cp's OEIS Frontend

Leibniz's series: Pi/4 = Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^n/(2n+1) (cf. A072172).

Beginning of the ordering of the natural numbers used in Sharkovski's theorem - see the Cielsielski-Pogoda paper.

The Sharkovski ordering begins with the odd numbers >= 3, then twice these numbers, then 4 times them, then 8 times them, etc., ending with the powers of 2 in decreasing order, ending with 2^0 = 1.

Apart from initial term(s), dimension of the space of weight 2n cusp forms for Gamma_0(6).

Also continued fraction for coth(1) (A073747 is decimal expansion). - Rick L. Shepherd, Aug 07 2002

a(1) = 1; a(n) is the smallest number such that a(n) + a(i) is composite for all i = 1 to n-1. - Amarnath Murthy, Jul 14 2003

Smallest number greater than n, not a multiple of n, but containing it in binary representation. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 06 2003

Numbers n such that phi(2n) = phi(n), where phi is Euler's totient (A000010). - Lekraj Beedassy, Aug 27 2004

Pi*sqrt(2)/4 = Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^floor(n/2)/(2n+1) = 1 + 1/3 - 1/5 - 1/7 + 1/9 + 1/11 ... [since periodic f(x)=x over -Pi < x < Pi = 2(sin(x)/1 - sin(2x)/2 + sin(3x)/3 - ...) using x = Pi/4 (Maor)]. - Gerald McGarvey, Feb 04 2005

For n > 1, numbers having 2 as an anti-divisor. - Alexandre Wajnberg, Oct 02 2005

a(n) = shortest side a of all integer-sided triangles with sides a <= b <= c and inradius n >= 1.

First differences of squares (A000290). - Lekraj Beedassy, Jul 15 2006

The odd numbers are the solution to the simplest recursion arising when assuming that the algorithm "merge sort" could merge in constant unit time, i.e., T(1):= 1, T(n):= T(floor(n/2)) + T(ceiling(n/2)) + 1. - Peter C. Heinig (algorithms(AT)gmx.de), Oct 14 2006

2n-5 counts the permutations in S_n which have zero occurrences of the pattern 312 and one occurrence of the pattern 123. - David Hoek (david.hok(AT)telia.com), Feb 28 2007

For n > 0: number of divisors of (n-1)th power of any squarefree semiprime: a(n) = A000005(A001248(k)^(n-1)); a(n) = A000005(A000302(n-1)) = A000005(A001019(n-1)) = A000005(A009969(n-1)) = A000005(A087752(n-1)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 04 2007

For n > 2, a(n-1) is the least integer not the sum of < n n-gonal numbers (0 allowed). - Jonathan Sondow, Jul 01 2007

A134451(a(n)) = abs(A134452(a(n))) = 1; union of A134453 and A134454. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 27 2007

Numbers n such that sigma(2n) = 3*sigma(n). - Farideh Firoozbakht, Feb 26 2008

a(n) = A139391(A016825(n)) = A006370(A016825(n)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 17 2008

Number of divisors of 4^(n-1) for n > 0. - J. Lowell, Aug 30 2008

Equals INVERT transform of A078050 (signed - cf. comments); and row sums of triangle A144106. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 11 2008

Odd numbers(n) = 2*n+1 = square pyramidal number(3*n+1) / triangular number(3*n+1). - Pierre CAMI, Sep 27 2008

A000035(a(n))=1, A059841(a(n))=0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Sep 29 2008

Multiplicative closure of A065091. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 14 2008

a(n) is also the maximum number of triangles that n+2 points in the same plane can determine. 3 points determine max 1 triangle; 4 points can give 3 triangles; 5 points can give 5; 6 points can give 7 etc. - Carmine Suriano, Jun 08 2009

Binomial transform of A130706, inverse binomial transform of A001787(without the initial 0). - Philippe Deléham, Sep 17 2009

Also the 3-rough numbers: positive integers that have no prime factors less than 3. - Michael B. Porter, Oct 08 2009

Or n without 2 as prime factor. - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Nov 19 2009

Given an L(2,1) labeling l of a graph G, let k be the maximum label assigned by l. The minimum k possible over all L(2,1) labelings of G is denoted by lambda(G). For n > 0, this sequence gives lambda(K_{n+1}) where K_{n+1} is the complete graph on n+1 vertices. - K.V.Iyer, Dec 19 2009

A176271 = odd numbers seen as a triangle read by rows: a(n) = A176271(A002024(n+1), A002260(n+1)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 13 2010

For n >= 1, a(n-1) = numbers k such that arithmetic mean of the first k positive integers is an integer. A040001(a(n-1)) = 1. See A145051 and A040001. - Jaroslav Krizek, May 28 2010

Union of A179084 and A179085. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 28 2010

For n>0, continued fraction [1,1,n] = (n+1)/a(n); e.g., [1,1,7] = 8/15. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 15 2010

Numbers that are the sum of two sequential integers. - Dominick Cancilla, Aug 09 2010

Cf. property described by Gary Detlefs in A113801: more generally, these numbers are of the form (2*h*n + (h-4)*(-1)^n - h)/4 (h and n in A000027), therefore ((2*h*n + (h-4)*(-1)^n - h)/4)^2 - 1 == 0 (mod h); in this case, a(n)^2 - 1 == 0 (mod 4). Also a(n)^2 - 1 == 0 (mod 8). - Bruno Berselli, Nov 17 2010

A004767 = a(a(n)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 27 2011

A001227(a(n)) = A000005(a(n)); A048272(a(n)) < 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jan 21 2012

a(n) is the minimum number of tosses of a fair coin needed so that the probability of more than n heads is at least 1/2. In fact, Sum_{k=n+1..2n+1} Pr(k heads|2n+1 tosses) = 1/2. - Dennis P. Walsh, Apr 04 2012

A007814(a(n)) = 0; A037227(a(n)) = 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 30 2012

1/N (i.e., 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, ...) = Sum_{j=1,3,5,...,infinity} k^j, where k is the infinite set of constants 1/exp.ArcSinh(N/2) = convergents to barover(N). The convergent to barover(1) or [1,1,1,...] = 1/phi = 0.6180339..., whereas c.f. barover(2) converges to 0.414213..., and so on. Thus, with k = 1/phi we obtain 1 = k^1 + k^3 + k^5 + ..., and with k = 0.414213... = (sqrt(2) - 1) we get 1/2 = k^1 + k^3 + k^5 + .... Likewise, with the convergent to barover(3) = 0.302775... = k, we get 1/3 = k^1 + k^3 + k^5 + ..., etc. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 01 2012

Conjecture on primes with one coach (A216371) relating to the odd integers: iff an integer is in A216371 (primes with one coach either of the form 4q-1 or 4q+1, (q > 0)); the top row of its coach is composed of a permutation of the first q odd integers. Example: prime 19 (q = 5), has 5 terms in each row of its coach: 19: [1, 9, 5, 7, 3] ... [1, 1, 1, 2, 4]. This is interpreted: (19 - 1) = (2^1 * 9), (19 - 9) = (2^1 * 5), (19 - 5) = (2^1 - 7), (19 - 7) = (2^2 * 3), (19 - 3) = (2^4 * 1). - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 09 2012

A005408 is the numerator 2n-1 of the term (1/m^2 - 1/n^2) = (2n-1)/(mn)^2, n = m+1, m > 0 in the Rydberg formula, while A035287 is the denominator (mn)^2. So the quotient a(A005408)/a(A035287) simulates the Hydrogen spectral series of all hydrogen-like elements. - Freimut Marschner, Aug 10 2013

This sequence has unique factorization. The primitive elements are the odd primes (A065091). (Each term of the sequence can be expressed as a product of terms of the sequence. Primitive elements have only the trivial factorization. If the products of terms of the sequence are always in the sequence, and there is a unique factorization of each element into primitive elements, we say that the sequence has unique factorization. So, e.g., the composite numbers do not have unique factorization, because for example 36 = 4*9 = 6*6 has two distinct factorizations.) - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Sep 28 2013

These are also numbers k such that (k^k+1)/(k+1) is an integer. - Derek Orr, May 22 2014

a(n-1) gives the number of distinct sums in the direct sum {1,2,3,..,n} + {1,2,3,..,n}. For example, {1} + {1} has only one possible sum so a(0) = 1. {1,2} + {1,2} has three distinct possible sums {2,3,4} so a(1) = 3. {1,2,3} + {1,2,3} has 5 distinct possible sums {2,3,4,5,6} so a(2) = 5. - Derek Orr, Nov 22 2014

The number of partitions of 4*n into at most 2 parts. - Colin Barker, Mar 31 2015

a(n) is representable as a sum of two but no fewer consecutive nonnegative integers, e.g., 1 = 0 + 1, 3 = 1 + 2, 5 = 2 + 3, etc. (see A138591). - Martin Renner, Mar 14 2016

Unique solution a( ) of the complementary equation a(n) = a(n-1)^2 - a(n-2)*b(n-1), where a(0) = 1, a(1) = 3, and a( ) and b( ) are increasing complementary sequences. - Clark Kimberling, Nov 21 2017

Also the number of maximal and maximum cliques in the n-centipede graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Dec 01 2017

Lexicographically earliest sequence of distinct positive integers such that the average of any number of consecutive terms is always an integer. (For opposite property see A042963.) - Ivan Neretin, Dec 21 2017

Maximum number of non-intersecting line segments between vertices of a convex (n+2)-gon. - Christoph B. Kassir, Oct 21 2022

a(n) is the number of parking functions of size n+1 avoiding the patterns 123, 132, and 231. - Lara Pudwell, Apr 10 2023

a(n) is the sum of the next n odd numbers; i.e., group the odd numbers so that the n-th group contains n elements like this: (1), (3, 5), (7, 9, 11), (13, 15, 17, 19), (21, 23, 25, 27, 29), ...; then each group sum = n^3 = a(n). Also the median of each group = n^2 = mean. As the sum of first n odd numbers is n^2 this gives another proof of the fact that the n-th partial sum = (n(n + 1)/2)^2. - Amarnath Murthy, Sep 14 2002

Total number of triangles resulting from criss-crossing cevians within a triangle so that two of its sides are each n-partitioned. - Lekraj Beedassy, Jun 02 2004. See Propp and Propp-Gubin for a proof.

Also structured triakis tetrahedral numbers (vertex structure 7) (cf. A100175 = alternate vertex); structured tetragonal prism numbers (vertex structure 7) (cf. A100177 = structured prisms); structured hexagonal diamond numbers (vertex structure 7) (cf. A100178 = alternate vertex; A000447 = structured diamonds); and structured trigonal anti-diamond numbers (vertex structure 7) (cf. A100188 = structured anti-diamonds). Cf. A100145 for more on structured polyhedral numbers. - James A. Record (james.record(AT)gmail.com), Nov 07 2004

Schlaefli symbol for this polyhedron: {4, 3}.

Least multiple of n such that every partial sum is a square. - Amarnath Murthy, Sep 09 2005

Draw a regular hexagon. Construct points on each side of the hexagon such that these points divide each side into equally sized segments (i.e., a midpoint on each side or two points on each side placed to divide each side into three equally sized segments or so on), do the same construction for every side of the hexagon so that each side is equally divided in the same way. Connect all such points to each other with lines that are parallel to at least one side of the polygon. The result is a triangular tiling of the hexagon and the creation of a number of smaller regular hexagons. The equation gives the total number of regular hexagons found where n = the number of points drawn + 1. For example, if 1 point is drawn on each side then n = 1 + 1 = 2 and a(n) = 2^3 = 8 so there are 8 regular hexagons in total. If 2 points are drawn on each side then n = 2 + 1 = 3 and a(n) = 3^3 = 27 so there are 27 regular hexagons in total. - Noah Priluck (npriluck(AT)gmail.com), May 02 2007

The solutions of the Diophantine equation: (X/Y)^2 - X*Y = 0 are of the form: (n^3, n) with n >= 1. The solutions of the Diophantine equation: (m^2)*(X/Y)^2k - XY = 0 are of the form: (m*n^(2k + 1), m*n^(2k - 1)) with m >= 1, k >= 1 and n >= 1. The solutions of the Diophantine equation: (m^2)*(X/Y)^(2k + 1) - XY = 0 are of the form: (m*n^(k + 1), m*n^k) with m >= 1, k >= 1 and n >= 1. - Mohamed Bouhamida, Oct 04 2007

Except for the first two terms, the sequence corresponds to the Wiener indices of C_{2n} i.e., the cycle on 2n vertices (n > 1). - K.V.Iyer, Mar 16 2009

Totally multiplicative sequence with a(p) = p^3 for prime p. - Jaroslav Krizek, Nov 01 2009

Sums of rows of the triangle in A176271, n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 13 2010

One of the 5 Platonic polyhedral (tetrahedral, cube, octahedral, dodecahedral and icosahedral) numbers (cf. A053012). - Daniel Forgues, May 14 2010

Numbers n for which order of torsion subgroup t of the elliptic curve y^2 = x^3 - n is t = 2. - Artur Jasinski, Jun 30 2010

The sequence with the lengths of the Pisano periods mod k is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 6, 19, 20, ... for k >= 1, apparently multiplicative and derived from A000027 by dividing every ninth term through 3. Cubic variant of A186646. - R. J. Mathar, Mar 10 2011

The number of atoms in a bcc (body-centered cubic) rhombic hexahedron with n atoms along one edge is n^3 (T. P. Martin, Shells of atoms, eq. (8)). - Brigitte Stepanov, Jul 02 2011

The inverse binomial transform yields the (finite) 0, 1, 6, 6 (third row in A019538 and A131689). - R. J. Mathar, Jan 16 2013

Twice the area of a triangle with vertices at (0, 0), (t(n - 1), t(n)), and (t(n), t(n - 1)), where t = A000217 are triangular numbers. - J. M. Bergot, Jun 25 2013

If n > 0 is not congruent to 5 (mod 6) then A010888(a(n)) divides a(n). - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Oct 16 2013

For n > 2, a(n) = twice the area of a triangle with vertices at points (binomial(n,3),binomial(n+2,3)), (binomial(n+1,3),binomial(n+1,3)), and (binomial(n+2,3),binomial(n,3)). - J. M. Bergot, Jun 14 2014

Determinants of the spiral knots S(4,k,(1,1,-1)). a(k) = det(S(4,k,(1,1,-1))). - Ryan Stees, Dec 14 2014

One of the oldest-known examples of this sequence is shown in the Senkereh tablet, BM 92698, which displays the first 32 terms in cuneiform. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Jan 21 2015

From Bui Quang Tuan, Mar 31 2015: (Start)

We construct a number triangle from the integers 1, 2, 3, ... 2*n-1 as follows. The first column contains all the integers 1, 2, 3, ... 2*n-1. Each succeeding column is the same as the previous column but without the first and last items. The last column contains only n. The sum of all the numbers in the triangle is n^3.

Here is the example for n = 4, where 1 + 2*2 + 3*3 + 4*4 + 3*5 + 2*6 + 7 = 64 = a(4):

1

2 2

3 3 3

4 4 4 4

5 5 5

6 6

7

(End)

For n > 0, a(n) is the number of compositions of n+11 into n parts avoiding parts 2 and 3. - Milan Janjic, Jan 07 2016

Does not satisfy Benford's law [Ross, 2012]. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 08 2017

Number of inequivalent face colorings of the cube using at most n colors such that each color appears at least twice. - David Nacin, Feb 22 2017

Consider A = {a,b,c} a set with three distinct members. The number of subsets of A is 8, including {a,b,c} and the empty set. The number of subsets from each of those 8 subsets is 27. If the number of such iterations is n, then the total number of subsets is a(n-1). - Gregory L. Simay, Jul 27 2018

By Fermat's Last Theorem, these are the integers of the form x^k with the least possible value of k such that x^k = y^k + z^k never has a solution in positive integers x, y, z for that k. - Felix Fröhlich, Jul 27 2018

Same as Pisot sequences E(1, 3), L(1, 3), P(1, 3), T(1, 3). Essentially same as Pisot sequences E(3, 9), L(3, 9), P(3, 9), T(3, 9). See A008776 for definitions of Pisot sequences.

Number of (s(0), s(1), ..., s(2n+2)) such that 0 < s(i) < 6 and |s(i) - s(i-1)| = 1 for i = 1, 2, ..., 2n + 2, s(0) = 1, s(2n+2) = 3. - Herbert Kociemba, Jun 10 2004

a(1) = 1, a(n+1) is the least number such that there are a(n) even numbers between a(n) and a(n+1). Generalization for the sequence of powers of k: 1, k, k^2, k^3, k^4, ... There are a(n) multiples of k-1 between a(n) and a(n+1). - Amarnath Murthy, Nov 28 2004

a(n) = sum of (n+1)-th row in Triangle A105728. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 18 2005

With p(n) being the number of integer partitions of n, p(i) being the number of parts of the i-th partition of n, d(i) being the number of different parts of the i-th partition of n, m(i, j) being the multiplicity of the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, Sum_{i = 1..p(n)} being the sum over i and Product_{j = 1..d(i)} being the product over j, one has: a(n) = Sum_{i = 1..p(n)} (p(i)!/(Product_{j = 1..d(i)} m(i, j)!))*2^(p(i) - 1). - Thomas Wieder, May 18 2005

For any k > 1 in the sequence, k is the first prime power appearing in the prime decomposition of repunit R_k, i.e., of A002275(k). - Lekraj Beedassy, Apr 24 2006

a(n-1) is the number of compositions of compositions. In general, (k+1)^(n-1) is the number of k-levels nested compositions (e.g., 4^(n-1) is the number of compositions of compositions of compositions, etc.). Each of the n - 1 spaces between elements can be a break for one of the k levels, or not a break at all. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Dec 06 2006

Let S be a binary relation on the power set P(A) of a set A having n = |A| elements such that for every element x, y of P(A), xSy if x is a subset of y. Then a(n) = |S|. - Ross La Haye, Dec 22 2006

From Manfred Boergens, Mar 28 2023: (Start)

With regard to the comment by Ross La Haye:

Cf. A001047 if either nonempty subsets are considered or x is a proper subset of y.

Cf. a(n+1) in A028243 if nonempty subsets are considered and x is a proper subset of y. (End)

If X_1, X_2, ..., X_n is a partition of the set {1, 2, ..., 2*n} into blocks of size 2 then, for n >= 1, a(n) is equal to the number of functions f : {1, 2, ..., 2*n} -> {1, 2} such that for fixed y_1, y_2, ..., y_n in {1, 2} we have f(X_i) <> {y_i}, (i = 1, 2, ..., n). - Milan Janjic, May 24 2007

This is a general comment on all sequences of the form a(n) = [(2^k)-1]^n for all positive integers k. Example 1.1.16 of Stanley's "Enumerative Combinatorics" offers a slightly different version. a(n) in the number of functions f:[n] into P([k]) - {}. a(n) is also the number of functions f:[k] into P([n]) such that the generalized intersection of f(i) for all i in [k] is the empty set. Where [n] = {1, 2, ..., n}, P([n]) is the power set of [n] and {} is the empty set. - Geoffrey Critzer, Feb 28 2009

a(n) = A064614(A000079(n)) and A064614(m)A000079(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 08 2010

3^(n+1) = (1, 2, 2, 2, ...) dot (1, 1, 3, 9, ..., 3^n); e.g., 3^3 = 27 = (1, 2, 2, 2) dot (1, 1, 3, 9) = (1 + 2 + 6 + 18). - Gary W. Adamson, May 17 2010

a(n) is the number of generalized compositions of n when there are 3*2^i different types of i, (i = 1, 2, ...). - Milan Janjic, Sep 24 2010

For n >= 1, a(n-1) is the number of generalized compositions of n when there are 2^(i-1) different types of i, (i = 1, 2, ...). - Milan Janjic, Sep 24 2010

The sequence in question ("Powers of 3") also describes the number of moves of the k-th disk solving the [RED ; BLUE ; BLUE] or [RED ; RED ; BLUE] pre-colored Magnetic Tower of Hanoi puzzle (cf. A183111 - A183125).

a(n) is the number of Stern polynomials of degree n. See A057526. - T. D. Noe, Mar 01 2011

Positions of records in the number of odd prime factors, A087436. - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Mar 17 2011

Sum of coefficients of the expansion of (1+x+x^2)^n. - Adi Dani, Jun 21 2011

a(n) is the number of compositions of n elements among {0, 1, 2}; e.g., a(2) = 9 since there are the 9 compositions 0 + 0, 0 + 1, 1 + 0, 0 + 2, 1 + 1, 2 + 0, 1 + 2, 2 + 1, and 2 + 2. [From Adi Dani, Jun 21 2011; modified by editors.]

Except the first two terms, these are odd numbers n such that no x with 2 <= x <= n - 2 satisfy x^(n-1) == 1 (mod n). - Arkadiusz Wesolowski, Jul 03 2011

The compositions of n in which each natural number is colored by one of p different colors are called p-colored compositions of n. For n >= 1, a(n) equals the number of 3-colored compositions of n such that no adjacent parts have the same color. - Milan Janjic, Nov 17 2011

Explanation from David Applegate, Feb 20 2017: (Start)

Since the preceding comment appears in a large number of sequences, it might be worth adding a proof.

The number of compositions of n into exactly k parts is binomial(n-1,k-1).

For a p-colored composition of n such that no adjacent parts have the same color, there are exactly p choices for the color of the first part, and p-1 choices for the color of each additional part (any color other than the color of the previous one). So, for a partition into k parts, there are p (p-1)^(k-1) valid colorings.

Thus the number of p-colored compositions of n into exactly k parts such that no adjacent parts have the same color is binomial(n-1,k-1) p (p-1)^(k-1).

The total number of p-colored compositions of n such that no adjacent parts have the same color is then

Sum_{k=1..n} binomial(n-1,k-1) * p * (p-1)^(k-1) = p^n.

To see this, note that the binomial expansion of ((p - 1) + 1)^(n - 1) = Sum_{k = 0..n - 1} binomial(n - 1, k) (p - 1)^k 1^(n - 1 - k) = Sum_{k = 1..n} binomial(n - 1, k - 1) (p - 1)^(k - 1).

(End)

Also, first and least element of the matrix [1, sqrt(2); sqrt(2), 2]^(n+1). - M. F. Hasler, Nov 25 2011

One-half of the row sums of the triangular version of A035002. - J. M. Bergot, Jun 10 2013

Form an array with m(0,n) = m(n,0) = 2^n; m(i,j) equals the sum of the terms to the left of m(i,j) and the sum of the terms above m(i,j), which is m(i,j) = Sum_{k=0..j-1} m(i,k) + Sum_{k=0..i-1} m(k,j). The sum of the terms in antidiagonal(n+1) = 4*a(n). - J. M. Bergot, Jul 10 2013

a(n) = A007051(n+1) - A007051(n), and A007051 are the antidiagonal sums of an array defined by m(0,k) = 1 and m(n,k) = Sum_{c = 0..k - 1} m(n, c) + Sum_{r = 0..n - 1} m(r, k), which is the sum of the terms to left of m(n, k) plus those above m(n, k). m(1, k) = A000079(k); m(2, k) = A045623(k + 1); m(k + 1, k) = A084771(k). - J. M. Bergot, Jul 16 2013

Define an array to have m(0,k) = 2^k and m(n,k) = Sum_{c = 0..k - 1} m(n, c) + Sum_{r = 0..n - 1} m(r, k), which is the sum of the terms to the left of m(n, k) plus those above m(n, k). Row n = 0 of the array comprises A000079, column k = 0 comprises A011782, row n = 1 comprises A001792. Antidiagonal sums of the array are a(n): 1 = 3^0, 1 + 2 = 3^1, 2 + 3 + 4 = 3^2, 4 + 7 + 8 + 8 = 3^3. - J. M. Bergot, Aug 02 2013

The sequence with interspersed zeros and o.g.f. x/(1 - 3*x^2), A(2*k) = 0, A(2*k + 1) = 3^k = a(k), k >= 0, can be called hexagon numbers. This is because the algebraic number rho(6) = 2*cos(Pi/6) = sqrt(3) of degree 2, with minimal polynomial C(6, x) = x^2 - 3 (see A187360, n = 6), is the length ratio of the smaller diagonal and the side in the hexagon. Hence rho(6)^n = A(n-1)*1 + A(n)*rho(6), in the power basis of the quadratic number field Q(rho(6)). One needs also A(-1) = 1. See also a Dec 02 2010 comment and the P. Steinbach reference given in A049310. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 02 2013

Numbers k such that sigma(3k) = 3k + sigma(k). - Jahangeer Kholdi, Nov 23 2013

All powers of 3 are perfect totient numbers (A082897), since phi(3^n) = 2 * 3^(n - 1) for n > 0, and thus Sum_{i = 0..n} phi(3^i) = 3^n. - Alonso del Arte, Apr 20 2014

The least number k > 0 such that 3^k ends in n consecutive decreasing digits is a 3-term sequence given by {1, 13, 93}. The consecutive increasing digits are {3, 23, 123}. There are 100 different 3-digit endings for 3^k. There are no k-values such that 3^k ends in '012', '234', '345', '456', '567', '678', or '789'. The k-values for which 3^k ends in '123' are given by 93 mod 100. For k = 93 + 100*x, the digit immediately before the run of '123' is {9, 5, 1, 7, 3, 9, 5, 1, 3, 7, ...} for x = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ...}, respectively. Thus we see the digit before '123' will never be a 0. So there are no further terms. - Derek Orr, Jul 03 2014

All elements of A^n where A = (1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1; 1, 1, 1). - David Neil McGrath, Jul 23 2014

Counts all walks of length n (open or closed) on the vertices of a triangle containing a loop at each vertex starting from any given vertex. - David Neil McGrath, Oct 03 2014

a(n) counts walks (closed) on the graph G(1-vertex;1-loop,1-loop,1-loop). - David Neil McGrath, Dec 11 2014

2*a(n-2) counts all permutations of a solitary closed walk of length (n) from the vertex of a triangle that contains 2 loops on each of the remaining vertices. In addition, C(m,k)=2*(2^m)*B(m+k-2,m) counts permutations of walks that contain (m) loops and (k) arcs. - David Neil McGrath, Dec 11 2014

a(n) is the sum of the coefficients of the n-th layer of Pascal's pyramid (a.k.a., Pascal's tetrahedron - see A046816). - Bob Selcoe, Apr 02 2016

Numbers n such that the trinomial x^(2*n) + x^n + 1 is irreducible over GF(2). Of these only the trinomial for n=1 is primitive. - Joerg Arndt, May 16 2016

Satisfies Benford's law [Berger-Hill, 2011]. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 08 2017

a(n-1) is also the number of compositions of n if the parts can be runs of any length from 1 to n, and can contain any integers from 1 to n. - Gregory L. Simay, May 26 2017

Also the number of independent vertex sets and vertex covers in the n-ladder rung graph n P_2. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 21 2017

Also the number of (not necessarily maximal) cliques in the n-cocktail party graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Nov 29 2017

a(n-1) is the number of 2-compositions of n; see Hopkins & Ouvry reference. - Brian Hopkins, Aug 15 2020

a(n) is the number of faces of any dimension (vertices, edges, square faces, etc.) of the n-dimensional hypercube. For example, the 0-dimensional hypercube is a point, and its only face is itself. The 1-dimensional hypercube is a line, which has two vertices and an edge. The 2-dimensional hypercube is a square, which has four vertices, four edges, and a square face. - Kevin Long, Mar 14 2023

Number of pairs (A,B) of subsets of M={1,2,...,n} with union(A,B)=M. For nonempty subsets cf. A058481. - Manfred Boergens, Mar 28 2023

From Jianing Song, Sep 27 2023: (Start)

a(n) is the number of disjunctive clauses of n variables up to equivalence. A disjunctive clause is a propositional formula of the form l_1 OR ... OR l_m, where l_1, ..., l_m are distinct elements in {x_1, ..., x_n, NOT x_1, ..., NOT x_n} for n variables x_1, ... x_n, and no x_i and NOT x_i appear at the same time. For each 1 <= i <= n, we can have neither of x_i or NOT x_i, only x_i or only NOT x_i appearing in a disjunctive clause, so the number of such clauses is 3^n. Viewing the propositional formulas of n variables as functions {0,1}^n -> {0,1}, a disjunctive clause corresponds to a function f such that the inverse image of 0 is of the form A_1 X ... X A_n, where A_i is nonempty for all 1 <= i <= n. Since each A_i has 3 choices ({0}, {1} or {0,1}), we also find that the number of disjunctive clauses of n variables is 3^n.

Equivalently, a(n) is the number of conjunctive clauses of n variables. (End)

The finite subsequence a(2), a(3), a(4), a(5) = 9, 27, 81, 243 is one of only two geometric sequences that can be formed with all interior angles (all integer, in degrees) of a simple polygon. The other sequence is a subsequence of A007283 (see comment there). - Felix Huber, Feb 15 2024

n is a palindrome (i.e., a(k) = n for some k) if and only if n = A004086(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 10 2002

It seems that if n*reversal(n) is in the sequence then n = 3 or all digits of n are less than 3. - Farideh Firoozbakht, Nov 02 2014

The position of a palindrome within the sequence can be determined almost without calculation: If the palindrome has an even number of digits, prepend a 1 to the front half of the palindrome's digits. If the number of digits is odd, prepend the value of front digit + 1 to the digits from position 2 ... central digit. Examples: 98766789 = a(19876), 515 = a(61), 8206028 = a(9206), 9230329 = a(10230). - Hugo Pfoertner, Aug 14 2015

This sequence is an additive basis of order at most 49, see Banks link. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Aug 23 2015

The order has been reduced from 49 to 3; see the Cilleruelo-Luca and Cilleruelo-Luca-Baxter links. - Jonathan Sondow, Nov 27 2017

See A262038 for the "next palindrome" and A261423 for the "preceding palindrome" functions. - M. F. Hasler, Sep 09 2015

The number of palindromes with d digits is 10 if d = 1, and otherwise it is 9 * 10^(floor((d - 1)/2)). - N. J. A. Sloane, Dec 06 2015

Sequence A033665 tells how many iterations of the Reverse-then-add function A056964 are needed to reach a palindrome; numbers for which this will never happen are Lychrel numbers (A088753) or rather Kin numbers (A023108). - M. F. Hasler, Apr 13 2019

This sequence is an additive basis of order 3, see Cilleruelo, Luca, & Baxter and Sigg. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Apr 08 2025

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

Sometimes also called lambda numbers.

Also denominators of continued fraction convergents to sqrt(2): 1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29, 99/70, 239/169, 577/408, 1393/985, 3363/2378, 8119/5741, 19601/13860, 47321/33461, 114243/80782, ... = A001333/A000129.

Number of lattice paths from (0,0) to the line x=n-1 consisting of U=(1,1), D=(1,-1) and H=(2,0) steps (i.e., left factors of Grand Schroeder paths); for example, a(3)=5, counting the paths H, UD, UU, DU and DD. - Emeric Deutsch, Oct 27 2002

a(2*n) with b(2*n) := A001333(2*n), n >= 1, give all (positive integer) solutions to Pell equation b^2 - 2*a^2 = +1 (see Emerson reference). a(2*n+1) with b(2*n+1) := A001333(2*n+1), n >= 0, give all (positive integer) solutions to Pell equation b^2 - 2*a^2 = -1.

Bisection: a(2*n+1) = T(2*n+1, sqrt(2))/sqrt(2) = A001653(n), n >= 0 and a(2*n) = 2*S(n-1,6) = 2*A001109(n), n >= 0, with T(n,x), resp. S(n,x), Chebyshev's polynomials of the first, resp. second kind. S(-1,x)=0. See A053120, resp. A049310. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 10 2003

Consider the mapping f(a/b) = (a + 2b)/(a + b). Taking a = b = 1 to start with and carrying out this mapping repeatedly on each new (reduced) rational number gives the following sequence 1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29, ... converging to 2^(1/2). Sequence contains the denominators. - Amarnath Murthy, Mar 22 2003

This is also the Horadam sequence (0,1,1,2). Limit_{n->oo} a(n)/a(n-1) = sqrt(2) + 1 = A014176. - Ross La Haye, Aug 18 2003

Number of 132-avoiding two-stack sortable permutations.

From Herbert Kociemba, Jun 02 2004: (Start)

For n > 0, the number of (s(0), s(1), ..., s(n)) such that 0 < s(i) < 4 and |s(i) - s(i-1)| <= 1 for i = 1,2,...,n, s(0) = 2, s(n) = 3.

Number of (s(0), s(1), ..., s(n)) such that 0 < s(i) < 4 and |s(i) - s(i-1)| <= 1 for i = 1,2,...,n, s(0) = 1, s(n) = 2. (End)

Counts walks of length n from a vertex of a triangle to another vertex to which a loop has been added. - Mario Catalani (mario.catalani(AT)unito.it), Jul 23 2004

Apart from initial terms, Pisot sequence P(2,5). See A008776 for definition of Pisot sequences. - David W. Wilson

Sums of antidiagonals of A038207 [Pascal's triangle squared]. - Ross La Haye, Oct 28 2004

The Pell primality test is "If N is an odd prime, then P(N)-Kronecker(2,N) is divisible by N". "Most" composite numbers fail this test, so it makes a useful pseudoprimality test. The odd composite numbers which are Pell pseudoprimes (i.e., that pass the above test) are in A099011. - Jack Brennen, Nov 13 2004

a(n) = sum of n-th row of triangle in A008288 = A094706(n) + A000079(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Dec 03 2004

Pell trapezoids (cf. A084158); for n > 0, A001109(n) = (a(n-1) + a(n+1))*a(n)/2; e.g., 1189 = (12+70)*29/2. - Charlie Marion, Apr 01 2006

(0!a(1), 1!a(2), 2!a(3), 3!a(4), ...) and (1,-2,-2,0,0,0,...) form a reciprocal pair under the list partition transform and associated operations described in A133314. - Tom Copeland, Oct 29 2007

Let C = (sqrt(2)+1) = 2.414213562..., then for n > 1, C^n = a(n)*(1/C) + a(n+1). Example: C^3 = 14.0710678... = 5*(0.414213562...) + 12. Let X = the 2 X 2 matrix [0, 1; 1, 2]; then X^n * [1, 0] = [a(n-1), a(n); a(n), a(n+1)]. a(n) = numerator of n-th convergent to (sqrt(2)-1) = 0.414213562... = [2, 2, 2, ...], the convergents being [1/2, 2/5, 5/12, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 21 2007

A = sqrt(2) = 2/2 + 2/5 + 2/(5*29) + 2/(29*169) + 2/(169*985) + ...; B = ((5/2) - sqrt(2)) = 2/2 + 2/(2*12) + 2/(12*70) + 2/(70*408) + 2/(408*2378) + ...; A+B = 5/2. C = 1/2 = 2/(1*5) + 2/(2*12) + 2/(5*29) + 2/(12*70) + 2/(29*169) + ... - Gary W. Adamson, Mar 16 2008

From Clark Kimberling, Aug 27 2008: (Start)

Related convergents (numerator/denominator):

lower principal convergents: A002315/A001653

upper principal convergents: A001541/A001542

intermediate convergents: A052542/A001333

lower intermediate convergents: A005319/A001541

upper intermediate convergents: A075870/A002315

principal and intermediate convergents: A143607/A002965

lower principal and intermediate convergents: A143608/A079496

upper principal and intermediate convergents: A143609/A084068. (End)

Equals row sums of triangle A143808 starting with offset 1. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 01 2008

Binomial transform of the sequence:= 0,1,0,2,0,4,0,8,0,16,..., powers of 2 alternating with zeros. - Philippe Deléham, Oct 28 2008

a(n) is also the sum of the n-th row of the triangle formed by starting with the top two rows of Pascal's triangle and then each next row has a 1 at both ends and the interior values are the sum of the three numbers in the triangle above that position. - Patrick Costello (pat.costello(AT)eku.edu), Dec 07 2008

Starting with offset 1 = eigensequence of triangle A135387 (an infinite lower triangular matrix with (2,2,2,...) in the main diagonal and (1,1,1,...) in the subdiagonal). - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 29 2008

Starting with offset 1 = row sums of triangle A153345. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 24 2008

From Charlie Marion, Jan 07 2009: (Start)

In general, denominators, a(k,n) and numerators, b(k,n), of continued fraction convergents to sqrt((k+1)/k) may be found as follows:

let a(k,0) = 1, a(k,1) = 2k; for n > 0, a(k,2n) = 2*a(k,2n-1) + a(k,2n-2)

and a(k,2n+1) = (2k)*a(k,2n) + a(k,2n-1);

let b(k,0) = 1, b(k,1) = 2k+1; for n > 0, b(k,2n) = 2*b(k,2n-1) + b(k,2n-2)

and b(k,2n+1) = (2k)*b(k,2n) + b(k,2n-1).

For example, the convergents to sqrt(2/1) start 1/1, 3/2, 7/5, 17/12, 41/29.

In general, if a(k,n) and b(k,n) are the denominators and numerators, respectively, of continued fraction convergents to sqrt((k+1)/k) as defined above, then

k*a(k,2n)^2 - a(k,2n-1)*a(k,2n+1) = k = k*a(k,2n-2)*a(k,2n) - a(k,2n-1)^2 and

b(k,2n-1)*b(k,2n+1) - k*b(k,2n)^2 = k+1 = b(k,2n-1)^2 - k*b(k,2n-2)*b(k,2n);

for example, if k=1 and n=3, then a(1,n) = a(n+1) and

1*a(1,6)^2 - a(1,5)*a(1,7) = 1*169^2 - 70*408 = 1;

1*a(1,4)*a(1,6) - a(1,5)^2 = 1*29*169 - 70^2 = 1;

b(1,5)*b(1,7) - 1*b(1,6)^2 = 99*577 - 1*239^2 = 2;

b(1,5)^2 - 1*b(1,4)*b(1,6) = 99^2 - 1*41*239 = 2.

Cf. A001333, A142238, A142239, A153313, A153314, A153315, A153316, A153317, A153318.

(End)

Starting with offset 1 = row sums of triangle A155002, equivalent to the statement that the Fibonacci sequence convolved with the Pell sequence prefaced with a "1": (1, 1, 2, 5, 12, 29, ...) = (1, 2, 5, 12, 29, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 18 2009

It appears that P(p) == 8^((p-1)/2) (mod p), p = prime; analogous to [Schroeder, p. 90]: Fp == 5^((p-1)/2) (mod p). Example: Given P(11) = 5741, == 8^5 (mod 11). Given P(17) = 11336689, == 8^8 (mod 17) since 17 divides (8^8 - P(17)). - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 21 2009

Equals eigensequence of triangle A154325. - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 12 2009

Another combinatorial interpretation of a(n-1) arises from a simple tiling scenario. Namely, a(n-1) gives the number of ways of tiling a 1 X n rectangle with indistinguishable 1 X 2 rectangles and 1 X 1 squares that come in two varieties, say, A and B. For example, with C representing the 1 X 2 rectangle, we obtain a(4)=12 from AAA, AAB, ABA, BAA, ABB, BAB, BBA, BBB, AC, BC, CA and CB. - Martin Griffiths, Apr 25 2009

a(n+1) = 2*a(n) + a(n-1), a(1)=1, a(2)=2 was used by Theon from Smyrna. - Sture Sjöstedt, May 29 2009

The n-th Pell number counts the perfect matchings of the edge-labeled graph C_2 x P_(n-1), or equivalently, the number of domino tilings of a 2 X (n-1) cylindrical grid. - Sarah-Marie Belcastro, Jul 04 2009

As a fraction: 1/79 = 0.0126582278481... or 1/9799 = 0.000102051229...(1/119 and 1/10199 for sequence in reverse). - Mark Dols, May 18 2010

Limit_{n->oo} (a(n)/a(n-1) - a(n-1)/a(n)) tends to 2.0. Example: a(7)/a(6) - a(6)/a(7) = 169/70 - 70/169 = 2.0000845... - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 16 2010

Numbers k such that 2*k^2 +- 1 is a square. - Vincenzo Librandi, Jul 18 2010

Starting (1, 2, 5, ...) = INVERTi transform of A006190: (1, 3, 10, 33, 109, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 06 2010

[u,v] = [a(n), a(n-1)] generates all Pythagorean triples [u^2-v^2, 2uv, u^2+v^2] whose legs differ by 1. - James R. Buddenhagen, Aug 14 2010

An elephant sequence, see A175654. For the corner squares six A[5] vectors, with decimal values between 21 and 336, lead to this sequence (without the leading 0). For the central square these vectors lead to the companion sequence A078057. - Johannes W. Meijer, Aug 15 2010

Let the 2 X 2 square matrix A=[2, 1; 1, 0] then a(n) = the (1,1) element of A^(n-1). - Carmine Suriano, Jan 14 2011

Define a t-circle to be a first-quadrant circle tangent to the x- and y-axes. Such a circle has coordinates equal to its radius. Let C(0) be the t-circle with radius 1. Then for n > 0, define C(n) to be the next larger t-circle which is tangent to C(n - 1). C(n) has radius A001333(2n) + a(2n)*sqrt(2) and each of the coordinates of its point of intersection with C(n + 1) is a(2n + 1) + (A001333(2n + 1)*sqrt(2))/2. See similar Comments for A001109 and A001653, Sep 14 2005. - Charlie Marion, Jan 18 2012

A001333 and A000129 give the diagonal numbers described by Theon from Smyrna. - Sture Sjöstedt, Oct 20 2012

Pell numbers could also be called "silver Fibonacci numbers", since, for n >= 1, F(n+1) = ceiling(phi*F(n)), if n is even and F(n+1) = floor(phi*F(n)), if n is odd, where phi is the golden ratio, while a(n+1) = ceiling(delta*a(n)), if n is even and a(n+1) = floor(delta*a(n)), if n is odd, where delta = delta_S = 1+sqrt(2) is the silver ratio. - Vladimir Shevelev, Feb 22 2013

a(n) is the number of compositions (ordered partitions) of n-1 into two sorts of 1's and one sort of 2's. Example: the a(3)=5 compositions of 3-1=2 are 1+1, 1+1', 1'+1, 1'+1', and 2. - Bob Selcoe, Jun 21 2013

Between every two consecutive squares of a 1 X n array there is a flap that can be folded over one of the two squares. Two flaps can be lowered over the same square in 2 ways, depending on which one is on top. The n-th Pell number counts the ways n-1 flaps can be lowered. For example, a sideway representation for the case n = 3 squares and 2 flaps is \\., .//, \./, ./., .\., where . is an empty square. - Jean M. Morales, Sep 18 2013

Define a(-n) to be a(n) for n odd and -a(n) for n even. Then a(n) = A005319(k)*(a(n-2k+1) - a(n-2k)) + a(n-4k) = A075870(k)*(a(n-2k+2) - a(n-2k+1)) - a(n-4k+2). - Charlie Marion, Nov 26 2013

An alternative formulation of the combinatorial tiling interpretation listed above: Except for n=0, a(n-1) is the number of ways of partial tiling a 1 X n board with 1 X 1 squares and 1 X 2 dominoes. - Matthew Lehman, Dec 25 2013

Define a(-n) to be a(n) for n odd and -a(n) for n even. Then a(n) = A077444(k)*a(n-2k+1) + a(n-4k+2). This formula generalizes the formula used to define this sequence. - Charlie Marion, Jan 30 2014

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

a(n+1) counts closed walks on K2 containing two loops on the other vertex. Equivalently the (1,1) entry of A^(n+1) where the adjacency matrix of digraph is A=(0,1;1,2). - David Neil McGrath, Oct 28 2014

For n >= 1, a(n) equals the number of ternary words of length n-1 avoiding runs of zeros of odd lengths. - Milan Janjic, Jan 28 2015

This is a divisibility sequence (i.e., if n|m then a(n)|a(m)). - Tom Edgar, Jan 28 2015

A strong divisibility sequence, that is, gcd(a(n), a(m)) = a(gcd(n, m)) for all positive integers n and m. - Michael Somos, Jan 03 2017

a(n) is the number of compositions (ordered partitions) of n-1 into two kinds of parts, n and n', when the order of the 1 does not matter, or equivalently, when the order of the 1' does not matter. Example: When the order of the 1 does not matter, the a(3)=5 compositions of 3-1=2 are 1+1, 1+1'=1+1, 1'+1', 2 and 2'. (Contrast with entry from Bob Selcoe dated Jun 21 2013.) - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 07 2017

Number of weak orderings R on {1,...,n} that are weakly single-peaked w.r.t. the total ordering 1 < ... < n and for which {1,...,n} has exactly one minimal element for the weak ordering R. - J. Devillet, Sep 28 2017

Also the number of matchings in the (n-1)-centipede graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 30 2017

Let A(r,n) be the total number of ordered arrangements of an n+r tiling of r red squares and white tiles of total length n, where the individual tile lengths can range from 1 to n. A(r,0) corresponds to a tiling of r red squares only, and so A(r,0)=1. Let A_1(r,n) = Sum_{j=0..n} A(r,j) and let A_s(r,n) = Sum_{j=0..n} A_(s-1)(r,j). Then A_0(1,n) + A_2(3,n-4) + A_4(5,n-8) + ... + A_(2j) (2j+1, n-4j) = a(n) without the initial 0. - Gregory L. Simay, May 25 2018

(1, 2, 5, 12, 29, ...) is the fourth INVERT transform of (1, -2, 5, -12, 29, ...), as shown in A073133. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 17 2019

Number of 2-compositions of n restricted to odd parts (and allowed zeros); see Hopkins & Ouvry reference. - Brian Hopkins, Aug 17 2020

Also called the 2-metallonacci sequence; the g.f. 1/(1-k*x-x^2) gives the k-metallonacci sequence. - Michael A. Allen, Jan 23 2023

Named by Lucas (1878) after the English mathematician John Pell (1611-1685). - Amiram Eldar, Oct 02 2023

a(n) is the number of compositions of n when there are F(i) parts of size i, with i,n >= 1, F(n) the Fibonacci numbers, A000045(n) (see example below). - Enrique Navarrete, Dec 15 2023

-2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -12, -14, ... are the trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function. - Vivek Suri (vsuri(AT)jhu.edu), Jan 24 2008

If a 2-set Y and an (n-2)-set Z are disjoint subsets of an n-set X then a(n-2) is the number of 2-subsets of X intersecting both Y and Z. - Milan Janjic, Sep 19 2007

A134452(a(n)) = 0; A134451(a(n)) = 2 for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 27 2007

Omitting the initial zero gives the number of prime divisors with multiplicity of product of terms of n-th row of A077553. - Ray Chandler, Aug 21 2003

A059841(a(n))=1, A000035(a(n))=0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Sep 29 2008

(APSO) Alternating partial sums of (a-b+c-d+e-f+g...) = (a+b+c+d+e+f+g...) - 2*(b+d+f...), it appears that APSO(A005843) = A052928 = A002378 - 2*(A116471), with A116471=2*A008794. - Eric Desbiaux, Oct 28 2008

A056753(a(n)) = 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Aug 23 2009

Twice the nonnegative numbers. - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Dec 12 2009

The number of hydrogen atoms in straight-chain (C(n)H(2n+2)), branched (C(n)H(2n+2), n > 3), and cyclic, n-carbon alkanes (C(n)H(2n), n > 2). - Paul Muljadi, Feb 18 2010

For n >= 1; a(n) = the smallest numbers m with the number of steps n of iterations of {r - (smallest prime divisor of r)} needed to reach 0 starting at r = m. See A175126 and A175127. A175126(a(n)) = A175126(A175127(n)) = n. Example (a(4)=8): 8-2=6, 6-2=4, 4-2=2, 2-2=0; iterations has 4 steps and number 8 is the smallest number with such result. - Jaroslav Krizek, Feb 15 2010

For n >= 1, a(n) = numbers k such that arithmetic mean of the first k positive integers is not integer. A040001(a(n)) > 1. See A145051 and A040001. - Jaroslav Krizek, May 28 2010

Union of A179082 and A179083. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 28 2010

a(k) is the (Moore lower bound on and the) order of the (k,4)-cage: the smallest k-regular graph having girth four: the complete bipartite graph with k vertices in each part. - Jason Kimberley, Oct 30 2011

For n > 0: A048272(a(n)) <= 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jan 21 2012

Let n be the number of pancakes that have to be divided equally between n+1 children. a(n) is the minimal number of radial cuts needed to accomplish the task. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Sep 18 2013

For n > 0, a(n) is the largest number k such that (k!-n)/(k-n) is an integer. - Derek Orr, Jul 02 2014

a(n) when n > 2 is also the number of permutations simultaneously avoiding 213, 231 and 321 in the classical sense which can be realized as labels on an increasing strict binary tree with 2n-1 nodes. See A245904 for more information on increasing strict binary trees. - Manda Riehl Aug 07 2014

It appears that for n > 2, a(n) = A020482(n) + A002373(n), where all sequences are infinite. This is consistent with Goldbach's conjecture, which states that every even number > 2 can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers. - Bob Selcoe, Mar 08 2015

Number of partitions of 4n into exactly 2 parts. - Colin Barker, Mar 23 2015

Number of neighbors in von Neumann neighborhood. - Dmitry Zaitsev, Nov 30 2015

Unique solution b( ) of the complementary equation a(n) = a(n-1)^2 - a(n-2)*b(n-1), where a(0) = 1, a(1) = 3, and a( ) and b( ) are increasing complementary sequences. - Clark Kimberling, Nov 21 2017

Also the maximum number of non-attacking bishops on an (n+1) X (n+1) board (n>0). (Cf. A000027 for rooks and queens (n>3), A008794 for kings or A030978 for knights.) - Martin Renner, Jan 26 2020

Integer k is even positive iff phi(2k) > phi(k), where phi is Euler's totient (A000010) [see reference De Koninck & Mercier]. - Bernard Schott, Dec 10 2020

Number of 3-permutations of n elements avoiding the patterns 132, 213, 312 and also number of 3-permutations avoiding the patterns 213, 231, 321. See Bonichon and Sun. - Michel Marcus, Aug 20 2022

a(n) gives the y-value of the integral solution (x,y) of the Pellian equation x^2 - (n^2 + 1)*y^2 = 1. The x-value is given by 2*n^2 + 1 (see Tattersall). - Stefano Spezia, Jul 24 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

| \/ | \/ | \/ |

| /\ | /\ | /\ |

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U = U_(6,2) =

(0 0 1)

(0 2 0)

(2 0 1).

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

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

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

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

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

From Paul Curtz, Dec 11 2012: (Start)

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

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

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

1/2 0 1 1 3 5 ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a a a a a b

a a b b a b (End)

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

Least significant bit of n, lsb(n).

Also decimal expansion of 1/99.

Also the binary expansion of 1/3. - Robert G. Wilson v, Sep 01 2015

a(n) = A134451(n) mod 2. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 27 2007 [Corrected by Jianing Song, Nov 22 2019]

Characteristic function of odd numbers: a(A005408(n)) = 1, a(A005843(n)) = 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Sep 29 2008

A102370(n) modulo 2. - Philippe Deléham, Apr 04 2009

Base b expansion of 1/(b^2-1) for any b >= 2 is 0.0101... (A005563 has b^2-1). - Rick L. Shepherd, Sep 27 2009

Let A be the Hessenberg n X n matrix defined by: A[1,j] = j mod 2, A[i,i] := 1, A[i,i-1] = -1, and A[i,j] = 0 otherwise. Then, for n >= 1, a(n) = (-1)^n*charpoly(A,1). - Milan Janjic, Jan 24 2010

From R. J. Mathar, Jul 15 2010: (Start)

The sequence is the principal Dirichlet character of the reduced residue system mod 2 or mod 4 or mod 8 or mod 16 ...

Associated Dirichlet L-functions are for example L(2,chi) = Sum_{n>=1} a(n)/n^2 == A111003,

or L(3,chi) = Sum_{n>=1} a(n)/n^3 = 1.05179979... = 7*A002117/8,

or L(4,chi) = Sum_{n>=1} a(n)/n^4 = 1.014678... = A092425/96. (End)

Also parity of the nonnegative integers A001477. - Omar E. Pol, Jan 17 2012

a(n) = (4/n), where (k/n) is the Kronecker symbol. See the Eric Weisstein link. - Wolfdieter Lang, May 28 2013

Also the inverse binomial transform of A131577. - Paul Curtz, Nov 16 2016 [an observation forwarded by Jean-François Alcover]

The emanation sequence for the globe category. That is take the globe category, take the corresponding polynomial comonad, consider its carrier polynomial as a generating function, and take the corresponding sequence. - David Spivak, Sep 25 2020

For n > 0, a(n) is the alternating sum of the product of n increasing and n decreasing odd factors. For example, a(4) = 1*7 - 3*5 + 5*3 - 7*1 and a(5) = 1*9 - 3*7 + 5*5 - 7*3 + 9*1. - Charlie Marion, Mar 24 2022

Same as Pisot sequences E(1, 4), L(1, 4), P(1, 4), T(1, 4). Essentially same as Pisot sequences E(4, 16), L(4, 16), P(4, 16), T(4, 16). See A008776 for definitions of Pisot sequences.

The convolution square root of this sequence is A000984, the central binomial coefficients: C(2n,n). - T. D. Noe, Jun 11 2002

With P(n) being the number of integer partitions of n, p(i) as the number of parts of the i-th partition of n, d(i) as the number of different parts of the i-th partition of n, m(i, j) the multiplicity of the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, one has a(n) = Sum_{i = 1..P(n)} p(i)!/(Product_{j = 1..d(i)} m(i, j)!) * 2^(n-1). - Thomas Wieder, May 18 2005

Sums of rows of the triangle in A122366. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Aug 30 2006

Hankel transform of A076035. - Philippe Deléham, Feb 28 2009

Equals the Catalan sequence: (1, 1, 2, 5, 14, ...), convolved with A032443: (1, 3, 11, 42, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 15 2009

Sum of coefficients of expansion of (1 + x + x^2 + x^3)^n.

a(n) is number of compositions of natural numbers into n parts less than 4. For example, a(2) = 16 since there are 16 compositions of natural numbers into 2 parts less than 4.

The compositions of n in which each natural number is colored by one of p different colors are called p-colored compositions of n. For n >= 1, a(n) equals the number of 4-colored compositions of n such that no adjacent parts have the same color. - Milan Janjic, Nov 17 2011

Squares in A002984. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Dec 28 2011

Row sums of Pascal's triangle using the rule that going left increases the value by a factor of k = 3. For example, the first three rows are {1}, {3, 1}, and {9, 6, 1}. Using this rule gives row sums as (k+1)^n. - Jon Perry, Oct 11 2012

First differences of A002450. - Omar E. Pol, Feb 20 2013

Sum of all peak heights in Dyck paths of semilength n+1. - David Scambler, Apr 22 2013

Powers of 4 exceed powers of 2 by A020522 which is the m-th oblong number A002378(m), m being the n-th Mersenne number A000225(n); hence, we may write, a(n) = A000079(n) + A002378(A000225(n)). - Lekraj Beedassy, Jan 17 2014

a(n) is equal to 1 plus the sum for 0 < k < 2^n of the numerators and denominators of the reduced fractions k/2^n. - J. M. Bergot, Jul 13 2015

Binomial transform of A000244. - Tony Foster III, Oct 01 2016

From Ilya Gutkovskiy, Oct 01 2016: (Start)

Number of nodes at level n regular 4-ary tree.

Partial sums of A002001. (End)

Satisfies Benford's law [Berger-Hill, 2011]. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 08 2017

Also the number of connected dominating sets in the (n+1)-barbell graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Jun 29 2017

Side length of the cells at level n in a pyramid scheme where a square grid is decomposed into overlapping 2 X 2 blocks (cf. Kropatsch, 1985). - Felix Fröhlich, Jul 04 2019

a(n-1) is the number of 3-compositions of n; see Hopkins & Ouvry reference. - Brian Hopkins, Aug 15 2020