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A toothpick is a copy of the closed interval [-1,1]. (In the paper, we take it to be a copy of the unit interval [-1/2, 1/2].)

We start at stage 0 with no toothpicks.

At stage 1 we place a toothpick in the vertical direction, anywhere in the plane.

In general, given a configuration of toothpicks in the plane, at the next stage we add as many toothpicks as possible, subject to certain conditions:

- Each new toothpick must lie in the horizontal or vertical directions.

- Two toothpicks may never cross.

- Each new toothpick must have its midpoint touching the endpoint of exactly one existing toothpick.

The sequence gives the number of toothpicks after n stages. A139251 (the first differences) gives the number added at the n-th stage.

Call the endpoint of a toothpick "exposed" if it does not touch any other toothpick. The growth rule may be expressed as follows: at each stage, new toothpicks are placed so their midpoints touch every exposed endpoint.

This is equivalent to a two-dimensional cellular automaton. The animations show the fractal-like behavior.

After 2^k - 1 steps, there are 2^k exposed endpoints, all located on two lines perpendicular to the initial toothpick. At the next step, 2^k toothpicks are placed on these lines, leaving only 4 exposed endpoints, located at the corners of a square with side length 2^(k-1) times the length of a toothpick. - M. F. Hasler, Apr 14 2009 and others. For proof, see the Applegate-Pol-Sloane paper.

If the third condition in the definition is changed to "- Each new toothpick must have at exactly one of its endpoints touching the midpoint of an existing toothpick" then the same sequence is obtained. The configurations of toothpicks are of course different from those in the present sequence. But if we start with the configurations of the present sequence, rotate each toothpick a quarter-turn, and then rotate the whole configuration a quarter-turn, we obtain the other configuration.

If the third condition in the definition is changed to "- Each new toothpick must have at least one of its endpoints touching the midpoint of an existing toothpick" then the sequence n^2 - n + 1 is obtained, because there are no holes left in the grid.

A "toothpick" of length 2 can be regarded as a polyedge with 2 components, both on the same line. At stage n, the toothpick structure is a polyedge with 2*a(n) components.

Conjecture: Consider the rectangles in the sieve (including the squares). The area of each rectangle (A = b*c) and the edges (b and c) are powers of 2, but at least one of the edges (b or c) is <= 2.

In the toothpick structure, if n >> 1, we can see some patterns that look like "canals" and "diffraction patterns". For example, see the Applegate link "A139250: the movie version", then enter n=1008 and click "Update". See also "T-square (fractal)" in the Links section. - Omar E. Pol, May 19 2009, Oct 01 2011

From Benoit Jubin, May 20 2009: The web page "Gallery" of Chris Moore (see link) has some nice pictures that are somewhat similar to the pictures of the present sequence. What sequences do they correspond to?

For a connection to Sierpiński triangle and Gould's sequence A001316, see the leftist toothpick triangle A151566.

Eric Rowland comments on Mar 15 2010 that this toothpick structure can be represented as a 5-state CA on the square grid. On Mar 18 2010, David Applegate showed that three states are enough. See links.

Equals row sums of triangle A160570 starting with offset 1; equivalent to convolving A160552: (1, 1, 3, 1, 3, 5, 7, ...) with (1, 2, 2, 2, ...). Equals A160762: (1, 0, 2, -2, 2, 2, 2, -6, ...) convolved with 2*n - 1: (1, 3, 5, 7, ...). Starting with offset 1 equals A151548: [1, 3, 5, 7, 5, 11, 17, 15, ...] convolved with A078008 signed (A151575): [1, 0, 2, -2, 6, -10, 22, -42, 86, -170, 342, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, May 19 2009, May 25 2009

For a three-dimensional version of the toothpick structure, see A160160. - Omar E. Pol, Dec 06 2009

From Omar E. Pol, May 20 2010: (Start)

Observation about the arrangement of rectangles:

It appears there is a nice pattern formed by distinct modular substructures: a central cross surrounded by asymmetrical crosses (or "hidden crosses") of distinct sizes and also by "nuclei" of crosses.

Conjectures: after 2^k stages, for k >= 2, and for m = 1 to k - 1, there are 4^(m-1) substructures of size s = k - m, where every substructure has 4*s rectangles. The total number of substructures is equal to (4^(k-1)-1)/3 = A002450(k-1). For example: If k = 5 (after 32 stages) we can see that:

a) There is a central cross, of size 4, with 16 rectangles.

b) There are four hidden crosses, of size 3, where every cross has 12 rectangles.

c) There are 16 hidden crosses, of size 2, where every cross has 8 rectangles.

d) There are 64 nuclei of crosses, of size 1, where every nucleus has 4 rectangles.

Hence the total number of substructures after 32 stages is equal to 85. Note that in every arm of every substructure, in the potential growth direction, the length of the rectangles are the powers of 2. (See illustrations in the links. See also A160124.) (End)

It appears that the number of grid points that are covered after n-th stage of the toothpick structure, assuming the toothpicks have length 2*k, is equal to (2*k-2)*a(n) + A147614(n), k > 0. See the formulas of A160420 and A160422. - Omar E. Pol, Nov 13 2010

Version "Gullwing": on the semi-infinite square grid, at stage 1, we place a horizontal "gull" with its vertices at [(-1, 2), (0, 1), (1, 2)]. At stage 2, we place two vertical gulls. At stage 3, we place four horizontal gulls. a(n) is also the number of gulls after n-th stage. For more information about the growth of gulls see A187220. - Omar E. Pol, Mar 10 2011

From Omar E. Pol, Mar 12 2011: (Start)

Version "I-toothpick": we define an "I-toothpick" to consist of two connected toothpicks, as a bar of length 2. An I-toothpick with length 2 is formed by two toothpicks with length 1. The midpoint of an I-toothpick is touched by its two toothpicks. a(n) is also the number of I-toothpicks after n-th stage in the I-toothpick structure. The I-toothpick structure is essentially the original toothpick structure in which every toothpick is replaced by an I-toothpick. Note that in the physical model of the original toothpick structure the midpoint of a wooden toothpick of the new generation is superimposed on the endpoint of a wooden toothpick of the old generation. However, in the physical model of the I-toothpick structure the wooden toothpicks are not overlapping because all wooden toothpicks are connected by their endpoints. For the number of toothpicks in the I-toothpick structure see A160164 which also gives the number of gullwing in a gullwing structure because the gullwing structure of A160164 is equivalent to the I-toothpick structure. It also appears that the gullwing sequence A187220 is a supersequence of the original toothpick sequence A139250 (this sequence).

For the connection with the Ulam-Warburton cellular automaton see the Applegate-Pol-Sloane paper and see also A160164 and A187220.

(End)

A version in which the toothpicks are connected by their endpoints: on the semi-infinite square grid, at stage 1, we place a vertical toothpick of length 1 from (0, 0). At stage 2, we place two horizontal toothpicks from (0,1), and so on. The arrangement looks like half of the I-toothpick structure. a(n) is also the number of toothpicks after the n-th. - Omar E. Pol, Mar 13 2011

Version "Quarter-circle" (or Q-toothpick): a(n) is also the number of Q-toothpicks after the n-th stage in a Q-toothpick structure in the first quadrant. We start from (0,1) with the first Q-toothpick centered at (1, 1). The structure is asymmetric. For a similar structure but starting from (0, 0) see A187212. See A187210 and A187220 for more information. - Omar E. Pol, Mar 22 2011

Version "Tree": It appears that a(n) is also the number of toothpicks after the n-th stage in a toothpick structure constructed following a special rule: the toothpicks of the new generation have length 4 when they are placed on the infinite square grid (note that every toothpick has four components of length 1), but after every stage, one (or two) of the four components of every toothpick of the new generation is removed, if such component contains an endpoint of the toothpick and if such endpoint is touching the midpoint or the endpoint of another toothpick. The truncated endpoints of the toothpicks remain exposed forever. Note that there are three sizes of toothpicks in the structure: toothpicks of lengths 4, 3 and 2. A159795 gives the total number of components in the structure after the n-th stage. A153006 (the corner sequence of the original version) gives 1/4 of the total of components in the structure after the n-th stage. - Omar E. Pol, Oct 24 2011

From Omar E. Pol, Sep 16 2012: (Start)

It appears that a(n)/A147614(n) converges to 3/4.

It appears that a(n)/A160124(n) converges to 3/2.

It appears that a(n)/A139252(n) converges to 3.

Also:

It appears that A147614(n)/A160124(n) converges to 2.

It appears that A160124(n)/A139252(n) converges to 2.

It appears that A147614(n)/A139252(n) converges to 4.

(End)

It appears that a(n) is also the total number of ON cells after n-th stage in a quadrant of the structure of the cellular automaton described in A169707 plus the total number of ON cells after n+1 stages in a quadrant of the mentioned structure, without its central cell. See the illustration of the NW-NE-SE-SW version in A169707. See also the connection between A160164 and A169707. - Omar E. Pol, Jul 26 2015

On the infinite Cairo pentagonal tiling consider the symmetric figure formed by two non-adjacent pentagons connected by a line segment joining two trivalent nodes. At stage 1 we start with one of these figures turned ON. The rule for the next stages is that the concave part of the figures of the new generation must be adjacent to the complementary convex part of the figures of the old generation. a(n) gives the number of figures that are ON in the structure after n-th stage. A160164(n) gives the number of ON cells in the structure after n-th stage. - Omar E. Pol, Mar 29 2018

From Omar E. Pol, Mar 06 2019: (Start)

The "word" of this sequence is "ab". For further information about the word of cellular automata see A296612.

Version "triangular grid": a(n) is also the total number of toothpicks of length 2 after n-th stage in the toothpick structure on the infinite triangular grid, if we use only two of the three axes. Otherwise, if we use the three axes, so we have the sequence A296510 which has word "abc".

The normal toothpick structure can be considered a superstructure of the Ulam-Warburton celular automaton since A147562(n) equals here the total number of "hidden crosses" after 4*n stages, including the central cross (beginning to count the crosses when their "nuclei" are totally formed with 4 quadrilaterals). Note that every quadrilateral in the structure belongs to a "hidden cross".

Also, the number of "hidden crosses" after n stages equals the total number of "flowers with six petals" after n-th stage in the structure of A323650, which appears to be a "missing link" between this sequence and A147562.

Note that the location of the "nuclei of the hidden crosses" is very similar (essentially the same) to the location of the "flowers with six petals" in the structure of A323650 and to the location of the "ON" cells in the version "one-step bishop" of the Ulam-Warburton cellular automaton of A147562. (End)

From Omar E. Pol, Nov 27 2020: (Start)

The simplest substructures are the arms of the hidden crosses. Each closed region (square or rectangle) of the structure belongs to one of these arms. The narrow arms have regions of area 1, 2, 4, 8, ... The broad arms have regions of area 2, 4, 8, 16 , ... Note that after 2^k stages, with k >= 3, the narrow arms of the main hidden crosses in each quadrant frame the size of the toothpick structure after 2^(k-1) stages.

Another kind of substructure could be called "bar chart" or "bar graph". This substructure is formed by the rectangles and squares of width 2 that are adjacent to any of the four sides of the toothpick structure after 2^k stages, with k >= 2. The height of these successive regions gives the first 2^(k-1) - 1 terms from A006519. For example: if k = 5 the respective heights after 32 stages are [1, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2, 1, 8, 1, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2, 1]. The area of these successive regions gives the first 2^(k-1) - 1 terms of A171977. For example: if k = 5 the respective areas are [2, 4, 2, 8, 2, 4, 2, 16, 2, 4, 2, 8, 2, 4, 2].

For a connection to Mersenne primes (A000668) and perfect numbers (A000396) see A153006.

For a representation of the Wagstaff primes (A000979) using the toothpick structure see A194810.

For a connection to stained glass windows and a hidden curve see A336532. (End)

It appears that the graph of a(n) bears a striking resemblance to the cumulative distribution function F(x) for X the random variable taking values in [0,1], where the binary expansion of X is given by a sequence of independent coin tosses with probability 3/4 of being 1 at each bit. It appears that F(n/2^k)*(2^(2k+1)+1)/3 approaches a(n) for k large. - James Coe, Jan 10 2022

Number of edges in an n-dimensional hypercube.

Number of 132-avoiding permutations of [n+2] containing exactly one 123 pattern. - Emeric Deutsch, Jul 13 2001

Number of ways to place n-1 nonattacking kings on a 2 X 2(n-1) chessboard for n >= 2. - Antonio G. Astudillo (afg_astudillo(AT)hotmail.com), May 22 2001

Arithmetic derivative of 2^n: a(n) = A003415(A000079(n)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 26 2002

(-1) times the determinant of matrix A_{i,j} = -|i-j|, 0 <= i,j <= n.

a(n) is the number of ones in binary numbers 1 to 111...1 (n bits). a(n) = A000337(n) - A000337(n-1) for n = 2,3,... . - Emeric Deutsch, May 24 2003

The number of 2 X n 0-1 matrices containing n+1 1's and having no zero row or column. The number of spanning trees of the complete bipartite graph K(2,n). This is the case m = 2 of K(m,n). See A072590. - W. Edwin Clark, May 27 2003

Binomial transform of 0,1,2,3,4,5,... (A001477). Without the initial 0, binomial transform of odd numbers.

With an additional leading zero, [0,0,1,4,...] this is the binomial transform of the integers repeated A004526. Its formula is then (2^n*(n-1) + 0^n)/4. - Paul Barry, May 20 2003

Number of zeros in all different (n+1)-bit integers. - Ralf Stephan, Aug 02 2003

From Lekraj Beedassy, Jun 03 2004: (Start)

Final element of a summation table (as opposed to a difference table) whose first row consists of integers 0 through n (or first n+1 nonnegative integers A001477); illustrating the case n=5:

0 1 2 3 4 5

1 3 5 7 9

4 8 12 16

12 20 28

32 48

80

and the final element is a(5)=80. (End)

This sequence and A001871 arise in counting ordered trees of height at most k where only the rightmost branch at the root actually achieves this height and the count is by the number of edges, with k = 3 for this sequence and k = 4 for A001871.

Let R be a binary relation on the power set P(A) of a set A having n = |A| elements such that for all elements x,y of P(A), xRy if x is a proper subset of y and there are no z in P(A) such that x is a proper subset of z and z is a proper subset of y. Then a(n) = |R|. - Ross La Haye, Sep 21 2004

Number of 2 X n binary matrices avoiding simultaneously the right-angled numbered polyomino patterns (ranpp) (00;1) and (10;1). An occurrence of a ranpp (xy;z) in a matrix A=(a(i,j)) is a triple (a(i1,j1), a(i1,j2), a(i2,j1)) where i1 < i2, j1 < j2 and these elements are in same relative order as those in the triple (x,y,z). - Sergey Kitaev, Nov 11 2004

Number of subsequences 00 in all binary words of length n+1. Example: a(2)=4 because in 000,001,010,011,100,101,110,111 the sequence 00 occurs 4 times. - Emeric Deutsch, Apr 04 2005

If you expand the n-factor expression (a+1)*(b+1)*(c+1)*...*(z+1), there are a(n) variables in the result. For example, the 3-factor expression (a+1)*(b+1)*(c+1) expands to abc+ab+ac+bc+a+b+c+1 with a(3) = 12 variables. - David W. Wilson, May 08 2005

An inverse Chebyshev transform of n^2, where g(x)->(1/sqrt(1-4*x^2))*g(x*c(x^2)), c(x) the g.f. of A000108. - Paul Barry, May 13 2005

Sequences A018215 and A058962 interleaved. - Graeme McRae, Jul 12 2006

The number of never-decreasing positive integer sequences of length n with a maximum value of 2*n. - Ben Paul Thurston, Nov 13 2006

Total size of all the subsets of an n-element set. For example, a 2-element set has 1 subset of size 0, 2 subsets of size 1 and 1 of size 2. - Ross La Haye, Dec 30 2006

Convolution of the natural numbers [A000027] and A045623 beginning [0,1,2,5,...]. - Ross La Haye, Feb 03 2007

If M is the matrix (given by rows) [2,1;0,2] then the sequence gives the (1,2) entry in M^n. - Antonio M. Oller-Marcén, May 21 2007

If X_1,X_2,...,X_n is a partition of a 2n-set X into 2-blocks then, for n > 0, a(n) is equal to the number of (n+1)-subsets of X intersecting each X_i (i=1,2,...,n). - Milan Janjic, Jul 21 2007

Number of n-permutations of 3 objects u,v,w, with repetition allowed, containing exactly one u. Example: a(2)=4 because we have uv, vu, uw and wu. - Zerinvary Lajos, Dec 27 2007

A member of the family of sequences defined by a(n) = n*[c(1)*...*c(r)]^(n-1); c(i) integer. This sequence has c(1)=2, A027471 has c(1)=3. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Feb 23 2008

a(n) is the number of ways to split {1,2,...,n-1} into two (possibly empty) complementary intervals {1,2,...,i} and {i+1,i+2,...,n-1} and then select a subset from each interval. - Geoffrey Critzer, Jan 31 2009

Equals the Jacobsthal sequence A001045 convolved with A003945: (1, 3, 6, 12, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 23 2009

Starting with offset 1 = A059570: (1, 2, 6, 14, 34, ...) convolved with (1, 2, 2, 2, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 23 2009

Equals the first left hand column of A167591. - Johannes W. Meijer, Nov 12 2009

The number of tatami tilings of an n X n square with n monomers is n*2^(n-1). - Frank Ruskey, Sep 25 2010

Under T. D. Noe's variant of the hypersigma function, this sequence gives hypersigma(2^n): a(n) = A191161(A000079(n)). - Alonso del Arte, Nov 04 2011

Number of Dyck (n+2)-paths with exactly one valley at height 1 and no higher valley. - David Scambler, Nov 07 2011

Equals triangle A059260 * A016777 as a vector, where A016777 = (3n + 1): [1, 4, 7, 10, 13, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Mar 06 2012

Main transitions in systems of n particles with spin 1/2 (see A212697 with b=2). - Stanislav Sykora, May 25 2012

Let T(n,k) be the triangle with (first column) T(n,1) = 2*n-1 for n >= 1, otherwise T(n,k) = T(n,k-1) + T(n-1,k-1), then a(n) = T(n,n). - J. M. Bergot, Jan 17 2013

Sum of all parts of all compositions (ordered partitions) of n. The equivalent sequence for partitions is A066186. - Omar E. Pol, Aug 28 2013

Starting with a(1)=1: powers of 2 (A000079) self-convolved. - Bob Selcoe, Aug 05 2015

Coefficients of the series expansion of the normalized Schwarzian derivative -S{p(x)}/6 of the polynomial p(x) = -(x-x1)*(x-x2) with x1 + x2 = 1 (cf. A263646). - Tom Copeland, Nov 02 2015

a(n) is the number of North-East lattice paths from (0,0) to (n+1,n+1) that have exactly one east step below y = x-1 and no east steps above y = x+1. Details can be found in Pan and Remmel's link. - Ran Pan, Feb 03 2016

Also the number of maximal and maximum cliques in the n-hypercube graph for n > 0. - Eric W. Weisstein, Dec 01 2017

Let [n]={1,2,...,n}; then a(n-1) is the total number of elements missing in proper subsets of [n] that contain n to form [n]. For example, for n = 3, a(2) = 4 since the proper subsets of [3] that contain 3 are {3}, {1,3}, {2,3} and the total number of elements missing in these subsets to form [3] is 4: 2 in the first subset, 1 in the second, and 1 in the third. - Enrique Navarrete, Aug 08 2020

Number of 3-permutations of n elements avoiding the patterns 132, 231. See Bonichon and Sun. - Michel Marcus, Aug 19 2022

Might be called the "Lichtenberg sequence" after Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who discussed it in 1769 in connection with the Chinese Rings puzzle (baguenaudier). - Andreas M. Hinz, Feb 15 2017

Number of steps to change from a binary string of n 0's to n 1's using a Gray code. - Jon Stadler (jstadler(AT)coastal.edu)

Popular puzzles such as Spin-Out and The Brain Puzzler are based on the Gray binary system and require a(n) steps to complete for some number n.

Conjecture: {a(n)} also gives all j for which A048702(j) = A000217(j); i.e., if we take the a(n)-th triangular number (a(n)^2 + a(n))/2 and multiply it by 3, we get a(n)-th even-length binary palindrome A048701(a(n)) concatenated from a(n) and its reverse. E.g., a(4) = 10, which is 1010 in binary; the tenth triangular number is 55, and 55*3 = 165 = 10100101 in binary. - Antti Karttunen, circa 1999. (This has been now proved by Paul K. Stockmeyer in his arXiv:1608.08245 paper.) - Antti Karttunen, Aug 31 2016

Number of ways to tie a tie of n or fewer half turns, excluding mirror images. Also number of walks of length n or less on a triangular lattice with the following restrictions; given l, r and c as the lattice axes. 1. All steps are taken in the positive axis direction. 2. No two consecutive steps are taken on the same axis. 3. All walks begin with l. 4. All walks end with rlc or lrc. - Bill Blewett, Dec 21 2000

a(n) is the minimal number of vertices to be selected in a vertex-cover of the balanced tree B_n. - Sen-peng Eu, Jun 15 2002

A087117(a(n)) = A038374(a(n)) = 1 for n > 1; see also A090050. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 20 2003

Intersection of A003754 and A003714; complement of A107907. - Reinhard Zumkeller, May 28 2005

Equivalently, numbers m whose binary representation is effectively, for some number k, both the lazy Fibonacci and the Zeckendorf representation of k (in which case k = A022290(m)). - Peter Munn, Oct 06 2022

a(n+1) gives row sums of Riordan array (1/(1-x), x(1+2x)). - Paul Barry, Jul 18 2005

Total number of initial 01's in all binary words of length n+1. Example: a(3) = 5 because the binary words of length 4 that start with 01 are (01)00, (01)(01), (01)10 and (01)11 and the total number of initial 01's is 5 (shown between parentheses). a(n) = Sum_{k >= 0} k*A119440(n+1, k). - Emeric Deutsch, May 19 2006

In Norway we call the 10-ring puzzle "strikketoy" or "knitwear" (see link). It takes 682 moves to free the two parts. - Hans Isdahl, Jan 07 2008

Equals A002450 and A020988 interlaced. - Zak Seidov, Feb 10 2008

For n > 1, let B_n = the complete binary tree with vertex set V where |V| = 2^n - 1. If VC is a minimum-size vertex cover of B_n, Sen-Peng Eu points out that a(n) = |VC|. It also follows that if IS = V\VC, a(n+1) = |IS|. - K.V.Iyer, Apr 13 2009

Starting with 1 and convolved with [1, 2, 2, 2, ...] = A000295. - Gary W. Adamson, Jun 02 2009

a(n) written in base 2 is sequence A056830(n). - Jaroslav Krizek, Aug 05 2009

This is the sequence A(0, 1; 1, 2; 1) of the family of sequences [a,b:c,d:k] considered by G. Detlefs, and treated as A(a,b;c,d;k) in the W. Lang link given below. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 18 2010

From Vladimir Shevelev, Jan 30 2012, Feb 13 2012: (Start)

1) Denote by {n, k} the number of permutations of 1, ..., n with the up-down index k (for definition, see comment in A203827). Then max_k{n, k} = {n, a(n)} = A000111(n).

2) a(n) is the minimal number > a(n-1) with the Hamming distance d_H(a(n-1), a(n)) = n. Thus this sequence is the Hamming analog of triangular numbers 0, 1, 3, 6, 10, ... (End)

From Hieronymus Fischer, Nov 22 2012: (Start)

Represented in binary form each term after the second one contains every previous term as a substring.

The terms a(2) = 2 and a(3) = 5 are the only primes. Proof: For even n we get a(n) = 2*(2^(2*n) - 1)/3, which shows that a(n) is even, too, and obviously a(n) > 2 for all even n > 2. For odd n we have a(n) = (2^(n+1) - 1)/3 = (2^((n+1)/2) - 1) * (2^((n+1)/2) + 1)/3. Evidently, at least one of these factors is divisible by 3, both are greater than 6, provided n > 3. Hence it follows that a(n) is composite for all odd n > 3.

Represented as a binary number, a(n+1) has exactly n prime substrings. Proof: Evidently, a(1) = 1_2 has zero and a(2) = 10_2 has 1 prime substring. Let n > 1. Written in binary, a(n+1) is 101010101...01 (if n + 1 is odd) and is 101010101...10 (if n + 1 is even) with n + 1 digits. Only the 2- and 3-digits substrings 10_2 (=2) and 101_2 (=5) are prime substrings. All the other substrings are nonprime since every substring is a previous term and all terms unequal to 2 and 5 are nonprime. For even n + 1, the number of prime substrings equal to 2 = 10_2 is (n+1)/2, and the number of prime substrings equal to 5 = 101_2 is (n-1)/2, makes a sum of n. For odd n + 1 we get n/2 for both, the number of 2's and 5's prime substrings, in any case, the sum is n. (End)

Number of different 3-colorings for the vertices of all triangulated planar polygons on a base with n+2 vertices if the colors of the two base vertices are fixed. - Patrick Labarque, Feb 09 2013

A090079(a(n)) = a(n) and A090079(m) <> a(n) for m < a(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 16 2013

a(n) is the number of length n binary words containing at least one 1 and ending in an even number (possibly zero) of 0's. a(3) = 5 because we have: 001, 011, 100, 101, 111. - Geoffrey Critzer, Dec 15 2013

a(n) is the number of permutations of length n+1 having exactly one descent such that the first element of the permutation is an even number. - Ran Pan, Apr 18 2015

a(n) is the sequence of the last row of the Hadamard matrix H(2^n) obtained via Sylvester's construction: H(2) = [1,1;1,-1], H(2^n) = H(2^(n-1))*H(2), where * is the Kronecker product. - William P. Orrick, Jun 28 2015

Conjectured record values of A264784: a(n) = A264784(A155051(n-1)). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Dec 04 2015. (This is proved by Paul K. Stockmeyer in his arXiv:1608.08245 paper.) - Antti Karttunen, Aug 31 2016

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 131", based on the 5-celled von Neumann neighborhood. See A279053 for references and links. - Robert Price, Dec 05 2016

For n > 4, a(n-2) is the second-largest number in row n of A127824. - Dmitry Kamenetsky, Feb 11 2017

Conjecture: a(n+1) is the number of compositions of n with two kinds of parts, n and n', where the order of the 1 and 1' does not matter. For n=2, a(3) = 5 compositions, enumerated as follows: 2; 2'; 1,1; 1',1 = 1',1; 1',1'. - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 02 2017

Conjecture proved by recognizing the appropriate g.f. is x/(1 - x)(1 - x)(1 - 2*x^2 - 2x^3 - ...) = x/(1 - 2*x - x^2 + 2x^3). - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 10 2017

a(n) = 2^(n-1) + 2^(n-3) + 2^(n-5) + ... a(2*k -1) = A002450(k) is the sum of the powers of 4. a(2*k) = 2*A002450(k). - Gregory L. Simay, Sep 27 2017

a(2*n) = n times the string [10] in binary representation, a(2*n+1) = n times the string [10] followed with [1] in binary representation. Example: a(7) = 85 = (1010101) in binary, a(8) = 170 = (10101010) in binary. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Nov 06 2018

Except for 0, these are the positive integers whose binary expansion has cuts-resistance 1. For the operation of shortening all runs by 1, cuts-resistance is the number of applications required to reach an empty word. Cuts-resistance 2 is A329862. - Gus Wiseman, Nov 27 2019

From Markus Sigg, Sep 14 2020: (Start)

Let s(k) be the length of the Collatz orbit of k, e.g. s(1) = 1, s(2) = 2, s(3) = 5. Then s(a(n)) = n+3 for n >= 3. Proof by induction: s(a(3)) = s(5) = 6 = 3+3. For odd n >= 5 we have s(a(n)) = s(4*a(n-2)+1) = s(12*a(n-2)+4)+1 = s(3*a(n-2)+1)+3 = s(a(n-2))+2 = (n-2)+3+2 = n+3, and for even n >= 4 this gives s(a(n)) = s(2*a(n-1)) = s(a(n-1))+1 = (n-1)+3+1 = n+3.

Conjecture: For n >= 3, a(n) is the second largest natural number whose Collatz orbit has length n+3. (End)

From Gary W. Adamson, May 14 2021: (Start)

With offset 1 the sequence equals the numbers of 1's from n = 1 to 3, 3 to 7, 7 to 15, ...; of A035263; as shown below:

..1 3 7 15...

..1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1...

..1.....2...........5......................10...; a(n) = Sum_(k=1..2n-1)A035263(k)

.....1...........2.......................5...; as to zeros.

..1's in the Tower of Hanoi game represent CW moves On disks in the pattern:

..0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, ... whereas even numbered disks move in the pattern:

..0, 2, 1, 0, 2, 1, ... (End)

Except for 0, numbers that are repunits in Gray-code representation (A014550). - Amiram Eldar, May 21 2021

From Gus Wiseman, Apr 20 2023: (Start)

Also the number of nonempty subsets of {1..n} with integer median, where the median of a multiset is the middle part in the odd-length case, and the average of the two middle parts in the even-length case. For example, the a(1) = 1 through a(4) = 10 subsets are:

{1} {1} {1} {1}

{2} {2} {2}

{3} {3}

{1,3} {4}

{1,2,3} {1,3}

{2,4}

{1,2,3}

{1,2,4}

{1,3,4}

{2,3,4}

The complement is counted by A005578.

For mean instead of median we have A051293, counting empty sets A327475.

For normal multisets we have A056450, strongly normal A361202.

For partitions we have A325347, strict A359907, complement A307683.

(End)

In binary form, because the sequence 10101_2... keeps repeating, one can represent a(n) = floor(0.(10)2 * 2^n). Because 0.(10)_2 = 0.(10)_2 * 4 - 2, then 0.(10)_2 = 2/3. Substituting this value in the first expression, we obtain a(n) = floor(2^(n+1)/3). This also agrees with the formula of Paul Barry, Oct 08 2005. - _Giovanni Ciriani, Mar 31 2025

The name "Fibbinary" is due to Marc LeBrun.

"... integers whose binary representation contains no consecutive ones and noticed that the number of such numbers with n bits was fibonacci(n)". [posting to sci.math by Bob Jenkins (bob_jenkins(AT)burtleburtle.net), Jul 17 2002]

From Benoit Cloitre, Mar 08 2003: (Start)

A number m is in the sequence if and only if C(3m, m) (or equally, C(3m, 2m)) is odd.

a(n) == A003849(n) (mod 2). (End)

Numbers m such that m XOR 2*m = 3*m. - Reinhard Zumkeller, May 03 2005. [This implies that A003188(2*a(n)) = 3*a(n) holds for all n.]

Numbers whose base-2 representation contains no two adjacent ones. For example, m = 17 = 10001_2 belongs to the sequence, but m = 19 = 10011_2 does not. - Ctibor O. Zizka, May 13 2008

m is in the sequence if and only if the central Stirling number of the second kind S(2*m, m) = A007820(m) is odd. - O-Yeat Chan (math(AT)oyeat.com), Sep 03 2009

A000120(3*a(n)) = 2*A000120(a(n)); A002450 is a subsequence.

Every nonnegative integer can be expressed as the sum of two terms of this sequence. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Jun 11 2011

Subsequence of A213526. - Arkadiusz Wesolowski, Jun 20 2012

This is also the union of A215024 and A215025 - see the Comment in A014417. - N. J. A. Sloane, Aug 10 2012

The binary representation of each term m contains no two adjacent 1's, so we have (m XOR 2m XOR 3m) = 0, and thus a two-player Nim game with three heaps of (m, 2m, 3m) stones is a losing configuration for the first player. - V. Raman, Sep 17 2012

Positions of zeros in A014081. - John Keith, Mar 07 2022

These numbers are similar to Fibternary numbers A003726, Tribbinary numbers A060140 and Tribternary numbers. This sequence is a subsequence of Fibternary numbers A003726. The number of Fibbinary numbers less than any power of two is a Fibonacci number. We can generate this sequence recursively: start with 0 and 1; then, if x is in the sequence add 2x and 4x+1 to the sequence. The Fibbinary numbers have the property that the n-th Fibbinary number is even if the n-th term of the Fibonacci word is a. Respectively, the n-th Fibbinary number is odd (of the form 4x+1) if the n-th term of the Fibonacci word is b. Every number has a Fibbinary multiple. - Tanya Khovanova and PRIMES STEP Senior, Aug 30 2022

This is the ordered set S of numbers defined recursively by: 0 is in S; if x is in S, then 2*x and 4*x + 1 are in S. See Kimberling (2006) Example 3, in references below. - Harry Richman, Jan 31 2024

a(n) is also the number of different lines determined by pair of vertices in an n-dimensional hypercube. The number of these lines modulo being parallel is in A003462. - Ola Veshta (olaveshta(AT)my-deja.com), Feb 15 2001

Let G_n be the elementary Abelian group G_n = (C_2)^n for n >= 1: A006516 is the number of times the number -1 appears in the character table of G_n and A007582 is the number of times the number 1. Together the two sequences cover all the values in the table, i.e., A006516(n) + A007582(n) = 2^(2n). - Ahmed Fares (ahmedfares(AT)my-deja.com), Jun 01 2001

a(n) is the number of n-letter words formed using four distinct letters, one of which appears an odd number of times. - Lekraj Beedassy, Jul 22 2003 [See, e.g., the Balakrishnan reference, problems 2.67 and 2.68, p. 69. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jul 16 2017]

Number of 0's making up the central triangle in a Pascal's triangle mod 2 gasket. - Lekraj Beedassy, May 14 2004

m-th triangular number, where m is the n-th Mersenne number, i.e., a(n)=A000217(A000225(n)). - Lekraj Beedassy, May 25 2004

Number of walks of length 2n+1 between two nodes at distance 3 in the cycle graph C_8. - Herbert Kociemba, Jul 02 2004

The sequence of fractions a(n+1)/(n+1) is the 3rd binomial transform of (1, 0, 1/3, 0, 1/5, 0, 1/7, ...). - Paul Barry, Aug 05 2005

Number of monic irreducible polynomials of degree 2 in GF(2^n)[x]. - Max Alekseyev, Jan 23 2006

(A007582(n))^2 + a(n)^2 = A007582(2n). E.g., A007582(3) = 36, a(3) = 28; A007582(6) = 2080. 36^2 + 28^2 = 2080. - Gary W. Adamson, Jun 17 2006

The sequence 6*a(n), n>=1, gives the number of edges of the Hanoi graph H_4^{n} with 4 pegs and n>=1 discs. - Daniele Parisse, Jul 28 2006

8*a(n) is the total border length of the 4*n masks used when making an order n regular DNA chip, using the bidimensional Gray code suggested by Pevzner in the book "Computational Molecular Biology." - Bruno Petazzoni (bruno(AT)enix.org), Apr 05 2007

If we start with 1 in binary and at each step we prepend 1 and append 0, we construct this sequence: 1 110 11100 1111000 etc.; see A109241(n-1). - Artur Jasinski, Nov 26 2007

Let P(A) be the power set of an n-element set A. Then a(n) = the number of pairs of elements {x,y} of P(A) for which x does not equal y. - Ross La Haye, Jan 02 2008

Wieder calls these "conjoint usual 2-combinations." The set of "conjoint strict k-combinations" is the subset of conjoint usual k-combinations where the empty set and the set itself are excluded from possible selection. These numbers C(2^n - 2,k), which for k = 2 (i.e., {x,y} of the power set of a set) give {1, 0, 1, 15, 91, 435, 1891, 7875, 32131, 129795, 521731, ...}. - Ross La Haye, Jan 15 2008

If n is a member of A000043 then a(n) is also a perfect number (A000396). - Omar E. Pol, Aug 30 2008

a(n) is also the number whose binary representation is A109241(n-1), for n>0. - Omar E. Pol, Aug 31 2008

From Daniel Forgues, Nov 10 2009: (Start)

If we define a spoof-perfect number as:

A spoof-perfect number is a number that would be perfect if some (one or more) of its odd composite factors were wrongly assumed to be prime, i.e., taken as a spoof prime.

And if we define a "strong" spoof-perfect number as:

A "strong" spoof-perfect number is a spoof-perfect number where sigma(n) does not reveal the compositeness of the odd composite factors of n which are wrongly assumed to be prime, i.e., taken as a spoof prime.

The odd composite factors of n which are wrongly assumed to be prime then have to be obtained additively in sigma(n) and not multiplicatively.

Then:

If 2^n-1 is odd composite but taken as a spoof prime then 2^(n-1)*(2^n - 1) is an even spoof perfect number (and moreover "strong" spoof-perfect).

For example:

a(8) = 2^(8-1)*(2^8 - 1) = 128*255 = 32640 (where 255 (with factors 3*5*17) is taken as a spoof prime);

sigma(a(8)) = (2^8 - 1)*(255 + 1) = 255*256 = 2*(128*255) = 2*32640 = 2n is spoof-perfect (and also "strong" spoof-perfect since 255 is obtained additively);

a(11) = 2^(11-1)*(2^11 - 1) = 1024*2047 = 2096128 (where 2047 (with factors 23*89) is taken as a spoof prime);

sigma(a(11)) = (2^11 - 1)*(2047 + 1) = 2047*2048 = 2*(1024*2047) = 2*2096128 = 2n is spoof-perfect (and also "strong" spoof-perfect since 2047 is obtained additively).

I did a Google search and didn't find anything about the distinction between "strong" versus "weak" spoof-perfect numbers. Maybe some other terminology is used.

An example of an even "weak" spoof-perfect number would be:

n = 90 = 2*5*9 (where 9 (with factors 3^2) is taken as a spoof prime);

sigma(n) = (1+2)*(1+5)*(1+9) = 3*(2*3)*(2*5) = 2*(2*5*(3^2)) = 2*90 = 2n is spoof-perfect (but is not "strong" spoof-perfect since 9 is obtained multiplicatively as 3^2 and is thus revealed composite).

Euler proved:

If 2^k - 1 is a prime number, then 2^(k-1)*(2^k - 1) is a perfect number and every even perfect number has this form.

The following seems to be true (is there a proof?):

If 2^k - 1 is an odd composite number taken as a spoof prime, then 2^(k-1)*(2^k - 1) is a "strong" spoof-perfect number and every even "strong" spoof-perfect number has this form?

There is only one known odd spoof-perfect number (found by Rene Descartes) but it is a "weak" spoof-perfect number (cf. 'Descartes numbers' and 'Unsolved problems in number theory' links below). (End)

a(n+1) = A173787(2*n+1,n); cf. A020522, A059153. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 28 2010

Also, row sums of triangle A139251. - Omar E. Pol, May 25 2010

Starting with "1" = (1, 1, 2, 4, 8, ...) convolved with A002450: (1, 5, 21, 85, 341, ...); and (1, 3, 7, 15, 31, ...) convolved with A002001: (1, 3, 12, 48, 192, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 26 2010

a(n) is also the number of toothpicks in the corner toothpick structure of A153006 after 2^n - 1 stages. - Omar E. Pol, Nov 20 2010

The number of n-dimensional odd theta functions of half-integral characteristic. (Gunning, p.22) - Michael Somos, Jan 03 2014

a(n) = A000217((2^n)-1) = 2^(2n-1) - 2^(n-1) is the nearest triangular number below 2^(2n-1); cf. A007582, A233327. - Antti Karttunen, Feb 26 2014

a(n) is the sum of all the remainders when all the odd numbers < 2^n are divided by each of the powers 2,4,8,...,2^n. - J. M. Bergot, May 07 2014

Let b(m,k) = number of ways to form a sequence of m selections, without replacement, from a circular array of m labeled cells, such that the first selection of a cell whose adjacent cells have already been selected (a "first connect") occurs on the k-th selection. b(m,k) is defined for m >=3, and for 3 <= k <= m. Then b(m,k)/2m ignores rotations and reflection. Let m=n+2, then a(n) = b(m,m-1)/2m. Reiterated, a(n) is the (m-1)th column of the triangle b(m,k)/2m, whose initial rows are (1), (1 2), (2 6 4), (6 18 28 8), (24 72 128 120 16), (120 360 672 840 496 32), (720 2160 4128 5760 5312 2016 64); see A249796. Note also that b(m,3)/2m = n!, and b(m,m)/2m = 2^n. Proofs are easy. - Tony Bartoletti, Oct 30 2014

Beginning at a(1) = 1, this sequence is the sum of the first 2^(n-1) numbers of the form 4*k + 1 = A016813(k). For example, a(4) = 120 = 1 + 5 + 9 + 13 + 17 + 21 + 25 + 29. - J. M. Bergot, Dec 07 2014

a(n) is the number of edges in the (2^n - 1)-dimensional simplex. - Dimitri Boscainos, Oct 05 2015

a(n) is the number of linear elements in a complete plane graph in 2^n points. - Dimitri Boscainos, Oct 05 2015

a(n) is the number of linear elements in a complete parallelotope graph in n dimensions. - Dimitri Boscainos, Oct 05 2015

a(n) is the number of lattices L in Z^n such that the quotient group Z^n / L is C_4. - Álvar Ibeas, Nov 26 2015

a(n) gives the quadratic coefficient of the polynomial ((x + 1)^(2^n) + (x - 1)^(2^n))/2, cf. A201461. - Martin Renner, Jan 14 2017

Let f(x)=x+2*sqrt(x) and g(x)=x-2*sqrt(x). Then f(4^n*x)=b(n)*f(x)+a(n)*g(x) and g(4^n*x)=a(n)*f(x)+b(n)*g(x), where b is A007582. - Luc Rousseau, Dec 06 2018

For n>=1, a(n) is the covering radius of the first order Reed-Muller code RM(1,2n). - Christof Beierle, Dec 22 2021

a(n) =

Coordination sequence for infinite tree with valency 4.

The n-th term of the coordination sequence of the infinite tree with valency 2m is the same as the number of reduced words of size n in the free group on m generators. In the five sequences A003946, A003948, A003950, A003952, A003954 m is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. - Avi Peretz (njk(AT)netvision.net.il), Feb 23 2001 and Ola Veshta (olaveshta(AT)my-deja.com), Mar 30 2001

a(n) is the number of nonreversing random walks of the length of n edges on a two-dimensional square lattice, all beginning at a fixed point P. - Pawel P. Mazur (Pawel.Mazur(AT)pwr.wroc.pl), Apr 06 2005

Binomial transform of {1, 3, 5, 11, 21, 43, ...}, see A001045. Binomial transform is {1, 5, 21, 85, 341, 1365, ...}, see A002450. - Philippe Deléham, Jul 22 2005

For n >= 2, a(n) is equal to the number of functions f:{1,2,...,n+1}->{1,2,3} such that for fixed, different x_1, x_2 in {1,2,...,n} and fixed y_1, y_2 in {1,2,3} we have f(x_1) <> y_1 and f(x_2) <> y_2. - Milan Janjic, Apr 19 2007

Equals row sums of triangle A143865. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 04 2008

Equals INVERT transform of the odd integers = 1/(1 - x - 3x^2 - 5x^3 - ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 27 2009

a(n) is the number of generalized compositions of n+1 when there are 2 *i-1 different types of the part i, (i=1,2,...). - Milan Janjic, Aug 26 2010

Number of length-n strings of 4 letters with no two adjacent letters identical. The general case (strings of r letters) is the sequence with g.f. (1+x)/(1-(r-1)*x). - Joerg Arndt, Oct 11 2012

The sequence is the INVERTi transform of A015448: (1, 5, 21, 89, 377, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 06 2016

Let D(m) = {d(m,i)}, i = 1..q, denote the set of the q divisors of a number m, and consider s1(m) and s2(m) the sums of the divisors that are congruent to 1 and 2 (mod 3) respectively. For n > 0, the sequence a(n) lists the numbers m such that s1(m) = 5 and s2(m) = 2. - Michel Lagneau, Feb 09 2017

a(n) is the number of quaternary sequences of length n such that no two consecutive terms have distance 2. - David Nacin, May 31 2017

Also the number of maximal cliques in the n-Sierpinski gasket graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Dec 01 2017

Number of 3-permutations of n elements avoiding the patterns 231, 321. See Bonichon and Sun. - Michel Marcus, Aug 19 2022

a(n) is also the number of distinct parts in the integer partition having viabin number n. The viabin number of an integer partition is defined in the following way. Consider the southeast border of the Ferrers board of the integer partition and consider the binary number obtained by replacing each east step with 1 and each north step, except the last one, with 0. The corresponding decimal form is, by definition, the viabin number of the given integer partition. "Viabin" is coined from "via binary". For example, consider the integer partition [2,2,2,1]. The southeast border of its Ferrers board yields 10100, leading to the viabin number 20. - Emeric Deutsch, Jul 24 2017

Positions of first occurrences of k are A002450(k). - John Keith, Aug 30 2021

5^a(n) is the highest power of 5 dividing (5^n)!. - Benoit Cloitre, Feb 04 2002

n such that A002294(n) is not divisible by 5. - Benoit Cloitre, Jan 14 2003

Without leading zero, i.e., sequence {a(n+1) = (5*5^n-1)/4}, this is the binomial transform of A003947. - Paul Barry, May 19 2003 [Edited by M. F. Hasler, Oct 31 2014]

Numbers n such that a(n) is prime are listed in A004061(n) = {3, 7, 11, 13, 47, 127, 149, 181, 619, 929, ...}. Corresponding primes a(n) are listed in A086122(n) = {31, 19531, 12207031, 305175781, 177635683940025046467781066894531, ...}. 3^(m+1) divides a(2*3^m*k). 31 divides a(3k). 13 divides a(4k). 11 divides a(5k). 71 divides a(5k). 7 divides a(6k). 19531 divides a(7k). 313 divides a(8k). 19 divides a(9k). 829 divides a(9k). 71 divides a(10k). 521 divides a(10k). 17 divides a(16k). p divides a(p-1) for all prime p except p = {2,5}. p^(m+1) divides a(p^m*(p-1)) for all prime p except p = {2,5}. p divides a((p-1)/2) for prime p = {11, 19, 29, 31, 41, 59, 61, 71, 79, 89, 101, 109, ...} = A045468, Primes congruent to {1, 4} mod 5. p divides a((p-1)/3) for prime p = {13, 67, 127, 163, 181, 199, 211, 241, 313, 337, 367, 379, 409, 457, ...}. p divides a((p-1)/4) for prime p = {101, 109, 149, 181, 269, 389, 401, 409, 449, 461, 521, 541, ...} = A107219, Primes of the form x^2+100y^2. p divides a((p-1)/5) for prime p = {31, 191, 251, 271, 601, 641, 761, 1091, 1861, ...}. p divides a((p-1)/6) for prime p = {181, 199, 211, 241, 379, 409, 631, 691, 739, 769, 1039, ...}. - Alexander Adamchuk, Jan 23 2007

Starting with 1 = convolution square of A026375: (1, 3, 11, 45, 195, 873, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 17 2009

Let A be the Hessenberg matrix of order n, defined by: A[1,j]=1, A[i,i]:=5, (i>1), A[i,i-1]=-1, and A[i,j]=0 otherwise. Then, for n>=1, a(n)=det(A). - Milan Janjic, Jan 27 2010

This is the sequence A(0,1;4,5;2) = A(0,1;6,-5;0) of the family of sequences [a,b:c,d:k] considered by Gary Detlefs, and treated as A(a,b;c,d;k) in the W. Lang link given below. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 18 2010

It is the Lucas sequence U(6,5). - Felix P. Muga II, Mar 21 2014

a(2*n+1) is the sum of the numerators and denominators of the reduced fractions 0 < b/5^n < 1 plus 1, with b < 5^n. - J. M. Bergot, Jul 24 2015

The sequence multiplied by 10 (0, 10, 60, 310, 1560, ...) is the maximum number of coins which can be decided by n weighings on 2 balances in the counterfeit coin problem with undecided under/overweight. [Halbeisen and Hungerbuhler, Disc. Math. 147 (1995) 139 Theorem 1]. - R. J. Mathar, Sep 10 2015

Order of the rank-n projective geometry PG(n-1,5) over the finite field GF(5). - Anthony Hernandez, Oct 05 2016

Number of zeros in the substitution system {0 -> 11100, 1 -> 11110} at step n from initial string "1" (1 -> 11110 -> 1111011110111101111011100 -> ...). - Ilya Gutkovskiy, Apr 10 2017

a(n) is the numerator of Sum_{k=1..n} 1/5^k, which approaches a limit of 1/4. The denominators are 5^n. In general, Sum_{k=1..n} 1/x^k approaches a limit of 1/(x-1). It is of interest to note that as x increases, so does the rate of convergence. See Crossrefs for numerators for other values of x which have the general form (x^n-1)/(x-1). - Gary Detlefs, Aug 31 2021

Let u(k), v(k), w(k) be the 3 sequences defined by u(1)=1, v(1)=0, w(1)=0 and u(k+1)=u(k)+v(k)-w(k), v(k+1)=u(k)-v(k)+w(k), w(k+1)=-u(k)+v(k)+w(k); let M(k)=Max(u(k),v(k),w(k)); then a(n)=M(2n)=M(2n-1). - Benoit Cloitre, Mar 25 2002

Also the number of words of length 2n generated by the two letters s and t that reduce to the identity 1 by using the relations ssssss=1, tt=1 and stst=1. The generators s and t along with the three relations generate the dihedral group D6=C2xD3. - Jamaine Paddyfoot (jay_paddyfoot(AT)hotmail.com) and John W. Layman, Jul 08 2002

Binomial transform of A025192. - Paul Barry, Apr 11 2003

Number of walks of length 2n+1 between two adjacent vertices in the cycle graph C_6. Example: a(1)=3 because in the cycle ABCDEF we have three walks of length 3 between A and B: ABAB, ABCB and AFAB. - Emeric Deutsch, Apr 01 2004

Numbers of the form 1 + Sum_{i=1..m} 2^(2*i-1). - Artur Jasinski, Feb 09 2007

Prime numbers of the form 1+Sum[2^(2n-1)] are in A000979. Numbers x such that 1+Sum[2^(2n-1)] is prime for n=1,2,...,x is A127936. - Artur Jasinski, Feb 09 2007

Related to A024493(6n+1), A131708(6n+3), A024495(6n+5). - Paul Curtz, Mar 27 2008

Let A be the Hessenberg matrix of order n, defined by: A[1,j]=1, A[i,i]:=-6, (i>1), A[i,i-1]=-1, and A[i,j]=0 otherwise. Then, for n>=1, a(n-1)=(-1)^(n-1)*charpoly(A,2). - Milan Janjic, Feb 21 2010

Number of toothpicks in the toothpick structure of A139250 after 2^n stages. - Omar E. Pol, Feb 28 2011

Numbers whose binary representation is "10" repeated (n-1) times with "11" appended on the end, n >= 1. For example 171 = 10101011 (2). - Omar E. Pol, Nov 22 2012

a(n) is the smallest number for which A072219(a(n)) = 2*n+1. - Ramasamy Chandramouli, Dec 22 2012

An Engel expansion of 2 to the base b := 4/3 as defined in A181565, with the associated series expansion 2 = b + b^2/3 + b^3/(3*11) + b^4/(3*11*43) + .... Cf. A007051. - Peter Bala, Oct 29 2013

The positive integer solution (x,y) of 3*x - 2^n*y = 1, n>=0, with smallest x is (a(n/2), 2) if n is even and (a((n-1)/2), 1) if n is odd. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 15 2014

The smallest positive number that requires at least n additions and subtractions of powers of 2 to be formed. See Puzzling StackExchange link. - Alexander Cooke Jul 16 2023

Studied by Holladay and Ulam circa 1960. See Fig. 1 and Example 1 of the Ulam reference. - N. J. A. Sloane, Aug 02 2009.

Singmaster calls this the Ulam-Warburton cellular automaton. - N. J. A. Sloane, Aug 05 2009

On the infinite square grid, start with all cells OFF.

Turn a single cell to the ON state.

At each subsequent step, each cell with exactly one neighbor ON is turned ON, and everything that is already ON remains ON.

Here "neighbor" refers to the four adjacent cells in the X and Y directions.

Note that "neighbor" could equally well refer to the four adjacent cells in the diagonal directions, since the graph formed by Z^2 with "one-step rook" adjacencies is isomorphic to Z^2 with "one-step bishop" adjacencies.

Also toothpick sequence starting with a central X-toothpick followed by T-toothpicks (see A160170 and A160172). The sequence gives the number of polytoothpicks in the structure after n-th stage. - Omar E. Pol, Mar 28 2011

It appears that this sequence shares infinitely many terms with both A162795 and A169707, see Formula section and Example section. - Omar E. Pol, Feb 20 2015

It appears that the positive terms are also the odd terms (a bisection) of A151920. - Omar E. Pol, Mar 06 2015

Also, the number of active (ON, black) cells in the n-th stage of growth of two-dimensional cellular automaton defined by Wolfram's "Rule 558" or "Rule 686" based on the 5-celled von Neumann neighborhood. - Robert Price, May 10 2016

From Omar E. Pol, Mar 05 2019: (Start)

a(n) is also the total number of "hidden crosses" after 4*n stages in the toothpick structure of A139250, including the central cross, beginning to count the crosses when their nuclei are totally formed with 4 quadrilaterals.

a(n) is also the total number of "flowers with six petals" after 4*n stages in the toothpick structure of A323650.

Note that the location of the "nuclei of the hidden crosses" and the "flowers with six petals" in both toothpick structures is essentially the same as the location of the "ON" cells in the version "one-step bishop" of this sequence (see the illustration of initial terms, figure 2). (End)

This sequence has almost exactly the same graph as A187220, A162795, A169707 and A160164 which is twice A139250. - Omar E. Pol, Jun 18 2022