cp's OEIS Frontend

A256188(a(n)) = n and A256188(m) != n for m < a(n).

These are Hogben's central polygonal numbers denoted by the symbol

...2....

....P...

...2.n..

(P with three attachments).

Also the maximal number of 1's that an n X n invertible {0,1} matrix can have. (See Halmos for proof.) - Felix Goldberg (felixg(AT)tx.technion.ac.il), Jul 07 2001

Maximal number of interior regions formed by n intersecting circles, for n >= 1. - Amarnath Murthy, Jul 07 2001

The terms are the smallest of n consecutive odd numbers whose sum is n^3: 1, 3 + 5 = 8 = 2^3, 7 + 9 + 11 = 27 = 3^3, etc. - Amarnath Murthy, May 19 2001

(n*a(n+1)+1)/(n^2+1) is the smallest integer of the form (n*k+1)/(n^2+1). - Benoit Cloitre, May 02 2002

For n >= 3, a(n) is also the number of cycles in the wheel graph W(n) of order n. - Sharon Sela (sharonsela(AT)hotmail.com), May 17 2002

Let b(k) be defined as follows: b(1) = 1 and b(k+1) > b(k) is the smallest integer such that Sum_{i=b(k)..b(k+1)} 1/sqrt(i) > 2; then b(n) = a(n) for n > 0. - Benoit Cloitre, Aug 23 2002

Drop the first three terms. Then n*a(n) + 1 = (n+1)^3. E.g., 7*1 + 1 = 8 = 2^3, 13*2 + 1 = 27 = 3^3, 21*3 + 1 = 64 = 4^3, etc. - Amarnath Murthy, Oct 20 2002

Arithmetic mean of next 2n - 1 numbers. - Amarnath Murthy, Feb 16 2004

The n-th term of an arithmetic progression with first term 1 and common difference n: a(1) = 1 -> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...; a(2) = 3 -> 1, 3, ...; a(3) = 7 -> 1, 4, 7, ...; a(4) = 13 -> 1, 5, 9, 13, ... - Amarnath Murthy, Mar 25 2004

Number of walks of length 3 between any two distinct vertices of the complete graph K_{n+1} (n >= 1). Example: a(2) = 3 because in the complete graph ABC we have the following walks of length 3 between A and B: ABAB, ACAB and ABCB. - Emeric Deutsch, Apr 01 2004

Narayana transform of [1, 2, 0, 0, 0, ...] = [1, 3, 7, 13, 21, ...]. Let M = the infinite lower triangular matrix of A001263 and let V = the Vector [1, 2, 0, 0, 0, ...]. Then A002061 starting (1, 3, 7, ...) = M * V. - Gary W. Adamson, Apr 25 2006

The sequence 3, 7, 13, 21, 31, 43, 57, 73, 91, 111, ... is the trajectory of 3 under repeated application of the map n -> n + 2 * square excess of n, cf. A094765.

Also n^3 mod (n^2+1). - Zak Seidov, Aug 31 2006

Also, omitting the first 1, the main diagonal of A081344. - Zak Seidov, Oct 05 2006

Ignoring the first ones, these are rectangular parallelepipeds with integer dimensions that have integer interior diagonals. Using Pythagoras: sqrt(a^2 + b^2 + c^2) = d, an integer; then this sequence: sqrt(n^2 + (n+1)^2 + (n(n+1))^2) = 2T_n + 1 is the first and most simple example. Problem: Are there any integer diagonals which do not satisfy the following general formula? sqrt((k*n)^2 + (k*(n+(2*m+1)))^2 + (k*(n*(n+(2*m+1)) + 4*T_m))^2) = k*d where m >= 0, k >= 1, and T is a triangular number. - Marco Matosic, Nov 10 2006

Numbers n such that a(n) is prime are listed in A055494. Prime a(n) are listed in A002383. All terms are odd. Prime factors of a(n) are listed in A007645. 3 divides a(3*k-1), 7 divides a(7*k-4) and a(7*k-2), 7^2 divides a(7^2*k-18) and a(7^2*k+19), 7^3 divides a(7^3*k-18) and a(7^3*k+19), 7^4 divides a(7^4*k+1048) and a(7^4*k-1047), 7^5 divides a(7^5*k+1354) and a(7^5*k-1353), 13 divides a(13*k-9) and a(13*k-3), 13^2 divides a(13^2*k+23) and a(13^2*k-22), 13^3 divides a(13^3*k+1037) and a(13^3*k-1036). - Alexander Adamchuk, Jan 25 2007

Complement of A135668. - Kieren MacMillan, Dec 16 2007

From William A. Tedeschi, Feb 29 2008: (Start)

Numbers (sorted) on the main diagonal of a 2n X 2n spiral. For example, when n=2:

.

7---8---9--10

| |

6 1---2 11

| | |

5---4---3 12

|

16--15--14--13

.

Cf. A137928. (End)

a(n) = AlexanderPolynomial[n] defined as Det[Transpose[S]-n S] where S is Seifert matrix {{-1, 1}, {0, -1}}. - Artur Jasinski, Mar 31 2008

Starting (1, 3, 7, 13, 21, ...) = binomial transform of [1, 2, 2, 0, 0, 0]; example: a(4) = 13 = (1, 3, 3, 1) dot (1, 2, 2, 0) = (1 + 6 + 6 + 0). - Gary W. Adamson, May 10 2008

Starting (1, 3, 7, 13, ...) = triangle A158821 * [1, 2, 3, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Mar 28 2009

Starting with offset 1 = triangle A128229 * [1,2,3,...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Mar 26 2009

a(n) = k such that floor((1/2)*(1 + sqrt(4*k-3))) + k = (n^2+1), that is A000037(a(n)) = A002522(n) = n^2 + 1, for n >= 1. - Jaroslav Krizek, Jun 21 2009

For n > 0: a(n) = A170950(A002522(n-1)), A170950(a(n)) = A174114(n), A170949(a(n)) = A002522(n-1). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 08 2010

From Emeric Deutsch, Sep 23 2010: (Start)

a(n) is also the Wiener index of the fan graph F(n). The fan graph F(n) is defined as the graph obtained by joining each node of an n-node path graph with an additional node. The Wiener index of a connected graph is the sum of the distances between all unordered pairs of vertices in the graph. The Wiener polynomial of the graph F(n) is (1/2)t[(n-1)(n-2)t + 2(2n-1)]. Example: a(2)=3 because the corresponding fan graph is a cycle on 3 nodes (a triangle), having distances 1, 1, and 1.

(End)

For all elements k = n^2 - n + 1 of the sequence, sqrt(4*(k-1)+1) is an integer because 4*(k-1) + 1 = (2*n-1)^2 is a perfect square. Building the intersection of this sequence with A000225, k may in addition be of the form k = 2^x - 1, which happens only for k = 1, 3, 7, 31, and 8191. [Proof: Still 4*(k-1)+1 = 2^(x+2) - 7 must be a perfect square, which has the finite number of solutions provided by A060728: x = 1, 2, 3, 5, or 13.] In other words, the sequence A038198 defines all elements of the form 2^x - 1 in this sequence. For example k = 31 = 6*6 - 6 + 1; sqrt((31-1)*4+1) = sqrt(121) = 11 = A038198(4). - Alzhekeyev Ascar M, Jun 01 2011

a(n) such that A002522(n-1) * A002522(n) = A002522(a(n)) where A002522(n) = n^2 + 1. - Michel Lagneau, Feb 10 2012

Left edge of the triangle in A214661: a(n) = A214661(n, 1), for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 25 2012

a(n) = A215630(n, 1), for n > 0; a(n) = A215631(n-1, 1), for n > 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 11 2012

Sum_{n > 0} arccot(a(n)) = Pi/2. - Franz Vrabec, Dec 02 2012

If you draw a triangle with one side of unit length and one side of length n, with an angle of Pi/3 radians between them, then the length of the third side of the triangle will be the square root of a(n). - Elliott Line, Jan 24 2013

a(n+1) is the number j such that j^2 = j + m + sqrt(j*m), with corresponding number m given by A100019(n). Also: sqrt(j*m) = A027444(n) = n * a(n+1). - Richard R. Forberg, Sep 03 2013

Let p(x) the interpolating polynomial of degree n-1 passing through the n points (n,n) and (1,1), (2,1), ..., (n-1,1). Then p(n+1) = a(n). - Giovanni Resta, Feb 09 2014

The number of square roots >= sqrt(n) and < n+1 (n >= 0) gives essentially the same sequence, 1, 3, 7, 13, 21, 31, 43, 57, 73, 91, 111, 133, 157, 183, 211, ... . - Michael G. Kaarhus, May 21 2014

For n > 1: a(n) is the maximum total number of queens that can coexist without attacking each other on an [n+1] X [n+1] chessboard. Specifically, this will be a lone queen of one color placed in any position on the perimeter of the board, facing an opponent's "army" of size a(n)-1 == A002378(n-1). - Bob Selcoe, Feb 07 2015

a(n+1) is, for n >= 1, the number of points as well as the number of lines of a finite projective plane of order n (cf. Hughes and Piper, 1973, Theorem 3.5., pp. 79-80). For n = 3, a(4) = 13, see the 'Finite example' in the Wikipedia link, section 2.3, for the point-line matrix. - Wolfdieter Lang, Nov 20 2015

Denominators of the solution to the generalization of the Feynman triangle problem. If each vertex of a triangle is joined to the point (1/p) along the opposite side (measured say clockwise), then the area of the inner triangle formed by these lines is equal to (p - 2)^2/(p^2 - p + 1) times the area of the original triangle, p > 2. For example, when p = 3, the ratio of the areas is 1/7. The numerators of the ratio of the areas is given by A000290 with an offset of 2. [Cook & Wood, 2004.] - Joe Marasco, Feb 20 2017

n^2 equal triangular tiles with side lengths 1 X 1 X 1 may be put together to form an n X n X n triangle. For n>=2 a(n-1) is the number of different 2 X 2 X 2 triangles being contained. - Heinrich Ludwig, Mar 13 2017

For n >= 0, the continued fraction [n, n+1, n+2] = (n^3 + 3n^2 + 4n + 2)/(n^2 + 3n + 3) = A034262(n+1)/a(n+2) = n + (n+2)/a(n+2); e.g., [2, 3, 4] = A034262(3)/a(4) = 30/13 = 2 + 4/13. - Rick L. Shepherd, Apr 06 2017

Starting with b(1) = 1 and not allowing the digit 0, let b(n) = smallest nonnegative integer not yet in the sequence such that the last digit of b(n-1) plus the first digit of b(n) is equal to k for k = 1, ..., 9. This defines 9 finite sequences, each of length equal to a(k), k = 1, ..., 9. (See A289283-A289287 for the cases k = 5..9.) For k = 10, the sequence is infinite (A289288). For example, for k = 4, b(n) = 1,3,11,31,32,2,21,33,12,22,23,13,14. These terms can be ordered in the following array of size k*(k-1)+1:

1 2 3

21 22 23

31 32 33

11 12 13 14

.

The sequence ends with the term 1k, which lies outside the rectangular array and gives the term +1 (see link).- Enrique Navarrete, Jul 02 2017

The central polygonal numbers are the delimiters (in parenthesis below) when you write the natural numbers in groups of odd size 2*n+1 starting with the group {2} of size 1: (1) 2 (3) 4,5,6 (7) 8,9,10,11,12 (13) 14,15,16,17,18,19,20 (21) 22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 (31) 32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42 (43) ... - Enrique Navarrete, Jul 11 2017

Also the number of (non-null) connected induced subgraphs in the n-cycle graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Aug 09 2017

Since (n+1)^2 - (n+1) + 1 = n^2 + n + 1 then from 7 onwards these are also exactly the numbers that are represented as 111 in all number bases: 111(2)=7, 111(3)=13, ... - Ron Knott, Nov 14 2017

Number of binary 2 X (n-1) matrices such that each row and column has at most one 1. - Dmitry Kamenetsky, Jan 20 2018

Observed to be the squares visited by bishop moves on a spirally numbered board and moving to the lowest available unvisited square at each step, beginning at the second term (cf. A316667). It should be noted that the bishop will only travel to squares along the first diagonal of the spiral. - Benjamin Knight, Jan 30 2019

From Ed Pegg Jr, May 16 2019: (Start)

Bound for n-subset coverings. Values in A138077 covered by difference sets.

C(7,3,2), {1,2,4}

C(13,4,2), {0,1,3,9}

C(21,5,2), {3,6,7,12,14}

C(31,6,2), {1,5,11,24,25,27}

C(43,7,2), existence unresolved

C(57,8,2), {0,1,6,15,22,26,45,55}

Next unresolved cases are C(111,11,2) and C(157,13,2). (End)

"In the range we explored carefully, the optimal packings were substantially irregular only for n of the form n = k(k+1)+1, k = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, i.e., for n = 13, 21, 31, 43, and 57." (cited from Lubachevsky, Graham link, Introduction). - Rainer Rosenthal, May 27 2020

From Bernard Schott, Dec 31 2020: (Start)

For n >= 1, a(n) is the number of solutions x in the interval 1 <= x <= n of the equation x^2 - [x^2] = (x - [x])^2, where [x] = floor(x). For n = 3, the a(3) = 7 solutions in the interval [1, 3] are 1, 3/2, 2, 9/4, 5/2, 11/4 and 3.

This sequence is the answer to the 4th problem proposed during the 20th British Mathematical Olympiad in 1984 (see link B.M.O 1984. and Gardiner reference). (End)

Called "Hogben numbers" after the British zoologist, statistician and writer Lancelot Thomas Hogben (1895-1975). - Amiram Eldar, Jun 24 2021

Minimum Wiener index of 2-degenerate graphs with n+1 vertices (n>0). A maximal 2-degenerate graph can be constructed from a 2-clique by iteratively adding a new 2-leaf (vertex of degree 2) adjacent to two existing vertices. The extremal graphs are maximal 2-degenerate graphs with diameter at most 2. - Allan Bickle, Oct 14 2022

a(n) is the number of parking functions of size n avoiding the patterns 123, 213, and 312. - Lara Pudwell, Apr 10 2023

Repeated iteration of a(k) starting with k=2 produces Sylvester's sequence, i.e., A000058(n) = a^n(2), where a^n is the n-th iterate of a(k). - Curtis Bechtel, Apr 04 2024

a(n) is the maximum number of triangles that can be traversed by starting from a triangle and moving to adjacent triangles via an edge, without revisiting any triangle, in an n X n X n equilateral triangular grid made up of n^2 unit equilateral triangles. - Kiran Ananthpur Bacche, Jan 16 2025

Number of parallelograms in an n X n rhombus. - Matti De Craene (Matti.DeCraene(AT)rug.ac.be), May 14 2000

Or, number of orthogonal rectangles in an n X n checkerboard, or rectangles in an n X n array of squares. - Jud McCranie, Feb 28 2003. Compare A085582.

Also number of 2-dimensional cage assemblies (cf. A059827, A059860).

The n-th triangular number T(n) = Sum_{r=1..n} r = n(n+1)/2 satisfies the relations: (i) T(n) + T(n-1) = n^2 and (ii) T(n) - T(n-1) = n by definition, so that n^2*n = n^3 = {T(n)}^2 - {T(n-1)}^2 and by summing on n we have Sum_{ r = 1..n } r^3 = {T(n)}^2 = (1+2+3+...+n)^2 = (n*(n+1)/2)^2. - Lekraj Beedassy, May 14 2004

Number of 4-tuples of integers from {0,1,...,n}, without repetition, whose last component is strictly bigger than the others. Number of 4-tuples of integers from {1,...,n}, with repetition, whose last component is greater than or equal to the others.

Number of ordered pairs of two-element subsets of {0,1,...,n} without repetition.

Number of ordered pairs of 2-element multisubsets of {1,...,n} with repetition.

1^3 + 2^3 + 3^3 + ... + n^3 = (1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n)^2.

a(n) is the number of parameters needed in general to know the Riemannian metric g of an n-dimensional Riemannian manifold (M,g), by knowing all its second derivatives; even though to know the curvature tensor R requires (due to symmetries) (n^2)*(n^2-1)/12 parameters, a smaller number (and a 4-dimensional pyramidal number). - Jonathan Vos Post, May 05 2006

Also number of hexagons with vertices in an hexagonal grid with n points in each side. - Ignacio Larrosa Cañestro, Oct 15 2006

Number of permutations of n distinct letters (ABCD...) each of which appears twice with 4 and n-4 fixed points. - Zerinvary Lajos, Nov 09 2006

With offset 1 = binomial transform of [1, 8, 19, 18, 6, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 03 2008

The sequence is related to A000330 by a(n) = n*A000330(n) - Sum_{i=0..n-1} A000330(i): this is the case d=1 in the identity n*(n*(d*n-d+2)/2) - Sum_{i=0..n-1} i*(d*i-d+2)/2 = n*(n+1)*(2*d*n-2*d+3)/6. - Bruno Berselli, Apr 26 2010, Mar 01 2012

From Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 11 2013: (Start)

For sums of powers of positive integers S(k,n) := Sum_{j=1..n}j^k one has the recurrence S(k,n) = (n+1)*S(k-1,n) - Sum_{l=1..n} S(k-1,l), n >= 1, k >= 1.

This was used for k=4 by Ibn al-Haytham in an attempt to compute the volume of the interior of a paraboloid. See the Strick reference where the trick he used is shown, and the W. Lang link.

This trick generalizes immediately to arbitrary powers k. For k=3: a(n) = (n+1)*A000330(n) - Sum_{l=1..n} A000330(l), which coincides with the formula given in the previous comment by Berselli. (End)

Regarding to the previous contribution, see also Matem@ticamente in Links field and comments on this recurrences in similar sequences (partial sums of n-th powers). - Bruno Berselli, Jun 24 2013

A rectangular prism with sides A000217(n), A000217(n+1), and A000217(n+2) has surface area 6*a(n+1). - J. M. Bergot, Aug 07 2013, edited with corrected indices by Antti Karttunen, Aug 09 2013

A formula for the r-th successive summation of k^3, for k = 1 to n, is (6*n^2+r*(6*n+r-1)*(n+r)!)/((r+3)!*(n-1)!), (H. W. Gould). - Gary Detlefs, Jan 02 2014

Note that this sequence and its formula were known to (and possibly discovered by) Nicomachus, predating Ibn al-Haytham by 800 years. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Apr 23 2014

a(n) is the number of ways to paint the sides of a nonsquare rectangle using at most n colors. Cf. A039623. - Geoffrey Critzer, Jun 18 2014

For n > 0: A256188(a(n)) = A000217(n) and A256188(m) != A000217(n) for m < a(n), i.e., positions of first occurrences of triangular numbers in A256188. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 26 2015

There is no cube in this sequence except 0 and 1. - Altug Alkan, Jul 02 2016

Also the number of chordless cycles in the complete bipartite graph K_{n+1,n+1}. - Eric W. Weisstein, Jan 02 2018

a(n) is the sum of the elements in the multiplication table [0..n] X [0..n]. - Michel Marcus, May 06 2021

Numbers that are not triangular (nontriangular numbers).

Also definable as follows: a(1)=2; for n>1, a(n) is smallest integer greater than a(n-1) such that the condition "n and a(a(n)) have opposite parities" can always be satisfied. - Benoit Cloitre and Matthew Vandermast, Mar 10 2003

Record values in A256188 that are greater than 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 26 2015

From Daniel Forgues, Apr 10 2015: (Start)

With n >= 1, k >= 1:

t(n+k) - k, 1 <= k <= n+k-1, n >= 1;

t(n+k-1) + n, 1 <= n <= n+k-1, k >= 1;

where t(n+k) = t(n+k-1) + (n+k) is the (n+k)-th triangular number, while the number of compositions of n+k into 2 parts is C(n+k-1, 2-1) = n+k-1, the number of nontriangular numbers between t(n+k-1) and t(n+k), just right!

Related to Hilbert's Infinite Hotel:

0) All rooms, numbered through the positive integers, are full;

1) An infinite number of trains, each containing an infinite number of passengers, arrives: i.e., a 2-D lattice of pairs of positive integers;

2) Move occupant of room m, m >= 1, to room t(m) = m*(m+1)/2, where t(m) is the m-th triangular number;

3) Assign n-th passenger from k-th train to room t(n+k-1) + n, 1 <= n <= n+k-1, k >= 1;

4) Everybody has his or her own room, no room is empty, for m >= 1.

If situation 1 happens again, repeat steps 2 and 3, you're back to 4.

(End)

1711 + 2*a(n)*(58 + a(n)) is prime for n<=21. The terms that do not have this property start 29,32,34,43,47,58,59,60,62,63,65,68,70,73,... - Benedict W. J. Irwin, Nov 22 2016

Also numbers k with the property that in the symmetric representation of sigma(k) both Dyck paths have a central peak or both Dyck paths have a central valley. (Cf. A237593.) - Omar E. Pol, Aug 28 2018

a(n) are the numbers satisfying m < sqrt(a(n)) < m + 0.5 for some integer m. - Floor van Lamoen, Jul 24 2001

a(A000217(n)) = A002378(n). [Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 12 2011]

Complement of A004201. Upper s(n)-Wythoff sequence (as defined in A184117), for s(n)=A002024(n)=floor[1/2+sqrt(2n)]. I.e., A004202(n) = A002024(n) + A004201(n), with A004201(1)=1 and for n>1, A004201(n) = least positive integer not yet in (A004201(1..n-1) union A004202(1..n-1)). - M. F. Hasler (following observations from R. J. Mathar), Feb 13 2011

Positions of record values in A256188 that are greater than 1: A014132(n) = A256188(a(n)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 26 2015

a(A005448(n)) = 1;

conjecture: a(A068722(n)) = (2*n+1)^2, i.e. A068722(n) = gives the position of the first occurrence of n-th odd square;

A164514(n) = a(A255527(n)) and a(m) < A164514(n) for m < A255527(n).