cp's OEIS Frontend

4*a(n) + 1 are the odd squares A016754(n).

The word "pronic" (used by Dickson) is incorrect. - Michael Somos

According to the 2nd edition of Webster, the correct word is "promic". - R. K. Guy

a(n) is the number of minimal vectors in the root lattice A_n (see Conway and Sloane, p. 109).

Let M_n denote the n X n matrix M_n(i, j) = (i + j); then the characteristic polynomial of M_n is x^(n-2) * (x^2 - a(n)*x - A002415(n)). - Benoit Cloitre, Nov 09 2002

The greatest LCM of all pairs (j, k) for j < k <= n for n > 1. - Robert G. Wilson v, Jun 19 2004

First differences are a(n+1) - a(n) = 2*n + 2 = 2, 4, 6, ... (while first differences of the squares are (n+1)^2 - n^2 = 2*n + 1 = 1, 3, 5, ...). - Alexandre Wajnberg, Dec 29 2005

25 appended to these numbers corresponds to squares of numbers ending in 5 (i.e., to squares of A017329). - Lekraj Beedassy, Mar 24 2006

A rapid (mental) multiplication/factorization technique -- a generalization of Lekraj Beedassy's comment: For all bases b >= 2 and positive integers n, c, d, k with c + d = b^k, we have (n*b^k + c)*(n*b^k + d) = a(n)*b^(2*k) + c*d. Thus the last 2*k base-b digits of the product are exactly those of c*d -- including leading 0(s) as necessary -- with the preceding base-b digit(s) the same as a(n)'s. Examples: In decimal, 113*117 = 13221 (as n = 11, b = 10 = 3 + 7, k = 1, 3*7 = 21, and a(11) = 132); in octal, 61*67 = 5207 (52 is a(6) in octal). In particular, for even b = 2*m (m > 0) and c = d = m, such a product is a square of this type. Decimal factoring: 5609 is immediately seen to be 71*79. Likewise, 120099 = 301*399 (k = 2 here) and 99990000001996 = 9999002*9999998 (k = 3). - Rick L. Shepherd, Jul 24 2021

Number of circular binary words of length n + 1 having exactly one occurrence of 01. Example: a(2) = 6 because we have 001, 010, 011, 100, 101 and 110. Column 1 of A119462. - Emeric Deutsch, May 21 2006

The sequence of iterated square roots sqrt(N + sqrt(N + ...)) has for N = 1, 2, ... the limit (1 + sqrt(1 + 4*N))/2. For N = a(n) this limit is n + 1, n = 1, 2, .... For all other numbers N, N >= 1, this limit is not a natural number. Examples: n = 1, a(1) = 2: sqrt(2 + sqrt(2 + ...)) = 1 + 1 = 2; n = 2, a(2) = 6: sqrt(6 + sqrt(6 + ...)) = 1 + 2 = 3. - Wolfdieter Lang, May 05 2006

Nonsquare integers m divisible by ceiling(sqrt(m)), except for m = 0. - Max Alekseyev, Nov 27 2006

The number of off-diagonal elements of an (n + 1) X (n + 1) matrix. - Artur Jasinski, Jan 11 2007

a(n) is equal to the number of functions f:{1, 2} -> {1, 2, ..., n + 1} such that for a fixed x in {1, 2} and a fixed y in {1, 2, ..., n + 1} we have f(x) <> y. - Aleksandar M. Janjic and Milan Janjic, Mar 13 2007

Numbers m >= 0 such that round(sqrt(m+1)) - round(sqrt(m)) = 1. - Hieronymus Fischer, Aug 06 2007

Numbers m >= 0 such that ceiling(2*sqrt(m+1)) - 1 = 1 + floor(2*sqrt(m)). - Hieronymus Fischer, Aug 06 2007

Numbers m >= 0 such that fract(sqrt(m+1)) > 1/2 and fract(sqrt(m)) < 1/2 where fract(x) is the fractional part (fract(x) = x - floor(x), x >= 0). - Hieronymus Fischer, Aug 06 2007

X values of solutions to the equation 4*X^3 + X^2 = Y^2. To find Y values: b(n) = n(n+1)(2n+1). - Mohamed Bouhamida, Nov 06 2007

Nonvanishing diagonal of A132792, the infinitesimal Lah matrix, so "generalized factorials" composed of a(n) are given by the elements of the Lah matrix, unsigned A111596, e.g., a(1)*a(2)*a(3) / 3! = -A111596(4,1) = 24. - Tom Copeland, Nov 20 2007

If Y is a 2-subset of an n-set X then, for n >= 2, a(n-2) is the number of 2-subsets and 3-subsets of X having exactly one element in common with Y. - Milan Janjic, Dec 28 2007

a(n) coincides with the vertex of a parabola of even width in the Redheffer matrix, directed toward zero. An integer p is prime if and only if for all integer k, the parabola y = kx - x^2 has no integer solution with 1 < x < k when y = p; a(n) corresponds to odd k. - Reikku Kulon, Nov 30 2008

The third differences of certain values of the hypergeometric function 3F2 lead to the squares of the oblong numbers i.e., 3F2([1, n + 1, n + 1], [n + 2, n + 2], z = 1) - 3*3F2([1, n + 2, n + 2], [n + 3, n + 3], z = 1) + 3*3F2([1, n + 3, n + 3], [n + 4, n + 4], z = 1) - 3F2([1, n + 4, n + 4], [n + 5, n + 5], z = 1) = (1/((n+2)*(n+3)))^2 for n = -1, 0, 1, 2, ... . See also A162990. - Johannes W. Meijer, Jul 21 2009

Generalized factorials, [a.(n!)] = a(n)*a(n-1)*...*a(0) = A010790(n), with a(0) = 1 are related to A001263. - Tom Copeland, Sep 21 2011

For n > 1, a(n) is the number of functions f:{1, 2} -> {1, ..., n + 2} where f(1) > 1 and f(2) > 2. Note that there are n + 1 possible values for f(1) and n possible values for f(2). For example, a(3) = 12 since there are 12 functions f from {1, 2} to {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} with f(1) > 1 and f(2) > 2. - Dennis P. Walsh, Dec 24 2011

a(n) gives the number of (n + 1) X (n + 1) symmetric (0, 1)-matrices containing two ones (see [Cameron]). - L. Edson Jeffery, Feb 18 2012

a(n) is the number of positions of a domino in a rectangled triangular board with both legs equal to n + 1. - César Eliud Lozada, Sep 26 2012

a(n) is the number of ordered pairs (x, y) in [n+2] X [n+2] with |x-y| > 1. - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 27 2012

a(n) is the number of injective functions from {1, 2} into {1, 2, ..., n + 1}. - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 27 2012

a(n) is the sum of the positive differences of the partition parts of 2n + 2 into exactly two parts (see example). - Wesley Ivan Hurt, Jun 02 2013

a(n)/a(n-1) is asymptotic to e^(2/n). - Richard R. Forberg, Jun 22 2013

Number of positive roots in the root system of type D_{n + 1} (for n > 2). - Tom Edgar, Nov 05 2013

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

From Felix P. Muga II, Mar 18 2014: (Start)

a(m), for m >= 1, are the only positive integer values t for which the Binet-de Moivre formula for the recurrence b(n) = b(n-1) + t*b(n-2) with b(0) = 0 and b(1) = 1 has a root of a square. PROOF (as suggested by Wolfdieter Lang, Mar 26 2014): The sqrt(1 + 4t) appearing in the zeros r1 and r2 of the characteristic equation is (a positive) integer for positive integer t precisely if 4t + 1 = (2m + 1)^2, that is t = a(m), m >= 1. Thus, the characteristic roots are integers: r1 = m + 1 and r2 = -m.

Let m > 1 be an integer. If b(n) = b(n-1) + a(m)*b(n-2), n >= 2, b(0) = 0, b(1) = 1, then lim_{n->oo} b(n+1)/b(n) = m + 1. (End)

Cf. A130534 for relations to colored forests, disposition of flags on flagpoles, and colorings of the vertices (chromatic polynomial) of the complete graphs (here simply K_2). - Tom Copeland, Apr 05 2014

The set of integers k for which k + sqrt(k + sqrt(k + sqrt(k + sqrt(k + ...) ... is an integer. - Leslie Koller, Apr 11 2014

a(n-1) is the largest number k such that (n*k)/(n+k) is an integer. - Derek Orr, May 22 2014

Number of ways to place a domino and a singleton on a strip of length n - 2. - Ralf Stephan, Jun 09 2014

With offset 1, this appears to give the maximal number of crossings between n nonconcentric circles of equal radius. - Felix Fröhlich, Jul 14 2014

For n > 1, the harmonic mean of the n values a(1) to a(n) is n + 1. The lowest infinite sequence of increasing positive integers whose cumulative harmonic mean is integral. - Ian Duff, Feb 01 2015

a(n) is the maximum number of queens of one color that can coexist without attacking one queen of the opponent's color on an (n+2) X (n+2) chessboard. The lone queen can be placed in any position on the perimeter of the board. - Bob Selcoe, Feb 07 2015

With a(0) = 1, a(n-1) is the smallest positive number not in the sequence such that Sum_{i = 1..n} 1/a(i-1) has a denominator equal to n. - Derek Orr, Jun 17 2015

The positive members of this sequence are a proper subsequence of the so-called 1-happy couple products A007969. See the W. Lang link there, eq. (4), with Y_0 = 1, with a table at the end. - Wolfdieter Lang, Sep 19 2015

For n > 0, a(n) is the reciprocal of the area bounded above by y = x^(n-1) and below by y = x^n for x in the interval [0, 1]. Summing all such areas visually demonstrates the formula below giving Sum_{n >= 1} 1/a(n) = 1. - Rick L. Shepherd, Oct 26 2015

It appears that, except for a(0) = 0, this is the set of positive integers n such that x*floor(x) = n has no solution. (For example, to get 3, take x = -3/2.) - Melvin Peralta, Apr 14 2016

If two independent real random variables, x and y, are distributed according to the same exponential distribution: pdf(x) = lambda * exp(-lambda * x), lambda > 0, then the probability that n - 1 <= x/y < n is given by 1/a(n). - Andres Cicuttin, Dec 03 2016

a(n) is equal to the sum of all possible differences between n different pairs of consecutive odd numbers (see example). - Miquel Cerda, Dec 04 2016

a(n+1) is the dimension of the space of vector fields in the plane with polynomial coefficients up to order n. - Martin Licht, Dec 04 2016

It appears that a(n) + 3 is the area of the largest possible pond in a square (A268311). - Craig Knecht, May 04 2017

Also the number of 3-cycles in the (n+3)-triangular honeycomb acute knight graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Jul 27 2017

Also the Wiener index of the (n+2)-wheel graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 08 2017

The left edge of a Floyd's triangle that consists of even numbers: 0; 2, 4; 6, 8, 10; 12, 14, 16, 18; 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; ... giving 0, 2, 6, 12, 20, ... The right edge generates A028552. - Waldemar Puszkarz, Feb 02 2018

a(n+1) is the order of rowmotion on a poset obtained by adjoining a unique minimal (or maximal) element to a disjoint union of at least two chains of n elements. - Nick Mayers, Jun 01 2018

From Juhani Heino, Feb 05 2019: (Start)

For n > 0, 1/a(n) = n/(n+1) - (n-1)/n.

For example, 1/6 = 2/3 - 1/2; 1/12 = 3/4 - 2/3.

Corollary of this:

Take 1/2 pill.

Next day, take 1/6 pill. 1/2 + 1/6 = 2/3, so your daily average is 1/3.

Next day, take 1/12 pill. 2/3 + 1/12 = 3/4, so your daily average is 1/4.

And so on. (End)

From Bernard Schott, May 22 2020: (Start)

For an oblong number m >= 6 there exists a Euclidean division m = d*q + r with q < r < d which are in geometric progression, in this order, with a common integer ratio b. For b >= 2 and q >= 1, the Euclidean division is m = qb*(qb+1) = qb^2 * q + qb where (q, qb, qb^2) are in geometric progression.

Some examples with distinct ratios and quotients:

6 | 4 30 | 25 42 | 18

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

2 | 1 , 5 | 1 , 6 | 2 ,

and also:

42 | 12 420 | 100

----- -----

6 | 3 , 20 | 4 .

Some oblong numbers also satisfy a Euclidean division m = d*q + r with q < r < d that are in geometric progression in this order but with a common noninteger ratio b > 1 (see A335064). (End)

For n >= 1, the continued fraction expansion of sqrt(a(n)) is [n; {2, 2n}]. For n=1, this collapses to [1; {2}]. - Magus K. Chu, Sep 09 2022

a(n-2) is the maximum irregularity over all trees with n vertices. The extremal graphs are stars. (The irregularity of a graph is the sum of the differences between the degrees over all edges of the graph.) - Allan Bickle, May 29 2023

For n > 0, number of diagonals in a regular 2*(n+1)-gon that are not parallel to any edge (cf. A367204). - Paolo Xausa, Mar 30 2024

a(n-1) is the maximum Zagreb index over all trees with n vertices. The extremal graphs are stars. (The Zagreb index of a graph is the sum of the squares of the degrees over all vertices of the graph.) - Allan Bickle, Apr 11 2024

For n >= 1, a(n) is the determinant of the distance matrix of a cycle graph on 2*n + 1 vertices (if the length of the cycle is even such a determinant is zero). - Miquel A. Fiol, Aug 20 2024

For n > 1, the continued fraction expansion of sqrt(16*a(n)) is [2n+1; {1, 2n-1, 1, 8n+2}]. - Magus K. Chu, Nov 20 2024

For n>=2, a(n) is the number of faces on a n+1-zone rhombic zonohedron. Each pair of a collection of great circles on a sphere intersects at two points, so there are 2*binomial(n+1,2) intersections. The dual of the implied polyhedron is a rhombic zonohedron, its faces corresponding to the intersections. - Shel Kaphan, Aug 12 2025

Also the rows of both triangles A237270 and A237593 interleaved.

Also, irregular triangle read by rows in which T(n,k) is the area of the k-th region (from left to right in ascending diagonal) of the n-th symmetric set of regions (from the top to the bottom in descending diagonal) in the two-dimensional diagram of the perspective view of the infinite stepped pyramid described in A245092 (see the diagram in the Links section).

The diagram of the symmetric representation of sigma is also the top view of the pyramid, see Links section. For more information about the diagram see also A237593 and A237270.

The number of cubes at the n-th level is also A024916(n), the sum of all divisors of all positive integers <= n.

Note that this pyramid is also a quarter of the pyramid described in A244050. Both pyramids have infinitely many levels.

Odd-indexed rows are also the rows of the irregular triangle A237270.

Even-indexed rows are also the rows of the triangle A237593.

Lengths of the odd-indexed rows are in A237271.

Lengths of the even-indexed rows give 2*A003056.

Row sums of the odd-indexed rows gives A000203, the sum of divisors function.

Row sums of the even-indexed rows give the positive even numbers (see A005843).

Row sums give A245092.

From the front view of the stepped pyramid emerges a geometric pattern which is related to A001227, the number of odd divisors of the positive integers.

The connection with the odd divisors of the positive integers is as follows: A261697 --> A261699 --> A237048 --> A235791 --> A237591 --> A237593 --> A237270 --> this sequence.

For n >= 2, least m >= 1 such that f(m, n) = 0 where f(m,n) = Sum_{i=0..m} Sum_{k= 0..i} (-1)^k*(floor(i/n^k) - n*floor(i/n^(k+1))). - Benoit Cloitre, May 02 2004

For n >= 3, the a(n)-th row of Pascal's triangle always contains a triple forming an arithmetic progression. - Lekraj Beedassy, Jun 03 2004

Let C = 1 + sqrt(2) = 2.414213...; and 1/C = 0.414213... Then a(n) = (n + 1 + 1/C) * (n + 1 - C). Example: a(6) = 34 = (7 + 0.414...) * (7 - 2.414...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 29 2009

The sequence (n-4)^2-2, n = 7, 8, ... enumerates the number of non-isomorphic sequences of length n, with entries from {1, 2, 3} and no two adjacent entries the same, that minimally contain each of the thirteen rankings of three players (111, 121, 112, 211, 122, 212, 221, 123, 132, 213, 231, 312, 321) as embedded order isomorphic subsequences. By "minimally", we mean that the n-th symbol is necessary for complete inclusion of all thirteen words. See the arXiv paper below for proof. If n = 7, these sequences are 1213121, 1213212, 1231213, 1231231, 1231321, 1232123, and 1232132, and for each case, there are 3! = 6 isomorphs. - Anant Godbole, Feb 20 2013

a(n), n >= 0, with a(0) = -2, gives the values for a*c of indefinite binary quadratic forms [a, b, c] of discriminant D = 8 for b = 2*n. In general D = b^2 - 4*a*c > 0 and the form [a, b, c] is a*x^2 + b*x*y + c*y^2. - Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 15 2013

With a different offset, this is 2*n^2 - (n + 1)^2, which arises in one explanation of why Bertrand's postulate does not automatically prove Legendre's conjecture: as n gets larger, so does the range of numbers that can have primes that satisfy Bertrand's postulate yet do nothing for Legendre's conjecture. - Alonso del Arte, Nov 06 2013

x*(x + r*y)^2 + y*(y + r*x)^2 can be written as (x + y)*(x^2 + s*x*y + y^2). For r >= 0, the sequence gives the values of s: in fact, s = (r + 1)^2 - 2. - Bruno Berselli, Feb 20 2019

For n >= 2, the continued fraction expansion of sqrt(a(n)) is [n-1; {1, n-2, 1, 2n-2}]. For n=2, this collapses to [1; {2}]. - Magus K. Chu, Sep 06 2022

Previous name was: Values of Fibonacci polynomial n^2 - n - 1.

Shifted version of the array denoted rB(0,2) in A132382, whose e.g.f. is exp(x)(1-x)^2. Taking the derivative gives the e.g.f. of this sequence. - Tom Copeland, Dec 02 2013

The Fibonacci numbers are generated by the series x/(1 - x - x^2). - T. D. Noe, Dec 04 2013

Absolute value of expression f(k)*f(k+1) - f(k-1)*f(k+2) where f(1)=1, f(2)=n. Sign is alternately +1 and -1. - Carmine Suriano, Jan 28 2014 [Can anybody clarify what is meant here? - Joerg Arndt, Nov 24 2014]

Carmine's formula is a special case related to 4 consecutive terms of a Fibonacci sequence. A generalization of this formula is |a(n)| = |f(k+i)*f(k+j) - f(k)*f(k+i+j)|/F(i)*F(j), where f denotes a Fibonacci sequence with the initial values 1 and n, and F denotes the original Fibonacci sequence A000045. The same results can be obtained with the simpler formula |a(n)| = |f(k+1)^2 - f(k)^2 - f(k+1)*f(k)|. Everything said so far is also valid for Fibonacci sequences f with the initial values f(1) = n - 2, f(2) = 2*n - 3. - Klaus Purath, Jun 27 2022

a(n) is the total number of dollars won when using the Martingale method (bet $1, if win then continue to bet $1, if lose then double next bet) for n trials of a wager with exactly one loss, n-1 wins. For the case with exactly one win, n-1 losses, see A070313. - Max Winnick, Jun 28 2022

Numbers m such that 4*m+5 is a square b^2, where b = 2*n -1, for m = a(n). - Klaus Purath, Jul 23 2022

Coefficient triangle of certain polynomials N(3; m,x).

Numbers n such that 2*n + 9 is a square. - Vincenzo Librandi, Nov 24 2010

a(n) appears also as the fourth member of the quartet [p0(n), p1(n), p2(n), a(n)] of the square of [n, n+1, n+2, n+3] in the Clifford algebra Cl_2 for n >= 0. p0(n) = -A147973(n+3), p1(n) = A046092(n), and p2(n) = A054000(n+1). See a comment on A147973, also with a reference. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 15 2014

This sequence provides the first differences of A254407 and the partial sums of A017473.

Also:

a(n) - n = A022269(n);

a(n) + n = n*(11*n+5)/2: 0, 8, 27, 57, 98, 150, 213, 287, ...;

a(n) - 2*n = A022268(n);

a(n) + 2*n = n*(11*n+7)/2: 0, 9, 29, 60, 102, 155, 219, 294, ...;

a(n) - 3*n = n*(11*n-3)/2: 0, 4, 19, 45, 82, 130, 189, 259, ...;

a(n) + 3*n = A211013(n);

a(n) - 4*n = A226492(n);

a(n) + 4*n = A152740(n);

a(n) - 5*n = A180223(n);

a(n) + 5*n = n*(11*n+13)/2: 0, 12, 35, 69, 114, 170, 237, 315, ...;

a(n) - 6*n = A051865(n);

a(n) + 6*n = n*(11*n+15)/2: 0, 13, 37, 72, 118, 175, 243, 322, ...;

a(n) - 7*n = A152740(n-1) with A152740(-1) = 0;

a(n) + 7*n = n*(11*n+17)/2: 0, 14, 39, 75, 122, 180, 249, 329, ...;

a(n) - n*(n-1)/2 = A168668(n);

a(n) + n*(n-1)/2 = A049453(n);

a(n) - n*(n+1)/2 = A202803(n);

a(n) + n*(n+1)/2 = A033580(n).