cp's OEIS Frontend

The matrix T begins

0;

0, 0;

0, 2, 0;

0, 0, 6, 0;

0, 0, 0, 12, 0;

Along the nonvanishing diagonal the n-th term is (n+1)*(n).

Let LM(t) = exp(t*T) = limit [1 + t*T/n]^n as n tends to infinity.

Lah matrix = [ bin(n,k)*(n-1)!/(k-1)! ] = LM(1) = exp(T) = unsigned A111596. Truncating the series gives the n X n principal submatrices. In fact, the principal submatrices of T are nilpotent with [Tsub_n]^n = 0 for n=0,1,2,....

Inverse Lah matrix = LM(-1) = exp(-T)

Umbrally LM[b(.)] = exp(b(.)*T) = [ bin(n,k)*(n-1)!/(k-1)! * b(n-k) ]

A(j) = T^j / j! equals the matrix [ bin(n,k)*(n-1)!/(k-1)! * delta(n-k-j)] where delta(n) = 1 if n=0 and vanishes otherwise (Kronecker delta); i.e. A(j) is a matrix with all the terms 0 except for the j-th lower (or main for j=0) diagonal which equals that of the Lah matrix. Hence the A(j)'s form a linearly independent basis for all matrices of the form [ bin(n,k)*(n-1)!/(k-1)! * d(n-k) ].

For sequences with b(0) = 1, umbrally,

LM[b(.)] = exp(b(.)*T) = [ bin(n,k)*(n-1)!/(k-1)! * b(n-k) ] .

[LM[b(.)]]^(-1) = exp(c(.)*T) = [ bin(n,k)*(n-1)!/(k-1)! * c(n-k) ] where c = LPT(b) with LPT the list partition transform of A133314. Or,

[LM[b(.)]]^(-1) = exp[LPT(b(.))*T] = LPT[LM(b(.))] = LM[LPT(b(.))] = LM[c(.)] .

The matrix operation b = T*a can be characterized in several ways in terms of the coefficients a(n) and b(n), their o.g.f.'s A(x) and B(x), or e.g.f.'s EA(x) and EB(x).

1) b(0) = 0, b(n) = n*(n-1) * a(n-1),

2) B(x) = [ x^2 * D^2 * x ] A(x)

3) B(x) = [ x^2 * 2 * Lag(2,-:xD:,0) x^(-1) ] A(x)

4) EB(x) = [ D^(-1) * x * D^2 * x ] EA(x)

where D is the derivative w.r.t. x, (:xD:)^j = x^j * D^j and Lag(n,x,m) is the associated Laguerre polynomial of order m.

The exponentiated operator can be characterized (with loose notation) as

5) exp(t*T) * a = LM(t) * a = [sum(k=0,...,n) bin(n-1,k-1) * (n! / k!) t^(n-k) * a(k) ] = [ t^n * n! * Lag(n,-a(.)/t,-1) ], a vector array. Note binomial(n-1,k-1) is 1 for n=k=0 and vanishes for n>0 and k=0 .

With t=1 and a(k) = (-x)^k, then LM(1) * a = [ n! * Laguerre(n,x,-1) ], a vector array with index n .

6) exp(t*T) EA(x) = EB(x) = EA[ x / (1-x*t) ]

From the inverse operator (change t to -t), inverting amounts to substituting x/(1+x*t) for x in EB(x) in formula 6.

Compare analogous results in A132710.

T is also a shifted version of the infinitesimal Pascal matrix squared, i.e., T = (A132440^2) * A129185 . The non-vanishing diagonal of T is A002378.

Row sums are: {2, -2, 6, -26, 146, -1002, 8102, -75266, 788706, -9193106, 117882182, ...} = signed version of 2*A000262.

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

Determinant of n X n matrix M=[m(i,j)] where m(i,i)=i, m(i,j)=1 if i > j, m(i,j)=i-j if j > i. - Vladeta Jovovic, Jan 19 2003

With p(n) = the number of integer partitions of n, d(i) = the number of different parts of the i-th partition of n, m(i,j) = multiplicity of the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, Sum_{i=1..p(n)} = sum over i and Product_{j=1..d(i)} = product over j, one has: a(n) = Sum_{i=1..p(n)} n!/(Product_{j=1..d(i)} m(i,j)!). - Thomas Wieder, May 18 2005

Consider all n! permutations of the integer sequence [n] = 1,2,3,...,n. The i-th permutation, i=1,2,...,n!, consists of Z(i) permutation cycles. Such a cycle has the length lc(i,j), j=1,...,Z(i). For a given permutation we form the product of all its cycle lengths Product_{j=1..Z(i)} lc(i,j). Furthermore, we sum up all such products for all permutations of [n] which gives Sum_{i=1..n!} Product_{j=1..Z(i)} lc(i,j) = A000262(n). For n=4 we have Sum_{i=1..n!} Product_{j=1..Z(i)} lc(i,j) = 1*1*1*1 + 2*1*1 + 3*1 + 2*1*1 + 3*1 + 2*1 + 3*1 + 4 + 3*1 + 4 + 2*2 + 2*1*1 + 3*1 + 4 + 3*1 + 2*1*1 + 2*2 + 4 + 2*2 + 4 + 3*1 + 2*1*1 + 3*1 + 4 = 73 = A000262(4). - Thomas Wieder, Oct 06 2006

For a finite set S of size n, a chain gang G of S is a partially ordered set (S,<=) consisting only of chains. The number of chain gangs of S is a(n). For example, with S={a, b}and n=2, there are a(2)=3 chain gangs of S, namely, {(a,a),(b,b)}, {(a,a),(a,b),(b,b)} and {(a,a),(b,a),(b,b)}. - Dennis P. Walsh, Feb 22 2007

(-1)*A000262 with the first term set to 1 and A084358 form a reciprocal pair under the list partition transform and associated operations described in A133314. Cf. A133289. - Tom Copeland, Oct 21 2007

Consider the distribution of n unlabeled elements "1" onto n levels where empty levels are allowed. In addition, the empty levels are labeled. Their names are 0_1, 0_2, 0_3, etc. This sequence gives the total number of such distributions. If the empty levels are unlabeled ("0"), then the answer is A001700. Let the colon ":" separate two levels. Then, for example, for n=3 we have a(3)=13 arrangements: 111:0_1:0_2, 0_1:111:0_2, 0_1:0_2:111, 111:0_2:0_1, 0_2:111:0_1, 0_2:0_1:111, 11:1:0, 11:0:1, 0:11:1, 1:11:0, 1:0:11, 0:1:11, 1:1:1. - Thomas Wieder, May 25 2008

Row sums of exponential Riordan array [1,x/(1-x)]. - Paul Barry, Jul 24 2008

a(n) is the number of partitions of [n] (A000110) into lists of noncrossing sets. For example, a(3)=3 counts 12, 1-2, 2-1 and a(4) = 73 counts the 75 partitions of [n] into lists of sets (A000670) except for 13-24, 24-13 which fail to be noncrossing. - David Callan, Jul 25 2008

a(i-j)/(i-j)! gives the value of the non-null element (i, j) of the lower triangular matrix exp(S)/exp(1), where S is the lower triangular matrix - of whatever dimension - having all its (non-null) elements equal to one. - Giuliano Cabrele, Aug 11 2008, Sep 07 2008

a(n) is also the number of nilpotent partial one-one bijections (of an n-element set). Equivalently, it is the number of nilpotents in the symmetric inverse semigroup (monoid). - Abdullahi Umar, Sep 14 2008

A000262 is the exp transform of the factorial numbers A000142. - Thomas Wieder, Sep 10 2008

If n is a positive integer then the infinite continued fraction (1+n)/(1+(2+n)/(2+(3+n)/(3+...))) converges to the rational number A052852(n)/A000262(n). - David Angell (angell(AT)maths.unsw.edu.au), Dec 18 2008

Vladeta Jovovic's formula dated Sep 20 2006 can be restated as follows: a(n) is the n-th ascending factorial moment of the Poisson distribution with parameter (mean) 1. - Shai Covo (green355(AT)netvision.net.il), Jan 25 2010

The umbral exponential generating function for a(n) is (1-x)^{-B}. In other words, write (1-x)^{-B} as a power series in x whose coefficients are polynomials in B, and then replace B^k with the Bell number B_k. We obtain a(0) + a(1)x + a(2)x^2/2! + ... . - Richard Stanley, Jun 07 2010

a(n) is the number of Dyck n-paths (A000108) with its peaks labeled 1,2,...,k in some order, where k is the number of peaks. For example a(2)=3 counts U(1)DU(2)D, U(2)DU(1)D, UU(1)DD where the label at each peak is in parentheses. This is easy to prove using generating functions. - David Callan, Aug 23 2011

a(n) = number of permutations of the multiset {1,1,2,2,...,n,n} such that for 1 <= i <= n, all entries between the two i's exceed i and if any such entries are present, they include n. There are (2n-1)!! permutations satisfying the first condition, and for example: a(3)=13 counts all 5!!=15 of them except 331221 and 122133 which fail the second condition. - David Callan, Aug 27 2014

a(n) is the number of acyclic, injective functions from subsets of [n] to [n]. Let subset D of [n] have size k. The number of acyclic, injective functions from D to [n] is (n-1)!/(n-k-1)! and hence a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n-1} binomial(n,k)*(n-1)!/(n-k-1)!. - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 05 2015

a(n) is the number of acyclic, injective, labeled directed graphs on n vertices with each vertex having outdegree at most one. - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 05 2015

For n > 0, a(n) is the number of labeled-rooted skinny-tree forests on n nodes. A skinny tree is a tree in which each vertex has at most one child. Let k denote the number of trees. There are binomial(n,k) ways to choose the roots, binomial(n-1,k-1) ways to choose the number of descendants for each root, and (n-k)! ways to permute those descendants. Summing over k, we obtain a(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} C(n,k)*C(n-1,k-1)*(n-k)!. - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 10 2015

This is the Sheffer transform of the Bell numbers A000110 with the Sheffer matrix S = |Stirling1| = (1, -log(1-x)) = A132393. See the e.g.f. formula, a Feb 21 2017 comment on A048993, and R. Stanley's Jun 07 2010 comment above. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 21 2017

All terms = {1, 3} mod 10. - Muniru A Asiru, Oct 01 2017

We conjecture that for k = 2,3,4,..., the difference a(n+k) - a(n) is divisible by k: if true, then for each k the sequence a(n) taken modulo k is periodic with period dividing k. - Peter Bala, Nov 14 2017

The above conjecture is true - see the Bala link. - Peter Bala, Jan 20 2018

The terms of this sequence can be derived from the numerators of the fractions, produced by the recursion: b(0) = 1, b(n) = 1 + ((n-1) * b(n-1)) / (n-1 + b(n-1)) for n > 0. The denominators give A002720. - Dimitris Valianatos, Aug 01 2018

a(n) is the number of rooted labeled forests on n nodes that avoid the patterns 213, 312, and 123. It is also the number of rooted labeled forests that avoid 312, 213, and 132, as well as the number of rooted labeled forests that avoid 132, 213, and 321. - Kassie Archer, Aug 30 2018

For n > 0, a(n) is the number of partitions of [2n-1] whose nontrivial blocks are of type {a,b}, with a <= n and b > n. In fact, for n > 0, a(n) = A056953(2n-1). - Francesca Aicardi, Nov 03 2022

For n > 0, a(n) is the number of ways to split n people into nonempty groups, have each group sit around a circular table, and select one person from each table (where two seating arrangements are considered identical if each person has the same left neighbors in both of them). - Enrique Navarrete, Oct 01 2023

|a(n,k)| = number of partitions of {1..n} into k lists, where a list means an ordered subset.

Let N be a Poisson random variable with parameter (mean) lambda, and Y_1,Y_2,... independent exponential(theta) variables, independent of N, so that their density is given by (1/theta)*exp(-x/theta), x > 0. Set S=Sum_{i=1..N} Y_i. Then E(S^n), i.e., the n-th moment of S, is given by (theta^n) * L_n(lambda), n >= 0, where L_n(y) is the Lah polynomial Sum_{k=0..n} |a(n,k)| * y^k. - Shai Covo (green355(AT)netvision.net.il), Feb 09 2010

For y = lambda > 0, formula 2) for the Lah polynomial L_n(y) dated Feb 02 2010 can be restated as follows: L_n(lambda) is the n-th ascending factorial moment of the Poisson distribution with parameter (mean) lambda. - Shai Covo (green355(AT)netvision.net.il), Feb 10 2010

See A111596 for an expression of the row polynomials in terms of an umbral composition of the Bell polynomials and relation to an inverse Mellin transform and a generalized Dobinski formula. - Tom Copeland, Nov 21 2011

Also the Bell transform of the sequence (-1)^(n+1)*(n+1)! without column 0. For the definition of the Bell transform see A264428. - Peter Luschny, Jan 28 2016

Named after the Slovenian mathematician and actuary Ivo Lah (1896-1979). - Amiram Eldar, Jun 13 2021

Number of surjections from {1,...,n} to {1,...,n-1}. - Benoit Cloitre, Dec 05 2003

First Eulerian transform of 0,1,2,3,4,... . - Ross La Haye, Mar 05 2005

With offset 0 : determinant of the n X n matrix m(i,j)=(i+j+1)!/i!/j!. - Benoit Cloitre, Apr 11 2005

These numbers arise when expressing n(n+1)(n+2)...(n+k)[n+(n+1)+(n+2)+...+(n+k)] as sums of squares: n(n+1)[n+(n+1)] = 6(1+4+9+16+ ... + n^2), n(n+1)(n+2)(n+(n+1)+(n+2)) = 36(1+(1+4)+(1+4+9)+...+(1+4+9+16+ ... + n^2)), n(n+1)(n+2)(n+3)(n+(n+1)+(n+2)+(n+3)) = 240(...), ... . - Alexander R. Povolotsky, Oct 16 2006

a(n) is the number of edges in the Hasse diagram for the weak Bruhat order on the symmetric group S_n. For permutations p,q in S_n, q covers p in the weak Bruhat order if p,q differ by an adjacent transposition and q has one more inversion than p. Thus 23514 covers 23154 due to the transposition that interchanges the third and fourth entries. Cf. A002538 for the strong Bruhat order. - David Callan, Nov 29 2007

a(n) is also the number of excedances in all permutations of {1,2,...,n} (an excedance of a permutation p is a value j such p(j)>j). Proof: j is exceeded (n-1)! times by each of the numbers j+1, j+2, ..., n; now, Sum_{j=1..n} (n-j)(n-1)! = n!(n-1)/2. Example: a(3)=6 because the number of excedances of the permutations 123, 132, 312, 213, 231, 321 are 0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, respectively. - Emeric Deutsch, Dec 15 2008

(-1)^(n+1)*a(n) is the determinant of the n X n matrix whose (i,j)-th element is 0 for i = j, is j-1 for j>i, and j for j < i. - Michel Lagneau, May 04 2010

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

a(n) is the total number of ascents (descents) over all n-permutations. a(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} A008292(n,k)*k. - Geoffrey Critzer, Jan 06 2013

For m>=4, a(m-2) is the number of Hamiltonian cycles in a simple graph with m vertices which is complete, except for one edge. Proof: think of distinct round-table seatings of m persons such that persons "1" and "2" may not be neighbors; the count is (m-3)(m-2)!/2. See also A001710. - Stanislav Sykora, Jun 17 2014

Popularity of left (right) children in treeshelves. Treeshelves are ordered binary (0-1-2) increasing trees where every child is connected to its parent by a left or a right link. Popularity is the sum of a certain statistic (number of left children, in this case) over all objects of size n. See A278677, A278678 or A278679 for more definitions and examples. See A008292 for the distribution of the left (right) children in treeshelves. - Sergey Kirgizov, Dec 24 2016

T(n,k) is the number of partially ordered sets (posets) on n elements that consist entirely of k chains. For example, T(4, 3)=12 since there are exactly 12 posets on {a,b,c,d} that consist entirely of 3 chains. Letting ab denote a<=b and using a slash "/" to separate chains, the 12 posets can be given by a/b/cd, a/b/dc, a/c/bd, a/c/db, a/d/bc, a/d/cb, b/c/ad, b/c/da, b/d/ac, b/d/ca, c/d/ab and c/d/ba, where the listing of the chains is arbitrary (e.g., a/b/cd = a/cd/b =...cd/b/a). - Dennis P. Walsh, Feb 22 2007

Also the matrix product |S1|.S2 of Stirling numbers of both kinds.

This Lah triangle is a lower triangular matrix of the Jabotinsky type. See the column e.g.f. and the D. E. Knuth reference given in A008297. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 29 2007

The infinitesimal matrix generator of this matrix is given in A132710. See A111596 for an interpretation in terms of circular binary words and generalized factorials. - Tom Copeland, Nov 22 2007

Three combinatorial interpretations: T(n,k) is (1) the number of ways to split [n] = {1,...,n} into a collection of k nonempty lists ("partitions into sets of lists"), (2) the number of ways to split [n] into an ordered collection of n+1-k nonempty sets that are noncrossing ("partitions into lists of noncrossing sets"), (3) the number of Dyck n-paths with n+1-k peaks labeled 1,2,...,n+1-k in some order. - David Callan, Jul 25 2008

Given matrices A and B with A(n,k) = T(n,k)*a(n-k) and B(n,k) = T(n,k)*b(n-k), then A*B = D where D(n,k) = T(n,k)*[a(.)+b(.)]^(n-k), umbrally. - Tom Copeland, Aug 21 2008

An e.g.f. for the row polynomials of A(n,k) = T(n,k)*a(n-k) is exp[a(.)* D_x * x^2] exp(x*t) = exp(x*t) exp[(.)!*Lag(.,-x*t,1)*a(.)*x], umbrally, where [(.)! Lag(.,x,1)]^n = n! Lag(n,x,1) is a normalized Laguerre polynomial of order 1. - Tom Copeland, Aug 29 2008

Triangle of coefficients from the Bell polynomial of the second kind for f = 1/(1-x). B(n,k){x1,x2,x3,...} = B(n,k){1/(1-x)^2,...,(j-1)!/(1-x)^j,...} = T(n,k)/(1-x)^(n+k). - Vladimir Kruchinin, Mar 04 2011

The triangle, with the row and column offset taken as 0, is the generalized Riordan array (exp(x), x) with respect to the sequence n!*(n+1)! as defined by Wang and Wang (the generalized Riordan array (exp(x), x) with respect to the sequence n! is Pascal's triangle A007318, and with respect to the sequence n!^2 is A021009 unsigned). - Peter Bala, Aug 15 2013

For a relation to loop integrals in QCD, see p. 33 of Gopakumar and Gross and Blaizot and Nowak. - Tom Copeland, Jan 18 2016

Also the Bell transform of (n+1)!. For the definition of the Bell transform see A264428. - Peter Luschny, Jan 27 2016

Also the number of k-dimensional flats of the n-dimensional Shi arrangement. - Shuhei Tsujie, Apr 26 2019

The numbers T(n,k) appear as coefficients when expanding the rising factorials (x)^k = x(x+1)...(x+k-1) in the basis of falling factorials (x)k = x(x-1)...(x-k+1). Specifically, (x)^n = Sum{k=1..n} T(n,k) (x)k. - _Jeremy L. Martin, Apr 21 2021

The Lah numbers can be seen as the case m=1 of the family of triangles T_{m}(n,k) = T_{m}(n-1,k-1)+(k^m+(n-1)^m)*T_{m}(n-1,k) (see the link 'Partition transform').

This is the Sheffer triangle (lower triangular infinite matrix) (1, x/(1-x)), an element of the Jabotinsky subgroup of the Sheffer group. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 12 2017

Row sums of triangle A111596.

With different signs see A066668.

From Peter Bala, Aug 15 2022: (Start)

The congruence a(n+k) == a(n) (mod k) holds for all n and k.

It follows that the sequence obtained by taking a(n) modulo a fixed positive integer k is periodic with period dividing k. For example, taken modulo 10 the sequence becomes [1, 1, 9, 1, 1, 1, 1, 9, 1, 1, ...], a purely periodic sequence with period 5. More generally, the same property holds for any sequence with an e.g.f. of the form F(x)*exp(x*G(x)), where F(x) and G(x) are power series with integer coefficients and G(0) = 1. (End)