cp's OEIS Frontend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Hieronymus Fischer, Aug 06 2007: (Start)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Charlie Marion, Dec 03 2010: (Start)

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

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

Column sums of:

1 3 5 7 9 ...

1 3 5 ...

1 ...

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

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

1 3 6 10 15 ...

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

(End)

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

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

From Charlie Marion, Feb 23 2012: (Start)

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

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

(End)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From James East, Jan 08 2013: (Start)

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

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

(End)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Michael Chu, May 04 2022: (Start)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are Hogben's central polygonal numbers with the (two-dimensional) symbol

2

.P

1 n

The first line cuts the pancake into 2 pieces. For n > 1, the n-th line crosses every earlier line (avoids parallelism) and also avoids every previous line intersection, thus increasing the number of pieces by n. For 16 lines, for example, the number of pieces is 2 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + ... + 16 = 137. These are the triangular numbers plus 1 (cf. A000217).

m = (n-1)(n-2)/2 + 1 is also the smallest number of edges such that all graphs with n nodes and m edges are connected. - Keith Briggs, May 14 2004

Also maximal number of grandchildren of a binary vector of length n+2. E.g., a binary vector of length 6 can produce at most 11 different vectors when 2 bits are deleted.

This is also the order dimension of the (strong) Bruhat order on the finite Coxeter group B_{n+1}. - Nathan Reading (reading(AT)math.umn.edu), Mar 07 2002

Number of 132- and 321-avoiding permutations of {1,2,...,n+1}. - Emeric Deutsch, Mar 14 2002

For n >= 1 a(n) is the number of terms in the expansion of (x+y)*(x^2+y^2)*(x^3+y^3)*...*(x^n+y^n). - Yuval Dekel (dekelyuval(AT)hotmail.com), Jul 28 2003

Also the number of terms in (1)(x+1)(x^2+x+1)...(x^n+...+x+1); see A000140.

Narayana transform (analog of the binomial transform) of vector [1, 1, 0, 0, 0, ...] = A000124; using the infinite lower Narayana triangle of A001263 (as a matrix), N; then N * [1, 1, 0, 0, 0, ...] = A000124. - Gary W. Adamson, Apr 28 2005

Number of interval subsets of {1, 2, 3, ..., n} (cf. A002662). - Jose Luis Arregui (arregui(AT)unizar.es), Jun 27 2006

Define a number of straight lines in the plane to be in general arrangement when (1) no two lines are parallel, (2) there is no point common to three lines. Then these are the maximal numbers of regions defined by n straight lines in general arrangement in the plane. - Peter C. Heinig (algorithms(AT)gmx.de), Oct 19 2006

Note that a(n) = a(n-1) + A000027(n-1). This has the following geometrical interpretation: Suppose there are already n-1 lines in general arrangement, thus defining the maximal number of regions in the plane obtainable by n-1 lines and now one more line is added in general arrangement. Then it will cut each of the n-1 lines and acquire intersection points which are in general arrangement. (See the comments on A000027 for general arrangement with points.) These points on the new line define the maximal number of regions in 1-space definable by n-1 points, hence this is A000027(n-1), where for A000027 an offset of 0 is assumed, that is, A000027(n-1) = (n+1)-1 = n. Each of these regions acts as a dividing wall, thereby creating as many new regions in addition to the a(n-1) regions already there, hence a(n) = a(n-1) + A000027(n-1). Cf. the comments on A000125 for an analogous interpretation. - Peter C. Heinig (algorithms(AT)gmx.de), Oct 19 2006

When constructing a zonohedron, one zone at a time, out of (up to) 3-d non-intersecting parallelepipeds, the n-th element of this sequence is the number of edges in the n-th zone added with the n-th "layer" of parallelepipeds. (Verified up to 10-zone zonohedron, the enneacontahedron.) E.g., adding the 10th zone to the enneacontahedron requires 46 parallel edges (edges in the 10th zone) by looking directly at a 5-valence vertex and counting visible vertices. - Shel Kaphan, Feb 16 2006

Binomial transform of (1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, ...) and inverse binomial transform of A072863: (1, 3, 9, 26, 72, 192, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 15 2007

If Y is a 2-subset of an n-set X then, for n >= 3, a(n-3) is the number of (n-2)-subsets of X which do not have exactly one element in common with Y. - Milan Janjic, Dec 28 2007

Equals row sums of triangle A144328. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 18 2008

It appears that a(n) is the number of distinct values among the fractions F(i+1)/F(j+1) as j ranges from 1 to n and, for each fixed j, i ranges from 1 to j, where F(i) denotes the i-th Fibonacci number. - John W. Layman, Dec 02 2008

a(n) is the number of subsets of {1,2,...,n} that contain at most two elements. - Geoffrey Critzer, Mar 10 2009

For n >= 2, a(n) gives the number of sets of subsets A_1, A_2, ..., A_n of n = {1, 2, ..., n} such that Meet_{i = 1..n} A_i is empty and Sum_{j in [n]} (|Meet{i = 1..n, i != j} A_i|) is a maximum. - Srikanth K S, Oct 22 2009

The numbers along the left edge of Floyd's triangle. - Paul Muljadi, Jan 25 2010

Let A be the Hessenberg matrix of order n, defined by: A[1,j] = A[i,i]:=1, A[i,i-1] = -1, and A[i,j] = 0 otherwise. Then, for n >= 1, a(n-1) = (-1)^(n-1)*coeff(charpoly(A,x),x). - Milan Janjic, Jan 24 2010

Also the number of deck entries of Euler's ship. See the Meijer-Nepveu link. - Johannes W. Meijer, Jun 21 2010

(1 + x^2 + x^3 + x^4 + x^5 + ...)*(1 + 2x + 3x^2 + 4x^3 + 5x^4 + ...) = (1 + 2x + 4x^2 + 7x^3 + 11x^4 + ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 27 2010

The number of length n binary words that have no 0-digits between any pair of consecutive 1-digits. - Jeffrey Liese, Dec 23 2010

Let b(0) = b(1) = 1; b(n) = max(b(n-1)+n-1, b(n-2)+n-2) then a(n) = b(n+1). - Yalcin Aktar, Jul 28 2011

Also number of triangular numbers so far, for n > 0: a(n) = a(n-1) + Sum(A010054(a(k)): 0 <= k < n), see also A097602, A131073. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 15 2012

Also number of distinct sums of 1 through n where each of those can be + or -. E.g., {1+2,1-2,-1+2,-1-2} = {3,-1,1,-3} and a(2) = 4. - Toby Gottfried, Nov 17 2011

This sequence is complete because the sum of the first n terms is always greater than or equal to a(n+1)-1. Consequently, any nonnegative number can be written as a sum of distinct terms of this sequence. See A204009, A072638. - Frank M Jackson, Jan 09 2012

The sequence is the number of distinct sums of subsets of the nonnegative integers, and its first differences are the positive integers. See A208531 for similar results for the squares. - John W. Layman, Feb 28 2012

Apparently the number of Dyck paths of semilength n+1 in which the sum of the first and second ascents add to n+1. - David Scambler, Apr 22 2013

Without 1 and 2, a(n) equals the terminus of the n-th partial sum of sequence 1, 1, 2. Explanation: 1st partial sums of 1, 1, 2 are 1, 2, 4; 2nd partial sums are 1, 3, 7; 3rd partial sums are 1, 4, 11; 4th partial sums are 1, 5, 16, etc. - Bob Selcoe, Jul 04 2013

Equivalently, numbers of the form 2*m^2+m+1, where m = 0, -1, 1, -2, 2, -3, 3, ... . - Bruno Berselli, Apr 08 2014

For n >= 2: quasi-triangular numbers; the almost-triangular numbers being A000096(n), n >= 2. Note that 2 is simultaneously almost-triangular and quasi-triangular. - Daniel Forgues, Apr 21 2015

n points in general position determine "n choose 2" lines, so A055503(n) <= a(n(n-1)/2). If n > 3, the lines are not in general position and so A055503(n) < a(n(n-1)/2). - Jonathan Sondow, Dec 01 2015

The digital root is period 9 (1, 2, 4, 7, 2, 7, 4, 2, 1), also the digital roots of centered 10-gonal numbers (A062786), for n > 0, A133292. - Peter M. Chema, Sep 15 2016

Partial sums of A028310. - J. Conrad, Oct 31 2016

For n >= 0, a(n) is the number of weakly unimodal sequences of length n over the alphabet {1, 2}. - Armend Shabani, Mar 10 2017

From Eric M. Schmidt, Jul 17 2017: (Start)

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) != e(k). [Martinez and Savage, 2.4]

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) and e(i) < e(k). [Martinez and Savage, 2.4]

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) != e(k). [Martinez and Savage, 2.4]

(End)

Numbers m such that 8m - 7 is a square. - Bruce J. Nicholson, Jul 24 2017

From Klaus Purath, Jan 29 2020: (Start)

The odd prime factors != 7 occur in an interval of p successive terms either never or exactly twice, while 7 always occurs only once. If a prime factor p appears in a(n) and a(m) within such an interval, then n + m == -1 (mod p). When 7 divides a(n), then 2*n == -1 (mod 7). a(n) is never divisible by the prime numbers given in A003625.

While all prime factors p != 7 can occur to any power, a(n) is never divisible by 7^2. The prime factors are given in A045373. The prime terms of this sequence are given in A055469.

(End)

From Roger Ford, May 10 2021: (Start)

a(n-1) is the greatest sum of arch lengths for the top arches of a semi-meander with n arches. An arch length is the number of arches covered + 1.

/\ The top arch has a length of 3. /\ The top arch has a length of 3.

/ \ Both bottom arches have a //\\ The middle arch has a length of 2.

//\/\\ length of 1. ///\\\ The bottom arch has a length of 1.

Example: for n = 4, a(4-1) = a(3) = 7 /\

//\\

/\ ///\\\ 1 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 7. (End)

a(n+1) is the a(n)-th smallest positive integer that has not yet appeared in the sequence. - Matthew Malone, Aug 26 2021

For n> 0, let the n-dimensional cube {0,1}^n be, provided with the Hamming distance, d. Given an element x in {0,1}^n, a(n) is the number of elements y in {0,1}^n such that d(x, y) <= 2. Example: n = 4. (0,0,0,0), (1,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0), (0,0,1,0), (0,0,0,1), (0,0,1,1), (0,1,0,1), (0,1,1,0), (1,0,0,1), (1,0,1,0), (1,1,0,0) are at distance <= 2 from (0,0,0,0), so a(4) = 11. - Yosu Yurramendi, Dec 10 2021

a(n) is the sum of the first three entries of row n of Pascal's triangle. - Daniel T. Martin, Apr 13 2022

a(n-1) is the number of Grassmannian permutations that avoid a pattern, sigma, where sigma is a pattern of size 3 with exactly one descent. For example, sigma is one of the patterns, {132, 213, 231, 312}. - Jessica A. Tomasko, Sep 14 2022

a(n+4) is the number of ways to tile an equilateral triangle of side length 2*n with smaller equilateral triangles of side length n and side length 1. For example, with n=2, there are 22 ways to tile an equilateral triangle of side length 4 with smaller ones of sides 2 and 1, including the one tiling with sixteen triangles of sides 1 and the one tiling with four triangles of sides 2. - Ahmed ElKhatib and Greg Dresden, Aug 19 2024

Define a "hatpin" to be the planar graph consisting of a distinguished point (called the "head") and a semi-infinite line from that point. The maximum number of regions than can be formed by drawing n hatpins is a(n-1). See link for the case n = 4. - N. J. A. Sloane, Jun 25 2025

Maximum position in A072644 where the value n occurs.

Also partial sums of A058891, i.e. the first differences are there. - R. J. Mathar, May 15 2007

A binary index of n is any position of a 1 in its reversed binary expansion. The binary indices of n are row n of A048793. We define the set-system with BII-number n to be obtained by taking the binary indices of each binary index of n. Every finite set of finite nonempty sets has a different BII-number. For example, 18 has reversed binary expansion (0,1,0,0,1), and since the binary indices of 2 and 5 are {2} and {1,3} respectively, the BII-number of {{2},{1,3}} is 18. Then a(n) is the minimum BII-number of a set-system with n distinct vertices. - Gus Wiseman, Jul 24 2019

Representation requires n triangular numbers with greedy algorithm.

Comment from Marc LeBrun: Maximum possible number of distinct values after applying a commuting operation from 0 to N times to a single initial value.

Divide the natural numbers in sets of consecutive numbers, starting with {1}, each set with number of elements equal to the sum of elements of the preceding set. The greatest element of the n-th set gives a(n). The sets begin {1}, {2}, {3,4}, {5,6,7,8,9,10,11}, ... - Floor van Lamoen, Jan 16 2002

a(n+1) = (a(n))-th triangular number + 1 = A000217(a(n)) + 1. a(n) = A072638(n-1) + 1. - Jaroslav Krizek, Sep 11 2009

Sergey Zimnitskiy, May 08 2013, provided an illustration for A006894 and A002658 in terms of packing circles inside circles. The following description of the figure was supplied by Allan Wilks. Label a blank page "1" and draw a black circle labeled "2". Subsequent circles are labeled "3", "4", ... . In the black circle put two red circles (numbered "3" and "4"); two because the label of the black circle is "2". Then in each of the red circles put blue circles in number equal to the labels of the red circles. So these get labeled "5", ..., "11". Then in each of the blue circles, starting with circle "5", place a set of green (say) circles, equal in number to the label of the enclosing blue circle. When all of the green circles have been drawn, they will be labeled "12", ..., "67". If you take the maximum circle label at each colored level, you get 1,2,4,11,67,2279,..., which is A006894, which itself is the partial sums of A002658. The picture is a visualization of Floor van Lamoen's comment above.

The fixed point of RASTxx transformation. The repeated applications of RASTxx starting from A072643 seem to converge toward this sequence. Compare to A072768 from which this differs first time at the position n=37, where A072768(37) = 4, while A071673(37) = 5.

Each term k occurs A000108(k) times, and maximal position where k occurs is A072638(k).

The size of each Catalan structure encoded by the corresponding terms in triangles A071671 & A071672 (i.e., the number of digits / 2), as obtained with the global ranking/unranking scheme presented in A071651-A071654.

Number of planted trees in which every node has degree <= 3 and of height n; or products of height n when multiplication is commutative but non-associative.

Also called planted 3-trees or planted unary-binary trees.

The next term (which was incorrectly given) is in fact too large to include. See the b-file.

Comment from Marc LeBrun: Maximum possible number of distinct new values after applying a commuting operation N times to a single initial value.

Divide the natural numbers in sets of consecutive numbers, starting with {1}, each set with number of elements equal to the sum of elements of the preceding set. The sum of elements in the n-th (n>0) set gives a(n). The sets begin {1}, {2}, {3,4}, {5,6,7,8,9,10,11}, ... - Floor van Lamoen, Jan 16 2002

Consider the free algebraic system with one binary commutative (x+y) operator and one generator A. The number of elements of height n is a(n) where the height of A is zero and the height of (x+y) is one more than the maximum height of x and y. - Michael Somos, Mar 06 2012

Sergey Zimnitskiy, May 08 2013, provided an illustration for A006894 and A002658 in terms of packing circles inside circles. The following description of the figure was supplied by Allan Wilks. Label a blank page "1" and draw a black circle labeled "2". Subsequent circles are labeled "3", "4", ... . In the black circle put two red circles (numbered "3" and "4"); two because the label of the black circle is "2". Then in each of the red circles put blue circles in number equal to the labels of the red circles. So these get labeled "5", ..., "11". Then in each of the blue circles, starting with circle "5", place a set of green (say) circles, equal in number to the label of the enclosing blue circle. When all of the green circles have been drawn, they will be labeled "12", ..., "67". If you take the maximum circle label at each colored level, you get 1,2,4,11,67,2279,..., which is A006894, which itself is the partial sums of A002658. The picture is a visualization of Floor van Lamoen's comment above.

See A067338 for a variant of the integer partitioning construction, starting with {1,2}, {3,4,5}, ... - M. F. Hasler, Jan 21 2015

A014137(n-1) = A071654(A072638(n)) for n>0 - Antti Karttunen, Jul 30 2012, based on Paul D. Hanna's similar observation in A071653.