 + 7) + (21 + 21) = 43 + 43 + 42 = 3a(7) - 1; 1 + 8 + 28 + 56 + 70 + 56 + 28 + 8 + 1 = (1 + 56 + 28) + (28 + 56 + 1) + (8 + 70 + 8) = 85 + 85 + 86 = 3a(8)+1. - Paul Barry, Feb 20 2003

Number of positive integers requiring exactly n signed bits in the nonadjacent form representation.

Equivalently, number of length-(n-1) words with letters {0, 1, 2} where no two consecutive letters are nonzero, see example and fxtbook link. - Joerg Arndt, Nov 10 2012

Counts walks between adjacent vertices of a triangle. - Paul Barry, Nov 17 2003

Every amphichiral rational knot written in Conway notation is a palindromic sequence of numbers, not beginning or ending with 1. For example, for 4 <= n <= 12, the amphichiral rational knots are: 2 2, 2 1 1 2, 4 4, 3 1 1 3, 2 2 2 2, 4 1 1 4, 3 1 1 1 1 3, 2 3 3 2, 2 1 2 2 1 2, 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2, 6 6, 5 1 1 5, 4 2 2 4, 3 3 3 3, 2 4 4 2, 3 2 1 1 2 3, 3 1 2 2 1 3, 2 2 2 2 2 2, 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2, 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2, 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2. For the number of amphichiral rational knots for n=2*k (k=1, 2, 3, ...), we obtain the sequence 0, 1, 1, 3, 5, 11, 21, 43, 85, 171, 341, 683, ... - Slavik Jablan, Dec 26 2003

a(n+2) counts the binary sequences of total length n made up of codewords from C = {0, 10, 11}. - Paul Barry, Jan 23 2004

Number of permutations with no fixed points avoiding 231 and 132.

The n-th entry (n > 1) of the sequence is equal to the 2,2-entry of the n-th power of the unnormalized 4 X 4 Haar matrix: [1 1 1 0 / 1 1 -1 0 / 1 1 0 1 / 1 1 0 -1]. - Simone Severini, Oct 27 2004

a(n) is the number of Motzkin (n+1)-sequences whose flatsteps all occur at level 1 and whose height is less than or equal to 2. For example, a(4) = 5 counts UDUFD, UFDUD, UFFFD, UFUDD, UUDFD. - David Callan, Dec 09 2004

a(n+1) gives row sums of A059260. - Paul Barry, Jan 26 2005

If (m + n) is odd, then 3*(a(m) + a(n)) is always of the form a^2 + 2*b^2, where a and b both equal powers of 2; consequently every factor of (a(m) + a(n)) is always of the form a^2 + 2*b^2. - Matthew Vandermast, Jul 12 2003

Number of "0,0" in f_{n+1}, where f_0 = "1" and f_{n+1} = a sequence formed by changing all "1"s in f_n to "1,0" and all "0"s in f_n to "0,1". - Fung Cheok Yin (cheokyin_restart(AT)yahoo.com.hk), Sep 22 2006

All prime Jacobsthal numbers A049883[n] = {3, 5, 11, 43, 683, 2731, 43691, ...} have prime indices except for a(4) = 5. All prime Jacobsthal numbers with prime indices (all but a(4) = 5) are of the form (2^p + 1)/3 - the Wagstaff primes A000979[n]. Indices of prime Jacobsthal numbers are listed in A107036[n] = {3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 31, 43, 61, ...}. For n>1 A107036[n] = A000978[n] Numbers n such that (2^n + 1)/3 is prime. - Alexander Adamchuk, Oct 03 2006

Correspondence: a(n) = b(n)*2^(n-1), where b(n) is the sequence of the arithmetic means of previous two terms defined by b(n) = 1/2*(b(n-1) + b(n-2)) with initial values b(0) = 0, b(1) = 1; the g.f. for b(n) is B(x) := x/(1-(x^1+x^2)/2), so the g.f. A(x) for a(n) satisfies A(x) = B(2*x)/2. Because b(n) converges to the limit lim (1-x)*B(x) = 1/3*(b(0) + 2*b(1)) = 2/3 (for x --> 1), it follows that a(n)/2^(n-1) also converges to 2/3 (see also A103770). - Hieronymus Fischer, Feb 04 2006

Inverse: floor(log_2(a(n))) = n - 2 for n >= 2. Also: log_2(a(n) + a(n-1)) = n - 1 for n >= 1 (see also A130249). Characterization: x is a Jacobsthal number if and only if there is a power of 4 (= c) such that x is a root of p(x) = 9*x*(x-c) + (c-1)*(2*c+1) (see also the indicator sequence A105348). - Hieronymus Fischer, May 17 2007

This sequence counts the odd coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x + x^2)^(2^n - 1), n >= 0. - Tewodros Amdeberhan (tewodros(AT)math.mit.edu), Oct 18 2007, Jan 08 2008

2^(n+1) = 2*A005578(n) + 2*a(n) + 2*A000975(n-1). Let A005578(n), a(n), A000975(n-1) = triangle (a, b, c). Then ((S-c), (S-b), (S-a)) = (A005578(n-1), a(n-1), A000975(n-2)). Example: (a, b, c) = (11, 11, 10) = (A005578(5), a(5), A000975(4)). Then ((S-c), (S-b), (S-a)) = (6, 5, 5) = (A005578(4), a(4), A000975(3)). - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 24 2007

Sequence is identical to the absolute values of its inverse binomial transform. A similar result holds for [0,A001045*2^n]. - Paul Curtz, Jan 17 2008

From a(2) on (i.e., 1, 3, 5, 11, 21, ...) also: least odd number such that the subsets of {a(2), ..., a(n)} sum to 2^(n-1) different values, cf. A138000 and A064934. It is interesting to note the pattern of numbers occurring (or not occurring) as such a sum (A003158). - M. F. Hasler, Apr 09 2008

a(n) is the term (5, 1) of n-th power of the 5 X 5 matrix shown in A121231. - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 03 2008

A147612(a(n)) = 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 08 2008

a(n+1) = Sum(A153778(i): 2^n <= i < 2^(n+1)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jan 01 2009

It appears that a(n) is also the number of integers between 2^n and 2^(n+1) that are divisible by 3 with no remainder. - John Fossaceca (john(AT)fossaceca.net), Jan 31 2009

Number of pairs of consecutive odious (or evil) numbers between 2^(n+1) and 2^(n+2), inclusive. - T. D. Noe, Feb 05 2009

Equals eigensequence of triangle A156319. - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 07 2009

A three-dimensional interpretation of a(n+1) is that it gives the number of ways of filling a 2 X 2 X n hole with 1 X 2 X 2 bricks. - Martin Griffiths, Mar 28 2009

Starting with offset 1 = INVERTi transform of A002605: (1, 2, 6, 16, 44, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 12 2009

Convolved with (1, 2, 2, 2, ...) = A000225: (1, 3, 7, 15, 31, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 23 2009

The product of a pair of successive terms is always a triangular number. - Giuseppe Ottonello, Jun 14 2009

Let A be the Hessenberg matrix of order n, defined by: A[1, j] = 1, A[i, i] := -2, A[i, i - 1] = -1, and A[i, j] = 0 otherwise. Then, for n >= 1, a(n) = (-1)^(n-1)*det(A). - Milan Janjic, Jan 26 2010

Let R denote the irreducible representation of the symmetric group S_3 of dimension 2, and let s and t denote respectively the sign and trivial irreducible representations of dimension 1. The decomposition of R^n into irreducible representations consists of a(n) copies of R and a(n-1) copies of each of s and t. - Andrew Rupinski, Mar 12 2010

As a fraction: 1/88 = 0.0113636363... or 1/9898 = 0.00010103051121... - Mark Dols, May 18 2010

Starting with "1" = the INVERT transform of (1, 0, 2, 0, 4, 0, 8, ...); e.g., a(7) = 43 = (1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 11, 21) dot (8, 0, 4, 0, 2, 0, 1) = (8 + 4 + 10 + 21) = 43. - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 28 2010

Rule 28 elementary cellular automaton (A266508) generates this sequence. - Paul Muljadi, Jan 27 2011

This is a divisibility sequence. - Michael Somos, Feb 06 2011

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

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

U = U_(6,2) =

(0 0 1)

(0 2 0)

(2 0 1).

Then a(n+1) = (Trace(U^n))/3, a(n+1) = ((U^n){3, 3})/3, a(n) = ((U^n){1, 3})/3 and a(n) = ((U^(n+1))_{1, 1})/2. (End)

The sequence emerges in using iterated deletion of strictly dominated strategies to establish the best-response solution to the Cournot duopoly problem as a strictly dominant strategy. The best response of firm 1 to firm 2's chosen quantity is given by q*1 = 1/2*(a - c - q_2), where a is reservation price, c is marginal cost, and q_2 is firm two's chosen quantity. Given that q_2 is in [o, a - c], q*_1 must be in [o, 1/2*(a - c)]. Since costs are symmetric, we know q_2 is in [0, 1/2*(a - c)]. Then we know q*_1 is in [1/4*(a - c), 1/2*(a - c)]. Continuing in this way, the sequence of bounds we get (factoring out a - c) is {1/2, 1/4, 3/8, 5/16, ...}; the numerators are the Jacobsthal numbers. - _Michael Chirico, Sep 10 2011

The compositions of n in which each natural number is colored by one of p different colors are called p-colored compositions of n. For n >= 2, 3*a(n-1) equals the number of 3-colored compositions of n with all parts greater than or equal to 2, such that no adjacent parts have the same color. - Milan Janjic, Nov 26 2011

This sequence is connected with the Collatz problem. We consider the array T(i, j) where the i-th row gives the parity trajectory of i, for example for i = 6, the infinite trajectory is 6 -> 3 -> 10 -> 5 -> 16 -> 8 -> 4 -> 2 -> 1 -> 4 -> 2 -> 1 -> 4 -> 2 -> 1... and T(6, j) = [0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, ..., 1, 0, 0, 1, ...]. Now, we consider the sum of the digits "1" of each column. We obtain the sequence a(n) = Sum_{k = 1..2^n} T(k, n) = Sum {k = 1..2^n} digits "1" of the n-th column. Because a(n) + a(n+1) = 2^n, then a(n+1) = Number of digits "0" among the 2^n elements of the n-th column. - _Michel Lagneau, Jan 11 2012

3!*a(n-1) is apparently the trace of the n-th power of the adjacency matrix of the complete 3-graph, a 3 X 3 matrix with diagonal elements all zero and off-diagonal all ones. The off-diagonal elements for the n-th power are all equal to a(n) while each diagonal element seems to be a(n) + 1 for an even power and a(n) - 1 for an odd. These are related to the lengths of closed paths on the graph (see Delfino and Viti's paper). - Tom Copeland, Nov 06 2012

From Paul Curtz, Dec 11 2012: (Start)

2^n * a(-n) = (-1)^(n-1) * a(n), which extends the sequence to negative indices: ..., -5/16, 3/8, -1/4, 1/2, 0, 1, 1, 3, 5, ...

The "autosequence" property with respect to the binomial transform mentioned in my comment of Jan 17 2008 is still valid if the term a(-1) is added to the array of the sequence and its iterated higher-order differences in subsequent rows:

0 1/2 1/2 3/2 5/2 11/2 ...

1/2 0 1 1 3 5 ...

-1/2 1 0 2 2 6 ...

3/2 -1 2 0 4 4 ...

-5/2 3 -2 4 0 8 ...

11/2 -5 6 -4 8 0 ...

The main diagonal in this array contains 0's. (End)

Assign to a triangle T(n, 0) = 1 and T(n+1, 1) = n; T(r, c) = T(r-1, c-1) + T(r-1, c-2) + T(r-2, c-2). Then T(n+1, n) - T(n, n) = a(n). - J. M. Bergot, May 02 2013

a(n+1) counts clockwise walks on n points on a circle that take steps of length 1 and 2, return to the starting point after two full circuits, and do not duplicate any steps (USAMO 2013, problem 5). - Kiran S. Kedlaya, May 11 2013

Define an infinite square array m by m(n, 0) = m(0, n) = a(n) in top row and left column and m(i, j) = m(i, j-1) + m(i-1, j-1) otherwise, then m(n+1, n+1) = 3^(n-1). - J. M. Bergot, May 10 2013

a(n) is the number of compositions (ordered partitions) of n - 1 into one sort of 1's and two sorts of 2's. Example: the a(4) = 5 compositions of 3 are 1 + 1 + 1, 1 + 2, 1 + 2', 2 + 1 and 2' + 1. - Bob Selcoe, Jun 24 2013

Without 0, a(n)/2^n equals the probability that n will occur as a partial sum in a randomly-generated infinite sequence of 1's and 2's. The limiting ratio is 2/3. - Bob Selcoe, Jul 04 2013

Number of conjugacy classes of Z/2Z X Z/2Z in GL(2,2^(n+1)). - Jared Warner, Aug 18 2013

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

This is the only integer sequence from the family of homogeneous linear recurrence of order 2 given by a(n) = k*a(n-1) + t*a(n-2) with positive integer coefficients k and t and initial values a(0) = 0 and a(1) = 1 whose ratio a(n+1)/a(n) converges to 2 as n approaches infinity. - Felix P. Muga II, Mar 14 2014

This is the Lucas sequence U(1, -2). - Felix P. Muga II, Mar 21 2014

sqrt(a(n+1) * a(n-1)) -> a(n) + 3/4 if n is even, and -> a(n) - 3/4 if n is odd, for n >= 2. - Richard R. Forberg, Jun 24 2014

a(n+1) counts closed walks on the end vertices of P_3 containing one loop at the middle vertex. a(n-1) counts closed walks on the middle vertex of P_3 containing one loop at that vertex. - David Neil McGrath, Nov 07 2014

From César Eliud Lozada, Jan 21 2015: (Start)

Let P be a point in the plane of a triangle ABC (with sides a, b, c) and barycentric coordinates P = [x:y:z]. The Complement of P with respect to ABC is defined to be Complement(P) = [b*y + c*z : c*z + a*x : a*x + b*y].

Then, for n >= 1, Complement(Complement(...(Complement(P))..)) = (n times) =

[2*a(n-1)*a*x + (2*a(n-1) - (-1)^n)*(b*y + c*z):

2*a(n-1)*b*y + (2*a(n-1) - (-1)^n)*(c*z + a*x):

2*a(n-1)*c*z + (2*a(n-1) - (-1)^n)*(a*x + b*y)]. (End)

a(n) (n >= 2) is the number of induced hypercubes of the Fibonacci cube Gamma(n-2). See p. 513 of the Klavzar reference. Example: a(5) = 11. Indeed, the Fibonacci cube Gamma(3) is <>- (cycle C(4) with a pendant edge) and the hypercubes are: 5 vertices, 5 edges, and 1 square. - Emeric Deutsch, Apr 07 2016

If the sequence of points {P_i(x_i, y_i)} on the cubic y = a*x^3 + b*x^2 + c*x + d has the property that the segment P_i(x_i, y_i) P_i+1(x_i+1, y_i+1) is always tangent to the cubic at P_i+1(x_i+1, y_i+1) then a(n) = -2^n*a/b*(x_(n+1)-(-1/2)^n*x_1). - Michael Brozinsky, Aug 01 2016

With the quantum integers defined by [n+1]A000225%20are%20given%20by%20q%20=%20sqrt(2).%20Cf.%20A239473.%20-%20_Tom%20Copeland">q = (q^(n+1) - q^(-n-1)) / (q - q^(-1)), the Jacobsthal numbers are a(n+1) = (-1)^n*q^n [n+1]_q with q = i * sqrt(2) for i^2 = -1, whereas the signed Mersenne numbers A000225 are given by q = sqrt(2). Cf. A239473. - _Tom Copeland, Sep 05 2016

Every positive integer has a unique expression as a sum of Jacobsthal numbers in which the index of the smallest summand is odd, with a(1) and a(2) both allowed. See the L. Carlitz, R. Scoville, and V. E. Hoggatt, Jr. reference. - Ira M. Gessel, Dec 31 2016. See A280049 for these expansions. - N. J. A. Sloane, Dec 31 2016

For n > 0, a(n) equals the number of ternary words of length n-1 in which 0 and 1 avoid runs of odd lengths. - Milan Janjic, Jan 08 2017

For n > 0, a(n) equals the number of orbits of the finite group PSL(2,2^n) acting on subsets of size 4 for the 2^n+1 points of the projective line. - Paul M. Bradley, Jan 31 2017

For n > 1, number of words of length n-2 over alphabet {1,2,3} such that no odd letter is followed by an odd letter. - Armend Shabani, Feb 17 2017

Also, the decimal representation of the x-axis, from the origin to the right edge, of the n-th stage of growth of the two-dimensional cellular automaton defined by "Rule 678", based on the 5-celled von Neumann neighborhood, initialized with a single black (ON) cell at stage zero. See A283641. - Robert Price, Mar 12 2017

Also the number of independent vertex sets and vertex covers in the 2 X (n-2) king graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 21 2017

From César Eliud Lozada, Dec 14 2017: (Start)

Let T(0) be a triangle and let T(1) be the medial triangle of T(0), T(2) the medial triangle of T(1) and, in general, T(n) the medial triangle of T(n-1). The barycentric coordinates of the first vertex of T(n) are [2*a(n-1)/a(n), 1, 1], for n > 0.

Let S(0) be a triangle and let S(1) be the antimedial triangle of S(0), S(2) the antimedial triangle of S(1) and, in general, S(n) the antimedial triangle of S(n-1). The barycentric coordinates of the first vertex of S(n) are [-a(n+1)/a(n), 1, 1], for n > 0. (End)

a(n) is also the number of derangements in S_{n+1} with empty peak set. - Isabella Huang, Apr 01 2018

For n > 0, gcd(a(n), a(n+1)) = 1. - Kengbo Lu, Jul 27 2020

Number of 2-compositions of n+1 with 1 not allowed as a part; see Hopkins & Ouvry reference. - Brian Hopkins, Aug 17 2020

The number of Hamiltonian paths of the flower snark graph of even order 2n > 2 is 12*a(n-1). - Don Knuth, Dec 25 2020

When set S = {1, 2, ..., 2^n}, n>=0, then the largest subset T of S with the property that if x is in T, then 2*x is not in T, has a(n+1) elements. For example, for n = 4, #S = 16, a(5) = 11 with T = {1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16} (see Hassan Tarfaoui link, Concours Général 1991). - Bernard Schott, Feb 14 2022

a(n) is the number of words of length n over a binary alphabet whose position in the lexicographic order is one more than a multiple of three. a(3) = 3: aaa, abb, bba. - Alois P. Heinz, Apr 13 2022

Named by Horadam (1988) after the German mathematician Ernst Jacobsthal (1882-1965). - Amiram Eldar, Oct 02 2023

Define the sequence u(n) = (u(n-1) + u(n-2))/u(n-3) with u(0) = 0, u(1) = 1, u(2) = u(3) = -1. Then u(4*n) = -1 + (-1)^n/a(n+1), u(4*n+1) = 2 - (-1)^n/a(n+1), u(4*n+2) = u(4*n+3) = -1. For example, a(3) = 3 and u(8) = -2/3, u(9) = 5/3, u(10) = u(11) = -1. - Michael Somos, Oct 24 2023

From Miquel A. Fiol, May 25 2024: (Start)

Also, a(n) is the number of (3-color) states of a cycle (n+1)-pole C_{n+1} with n+1 terminals (or semiedges).

For instance, for n=3, the a(3)=3 states (3-coloring of the terminals) of C_4 are

a a a a a b

a a b b a b (End)

Also, with offset 1, the cogrowth sequence of the 6-element dihedral group D3. - Sean A. Irvine, Nov 04 2024

Might be called the "Lichtenberg sequence" after Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who discussed it in 1769 in connection with the Chinese Rings puzzle (baguenaudier). - Andreas M. Hinz, Feb 15 2017

Number of steps to change from a binary string of n 0's to n 1's using a Gray code. - Jon Stadler (jstadler(AT)coastal.edu)

Popular puzzles such as Spin-Out and The Brain Puzzler are based on the Gray binary system and require a(n) steps to complete for some number n.

Conjecture: {a(n)} also gives all j for which A048702(j) = A000217(j); i.e., if we take the a(n)-th triangular number (a(n)^2 + a(n))/2 and multiply it by 3, we get a(n)-th even-length binary palindrome A048701(a(n)) concatenated from a(n) and its reverse. E.g., a(4) = 10, which is 1010 in binary; the tenth triangular number is 55, and 55*3 = 165 = 10100101 in binary. - Antti Karttunen, circa 1999. (This has been now proved by Paul K. Stockmeyer in his arXiv:1608.08245 paper.) - Antti Karttunen, Aug 31 2016

Number of ways to tie a tie of n or fewer half turns, excluding mirror images. Also number of walks of length n or less on a triangular lattice with the following restrictions; given l, r and c as the lattice axes. 1. All steps are taken in the positive axis direction. 2. No two consecutive steps are taken on the same axis. 3. All walks begin with l. 4. All walks end with rlc or lrc. - Bill Blewett, Dec 21 2000

a(n) is the minimal number of vertices to be selected in a vertex-cover of the balanced tree B_n. - Sen-peng Eu, Jun 15 2002

A087117(a(n)) = A038374(a(n)) = 1 for n > 1; see also A090050. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 20 2003

Intersection of A003754 and A003714; complement of A107907. - Reinhard Zumkeller, May 28 2005

Equivalently, numbers m whose binary representation is effectively, for some number k, both the lazy Fibonacci and the Zeckendorf representation of k (in which case k = A022290(m)). - Peter Munn, Oct 06 2022

a(n+1) gives row sums of Riordan array (1/(1-x), x(1+2x)). - Paul Barry, Jul 18 2005

Total number of initial 01's in all binary words of length n+1. Example: a(3) = 5 because the binary words of length 4 that start with 01 are (01)00, (01)(01), (01)10 and (01)11 and the total number of initial 01's is 5 (shown between parentheses). a(n) = Sum_{k >= 0} k*A119440(n+1, k). - Emeric Deutsch, May 19 2006

In Norway we call the 10-ring puzzle "strikketoy" or "knitwear" (see link). It takes 682 moves to free the two parts. - Hans Isdahl, Jan 07 2008

Equals A002450 and A020988 interlaced. - Zak Seidov, Feb 10 2008

For n > 1, let B_n = the complete binary tree with vertex set V where |V| = 2^n - 1. If VC is a minimum-size vertex cover of B_n, Sen-Peng Eu points out that a(n) = |VC|. It also follows that if IS = V\VC, a(n+1) = |IS|. - K.V.Iyer, Apr 13 2009

Starting with 1 and convolved with [1, 2, 2, 2, ...] = A000295. - Gary W. Adamson, Jun 02 2009

a(n) written in base 2 is sequence A056830(n). - Jaroslav Krizek, Aug 05 2009

This is the sequence A(0, 1; 1, 2; 1) of the family of sequences [a,b:c,d:k] considered by G. Detlefs, and treated as A(a,b;c,d;k) in the W. Lang link given below. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 18 2010

From Vladimir Shevelev, Jan 30 2012, Feb 13 2012: (Start)

1) Denote by {n, k} the number of permutations of 1, ..., n with the up-down index k (for definition, see comment in A203827). Then max_k{n, k} = {n, a(n)} = A000111(n).

2) a(n) is the minimal number > a(n-1) with the Hamming distance d_H(a(n-1), a(n)) = n. Thus this sequence is the Hamming analog of triangular numbers 0, 1, 3, 6, 10, ... (End)

From Hieronymus Fischer, Nov 22 2012: (Start)

Represented in binary form each term after the second one contains every previous term as a substring.

The terms a(2) = 2 and a(3) = 5 are the only primes. Proof: For even n we get a(n) = 2*(2^(2*n) - 1)/3, which shows that a(n) is even, too, and obviously a(n) > 2 for all even n > 2. For odd n we have a(n) = (2^(n+1) - 1)/3 = (2^((n+1)/2) - 1) * (2^((n+1)/2) + 1)/3. Evidently, at least one of these factors is divisible by 3, both are greater than 6, provided n > 3. Hence it follows that a(n) is composite for all odd n > 3.

Represented as a binary number, a(n+1) has exactly n prime substrings. Proof: Evidently, a(1) = 1_2 has zero and a(2) = 10_2 has 1 prime substring. Let n > 1. Written in binary, a(n+1) is 101010101...01 (if n + 1 is odd) and is 101010101...10 (if n + 1 is even) with n + 1 digits. Only the 2- and 3-digits substrings 10_2 (=2) and 101_2 (=5) are prime substrings. All the other substrings are nonprime since every substring is a previous term and all terms unequal to 2 and 5 are nonprime. For even n + 1, the number of prime substrings equal to 2 = 10_2 is (n+1)/2, and the number of prime substrings equal to 5 = 101_2 is (n-1)/2, makes a sum of n. For odd n + 1 we get n/2 for both, the number of 2's and 5's prime substrings, in any case, the sum is n. (End)

Number of different 3-colorings for the vertices of all triangulated planar polygons on a base with n+2 vertices if the colors of the two base vertices are fixed. - Patrick Labarque, Feb 09 2013

A090079(a(n)) = a(n) and A090079(m) <> a(n) for m < a(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 16 2013

a(n) is the number of length n binary words containing at least one 1 and ending in an even number (possibly zero) of 0's. a(3) = 5 because we have: 001, 011, 100, 101, 111. - Geoffrey Critzer, Dec 15 2013

a(n) is the number of permutations of length n+1 having exactly one descent such that the first element of the permutation is an even number. - Ran Pan, Apr 18 2015

a(n) is the sequence of the last row of the Hadamard matrix H(2^n) obtained via Sylvester's construction: H(2) = [1,1;1,-1], H(2^n) = H(2^(n-1))*H(2), where * is the Kronecker product. - William P. Orrick, Jun 28 2015

Conjectured record values of A264784: a(n) = A264784(A155051(n-1)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Dec 04 2015. (This is proved by Paul K. Stockmeyer in his arXiv:1608.08245 paper.) - Antti Karttunen, Aug 31 2016

Decimal representation of the x-axis, from the origin to the right edge, of the n-th stage of growth of the two-dimensional cellular automaton defined by "Rule 131", based on the 5-celled von Neumann neighborhood. See A279053 for references and links. - Robert Price, Dec 05 2016

For n > 4, a(n-2) is the second-largest number in row n of A127824. - Dmitry Kamenetsky, Feb 11 2017

Conjecture: a(n+1) is the number of compositions of n with two kinds of parts, n and n', where the order of the 1 and 1' does not matter. For n=2, a(3) = 5 compositions, enumerated as follows: 2; 2'; 1,1; 1',1 = 1',1; 1',1'. - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 02 2017

Conjecture proved by recognizing the appropriate g.f. is x/(1 - x)(1 - x)(1 - 2*x^2 - 2x^3 - ...) = x/(1 - 2*x - x^2 + 2x^3). - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 10 2017

a(n) = 2^(n-1) + 2^(n-3) + 2^(n-5) + ... a(2*k -1) = A002450(k) is the sum of the powers of 4. a(2*k) = 2*A002450(k). - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 27 2017

a(2*n) = n times the string [10] in binary representation, a(2*n+1) = n times the string [10] followed with [1] in binary representation. Example: a(7) = 85 = (1010101) in binary, a(8) = 170 = (10101010) in binary. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Nov 06 2018

Except for 0, these are the positive integers whose binary expansion has cuts-resistance 1. For the operation of shortening all runs by 1, cuts-resistance is the number of applications required to reach an empty word. Cuts-resistance 2 is A329862. - Gus Wiseman, Nov 27 2019

From Markus Sigg, Sep 14 2020: (Start)

Let s(k) be the length of the Collatz orbit of k, e.g. s(1) = 1, s(2) = 2, s(3) = 5. Then s(a(n)) = n+3 for n >= 3. Proof by induction: s(a(3)) = s(5) = 6 = 3+3. For odd n >= 5 we have s(a(n)) = s(4*a(n-2)+1) = s(12*a(n-2)+4)+1 = s(3*a(n-2)+1)+3 = s(a(n-2))+2 = (n-2)+3+2 = n+3, and for even n >= 4 this gives s(a(n)) = s(2*a(n-1)) = s(a(n-1))+1 = (n-1)+3+1 = n+3.

Conjecture: For n >= 3, a(n) is the second largest natural number whose Collatz orbit has length n+3. (End)

From Gary W. Adamson, May 14 2021: (Start)

With offset 1 the sequence equals the numbers of 1's from n = 1 to 3, 3 to 7, 7 to 15, ...; of A035263; as shown below:

..1 3 7 15...

..1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1...

..1.....2...........5......................10...; a(n) = Sum_(k=1..2n-1)A035263(k)

.....1...........2.......................5...; as to zeros.

..1's in the Tower of Hanoi game represent CW moves On disks in the pattern:

..0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, ... whereas even numbered disks move in the pattern:

..0, 2, 1, 0, 2, 1, ... (End)

Except for 0, numbers that are repunits in Gray-code representation (A014550). - Amiram Eldar, May 21 2021

From Gus Wiseman, Apr 20 2023: (Start)

Also the number of nonempty subsets of {1..n} with integer median, where the median of a multiset is the middle part in the odd-length case, and the average of the two middle parts in the even-length case. For example, the a(1) = 1 through a(4) = 10 subsets are:

{1} {1} {1} {1}

{2} {2} {2}

{3} {3}

{1,3} {4}

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

{2,4}

{1,2,3}

{1,2,4}

{1,3,4}

{2,3,4}

The complement is counted by A005578.

For mean instead of median we have A051293, counting empty sets A327475.

For normal multisets we have A056450, strongly normal A361202.

For partitions we have A325347, strict A359907, complement A307683.

(End)

In binary form, because the sequence 10101_2... keeps repeating, one can represent a(n) = floor(0.(10)2 * 2^n). Because 0.(10)_2 = 0.(10)_2 * 4 - 2, then 0.(10)_2 = 2/3. Substituting this value in the first expression, we obtain a(n) = floor(2^(n+1)/3). This also agrees with the formula of Paul Barry, Oct 08 2005. - _Giovanni Ciriani, Mar 31 2025

Let u(k), v(k), w(k) be the 3 sequences defined by u(1)=1, v(1)=0, w(1)=0 and u(k+1)=u(k)+v(k)-w(k), v(k+1)=u(k)-v(k)+w(k), w(k+1)=-u(k)+v(k)+w(k); let M(k)=Max(u(k),v(k),w(k)); then a(n)=M(2n)=M(2n-1). - Benoit Cloitre, Mar 25 2002

Also the number of words of length 2n generated by the two letters s and t that reduce to the identity 1 by using the relations ssssss=1, tt=1 and stst=1. The generators s and t along with the three relations generate the dihedral group D6=C2xD3. - Jamaine Paddyfoot (jay_paddyfoot(AT)hotmail.com) and John W. Layman, Jul 08 2002

Binomial transform of A025192. - Paul Barry, Apr 11 2003

Number of walks of length 2n+1 between two adjacent vertices in the cycle graph C_6. Example: a(1)=3 because in the cycle ABCDEF we have three walks of length 3 between A and B: ABAB, ABCB and AFAB. - Emeric Deutsch, Apr 01 2004

Numbers of the form 1 + Sum_{i=1..m} 2^(2*i-1). - Artur Jasinski, Feb 09 2007

Prime numbers of the form 1+Sum[2^(2n-1)] are in A000979. Numbers x such that 1+Sum[2^(2n-1)] is prime for n=1,2,...,x is A127936. - Artur Jasinski, Feb 09 2007

Related to A024493(6n+1), A131708(6n+3), A024495(6n+5). - Paul Curtz, Mar 27 2008

Let A be the Hessenberg matrix of order n, defined by: A[1,j]=1, A[i,i]:=-6, (i>1), A[i,i-1]=-1, and A[i,j]=0 otherwise. Then, for n>=1, a(n-1)=(-1)^(n-1)*charpoly(A,2). - Milan Janjic, Feb 21 2010

Number of toothpicks in the toothpick structure of A139250 after 2^n stages. - Omar E. Pol, Feb 28 2011

Numbers whose binary representation is "10" repeated (n-1) times with "11" appended on the end, n >= 1. For example 171 = 10101011 (2). - Omar E. Pol, Nov 22 2012

a(n) is the smallest number for which A072219(a(n)) = 2*n+1. - Ramasamy Chandramouli, Dec 22 2012

An Engel expansion of 2 to the base b := 4/3 as defined in A181565, with the associated series expansion 2 = b + b^2/3 + b^3/(3*11) + b^4/(3*11*43) + .... Cf. A007051. - Peter Bala, Oct 29 2013

The positive integer solution (x,y) of 3*x - 2^n*y = 1, n>=0, with smallest x is (a(n/2), 2) if n is even and (a((n-1)/2), 1) if n is odd. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 15 2014

The smallest positive number that requires at least n additions and subtractions of powers of 2 to be formed. See Puzzling StackExchange link. - Alexander Cooke Jul 16 2023

The median of a multiset is either the middle part (for odd length), or the average of the two middle parts (for even length).

Let u(k), v(k), w(k) be defined by u(1)=1, v(1)=0, w(1)=0 and u(k+1)=u(k)+v(k)+w(k), v(k+1)=u(k)+v(k), w(k+1)=u(k); then {u(n)} = 1,1,3,6,14,31,... (A006356 with an extra initial 1), {v(n)} = 0,1,2,5,11,25,... (this sequence with its initial 0 deleted) and {w(n)} = {u(n)} prefixed by an extra 0 = A077998 with an extra initial 0. - Benoit Cloitre, Apr 05 2002. Also u(k)^2+v(k)^2+w(k)^2 = u(2k). - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 23 2003

Form the graph with matrix A=[1, 1, 1; 1, 0, 0; 1, 0, 1]. Then A006054 counts walks of length n between the vertex of degree 1 and the vertex of degree 3. - Paul Barry, Oct 02 2004

Form the digraph with matrix [1,1,0; 1,0,1; 1,1,1]. A006054(n) counts walks of length n between the vertices with loops. - Paul Barry, Oct 15 2004

Nonzero terms = INVERT transform of (1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, ...). Example: 56 = (1, 1, 2, 5, 11, 25) dot (3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1) = (3 + 3 + 4 + 10 + 11 + 25). - Gary W. Adamson, Apr 20 2009

-a(n+1) appears in the formula for the nonpositive powers of rho:= 2*cos(Pi/7), the ratio of the smaller diagonal in the heptagon to the side length s=2*sin(Pi/7), when expressed in the basis <1,rho,sigma>, with sigma:=rho^2-1, the ratio of the larger heptagon diagonal to the side length, as follows. rho^(-n) = C(n)*1 + C(n-1)*rho - a(n+1)*sigma, n >= 0, with C(n)=A077998(n), C(-1):=0. See the Steinbach reference, and a comment under A052547.

If, with the above notations, the power basis of the field Q(rho) is taken one has for nonpositive powers of rho, rho^(-n) = a(n+2)*1 + A077998(n-1)*rho - a(n+1)*rho^2. For nonnegative powers see A006053. See also the Steinbach reference. - Wolfdieter Lang, May 06 2011

a(n) appears also in the nonnegative powers of sigma,(defined in the above comment, where also the basis is given). See a comment in A106803.

The sequence b(n):=(-1)^(n+1)*a(n) forms the negative part (i.e., with nonpositive indices) of the sequence (-1)^n*A006053(n+1). In this way we obtain what we shall call the Ramanujan-type sequence number 2a for the argument 2*Pi/7 (see the comment to Witula's formula in A006053). We have b(n) = -2*b(n-1) + b(n-2) + b(n-3) and b(n) * 49^(1/3) = (c(1)/c(4))^(1/3) * (c(1))^(-n) + (c(2)/c(1))^(1/3) * (c(2))^(-n) + (c(4)/c(2))^(1/3) * (c(4))^(-n) = (c(2)/c(1))^(1/3) * (c(1))^(-n+1) + (c(4)/c(2))^(1/3) * (c(2))^(-n+1) + (c(1)/c(4))^(1/3) * (c(4))^(-n+1), where c(j) := 2*cos(2*Pi*j/7) (for the proof, see the comments to A215112). - Roman Witula, Aug 06 2012

(1, 1, 2, 5, 11, 25, 56, ...) * (1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ...) = the variant of A006356: (1, 1, 3, 6, 14, 31, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 15 2013

The limit of a(n+1)/a(n) for n -> infinity is, for all generic sequences with this recurrence of signature (2,1,-1), sigma = rho^2-1, approximately 2.246979603, the length ratio (largest diagonal)/side in the regular heptagon (7-gon). For rho = 2*cos(Pi/7) and sigma see a comment above, and the P. Steinbach reference. Proof: a(n+1)/a(n) = 2 + 1/(a(n)/a(n-1)) - 1/((a(n)/a(n-1))*(a(n-1)/a(n-2))), leading in the limit to sigma^3 -2*sigma^2 - sigma + 1, which is solved by sigma = rho^2-1, due to C(7, rho) = 0 , with the minimal polynomial C(7, x) = x^3 - x^2 - 2*x + 1 of rho (see A187360). - Wolfdieter Lang, Nov 07 2013

Numbers of straight-chain aliphatic amino acids involving single, double or triple bonds (allowing adjacent double bonds) when cis/trans isomerism is neglected. - Stefan Schuster, Apr 19 2018

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. Also, A(r,n)=0 for n<0. Let A_1(r,n) = Sum_{j=0..n} A(r,j). Then the expansion of 1/(1 - 2*x - x^2 + x^3) is A_1(0,n) + A_1(1,n-2) + A_1(n-4) + ... = a(n) without the initial two 0's. In general, the expansion of 1/(1 - 2*x -x^k + x^(k+1)) is equal to Sum_{j>=0} A_1(j, n-j*k). - Gregory L. Simay, May 25 2018

For n>1, a(n) is the number of ways to tile a strip of length n-1 with one color of squares and dominos, two colors of trominos and quadrominos, 3 colors of 5-minos and 6-minos, and so on. - Greg Dresden and Zhiyu Zhang, Jun 26 2025

The limit of the local maxima, lim_{m->inf} A081252(m)/m^2 = 1/10. For local minima cf. A081253.

Row sums of the triangle A181971. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 09 2012

Minimal cost of maximum height Huffman tree of size n for strictly "worst case height" sequences. (A strictly "worst case height" sequence generates only maximum height Huffman trees; a non-strictly "worst case height" sequence can generate also non-maximum height Huffman trees.) - Alex Vinokur (alexvn(AT)barak-online.net), Oct 26 2004

Record-positions for A107910: A107910(a(n+2)) = A005578(n), A107910(m) < A005578(n) for m < a(n+2). - Reinhard Zumkeller, May 28 2005

From Jianing Song, Apr 28 2025: (Start)

For n >= 4, a(n-3) is the number of subsets of {1,2,...,n} with at least 2 elements that contain no consecutive elements modulo n. Note that:

- the number of subsets of {1,2,...,n} with k elements such that the difference of successive elements is at least 2 is binomial(n+1-k,k);

- the number of such subsets of {1,2,...,n} with k elements that contain both 1 and n is equal to the number of such subsets of {3,...,n-2} with k-2 elements, which is binomial(n-3-(k-2),k-2),

hence a(n) = Sum_{k=2..floor((n+1)/2)} binomial(n+1-k,k) - Sum_{k=0..floor((n-3)/2)} binomial(n-3-k,k) = (F(n+2) - binomial(n+1,0) - binomial(n,1)) - F(n-2) = F(n+1) + F(n-1) - (n+1).

If subsets of {1,2,...,n} are only required to contain no consecutive elements, then the result is A001924(n-2). (End)