cp's OEIS Frontend

Meyers (see Guy reference) conjectures that for all r >= 1, the least odd number not in the set {a(i): i < prime(r)} is prime(r+1). - N. J. A. Sloane, Jan 08 2021

Meyers' conjecture would be refuted if and only if for some r there were such a large gap between prime(r) and prime(r+1) that there existed a composite c for which prime(r) < c < a(c) < prime(r+1), in which case (by Bertrand's postulate) c would necessarily be a term of A246281. - Antti Karttunen, Mar 29 2021

a(n) is odd for all n and for each odd m there exists a k with a(k) = m (see A064216). a(n) > n for n > 1: bijection between the odd and all numbers. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Sep 26 2001

a(n) and n have the same number of distinct primes with (A001222) and without multiplicity (A001221). - Michel Marcus, Jun 13 2014

From Antti Karttunen, Nov 01 2019: (Start)

More generally, a(n) has the same prime signature as n, A046523(a(n)) = A046523(n). Also A246277(a(n)) = A246277(n) and A287170(a(n)) = A287170(n).

Many permutations and other sequences that employ prime factorization of n to encode either polynomials, partitions (via Heinz numbers) or multisets in general can be easily defined by using this sequence as one of their constituent functions. See the last line in the Crossrefs section for examples.

(End)

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

-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

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

Also 4, together with numbers n such that Sum_{d|n}(-1)^d = -A048272(n) = -3. - Benoit Cloitre, Apr 14 2002

Also, all solutions to the equation sigma(x) + phi(x) = 2x + 1. - Farideh Firoozbakht, Feb 02 2005

Unique numbers having 3 divisors (1, their square root, themselves). - Alexandre Wajnberg, Jan 15 2006

Smallest (or first) new number deleted at the n-th step in an Eratosthenes sieve. - Lekraj Beedassy, Aug 17 2006

Subsequence of semiprimes A001358. - Lekraj Beedassy, Sep 06 2006

Integers having only 1 factor other than 1 and the number itself. Every number in the sequence is a multiple of 1 factor other than 1 and the number itself. 4 : 2 is the only factor other than 1 and 4; 9 : 3 is the only factor other than 1 and 9; and so on. - Rachit Agrawal (rachit_agrawal(AT)daiict.ac.in), Oct 23 2007

The n-th number with p divisors is equal to the n-th prime raised to power p-1, where p is prime. - Omar E. Pol, May 06 2008

There are 2 Abelian groups of order p^2 (C_p^2 and C_p x C_p) and no non-Abelian group. - Franz Vrabec, Sep 11 2008

Also numbers n such that phi(n) = n - sqrt(n). - Michel Lagneau, May 25 2012

For n > 1, n is the sum of numbers from A006254(n-1) to A168565(n-1). - Vicente Izquierdo Gomez, Dec 01 2012

A078898(a(n)) = 2. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 06 2015

Let r(n) = (a(n) - 1)/(a(n) + 1); then Product_{n>=1} r(n) = (3/5) * (4/5) * (12/13) * (24/25) * (60/61) * ... = 2/5. - Dimitris Valianatos, Feb 26 2019

Numbers k such that A051709(k) = 1. - Jianing Song, Jun 27 2021

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

The sequence contains exactly one square greater than 1, namely 4900 (according to Gardner). - Jud McCranie, Mar 19 2001, Mar 22 2007 [This is a result from Watson. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Jun 21 2013] [See A351830 for further related comments and references.]

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

Number of acute triangles made from the vertices of a regular n-polygon when n is odd (cf. A007290). - Sen-Peng Eu, Apr 05 2001

Gives number of squares with sides parallel to the axes formed from an n X n square. In a 1 X 1 square, one is formed. In a 2 X 2 square, five squares are formed. In a 3 X 3 square, 14 squares are formed and so on. - Kristie Smith (kristie10spud(AT)hotmail.com), Apr 16 2002; edited by Eric W. Weisstein, Mar 05 2025

a(n-1) = B_3(n)/3, where B_3(x) = x(x-1)(x-1/2) is the third Bernoulli polynomial. - Michael Somos, Mar 13 2004

Number of permutations avoiding 13-2 that contain the pattern 32-1 exactly once.

Since 3*r = (r+1) + r + (r-1) = T(r+1) - T(r-2), where T(r) = r-th triangular number r*(r+1)/2, we have 3*r^2 = r*(T(r+1) - T(r-2)) = f(r+1) - f(r-1) ... (i), where f(r) = (r-1)*T(r) = (r+1)*T(r-1). Summing over n, the right hand side of relation (i) telescopes to f(n+1) + f(n) = T(n)*((n+2) + (n-1)), whence the result Sum_{r=1..n} r^2 = n*(n+1)*(2*n+1)/6 immediately follows. - Lekraj Beedassy, Aug 06 2004

Also as a(n) = (1/6)*(2*n^3 + 3*n^2 + n), n > 0: structured trigonal diamond numbers (vertex structure 5) (cf. A006003 = alternate vertex; A000447 = structured diamonds; A100145 for more on structured numbers). - James A. Record (james.record(AT)gmail.com), Nov 07 2004

Number of triples of integers from {1, 2, ..., n} whose last component is greater than or equal to the others.

Kekulé numbers for certain benzenoids. - Emeric Deutsch, Jun 12 2005

Sum of the first n positive squares. - Cino Hilliard, Jun 18 2007

Maximal number of cubes of side 1 in a right pyramid with a square base of side n and height n. - Pasquale CUTOLO (p.cutolo(AT)inwind.it), Jul 09 2007

If a 2-set Y and an (n-2)-set Z are disjoint subsets of an n-set X then a(n-3) is the number of 4-subsets of X intersecting both Y and Z. - Milan Janjic, Sep 19 2007

We also have the identity 1 + (1+4) + (1+4+9) + ... + (1+4+9+16+ ... + n^2) = n(n+1)(n+2)(n+(n+1)+(n+2))/36; ... and in general the k-fold nested sum of squares can be expressed as n(n+1)...(n+k)(n+(n+1)+...+(n+k))/((k+2)!(k+1)/2). - Alexander R. Povolotsky, Nov 21 2007

The terms of this sequence are coefficients of the Engel expansion of the following converging sum: 1/(1^2) + (1/1^2)*(1/(1^2+2^2)) + (1/1^2)*(1/(1^2+2^2))*(1/(1^2+2^2+3^2)) + ... - Alexander R. Povolotsky, Dec 10 2007

Convolution of A000290 with A000012. - Sergio Falcon, Feb 05 2008

Hankel transform of binomial(2*n-3, n-1) is -a(n). - Paul Barry, Feb 12 2008

Starting (1, 5, 14, 30, ...) = binomial transform of [1, 4, 5, 2, 0, 0, 0, ...]. - Gary W. Adamson, Jun 13 2008

Starting (1,5,14,30,...) = second partial sums of binomial transform of [1,2,0,0,0,...]. a(n) = Sum_{i=0..n} binomial(n+2,i+2)*b(i), where b(i)=1,2,0,0,0,... - Borislav St. Borisov (b.st.borisov(AT)abv.bg), Mar 05 2009

Convolution of A001477 with A005408: a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} (2*k+1)*(n-k). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 07 2009

Sequence of the absolute values of the z^1 coefficients of the polynomials in the GF1 denominators of A156921. See A157702 for background information. - Johannes W. Meijer, Mar 07 2009

The sequence is related to A000217 by a(n) = n*A000217(n) - Sum_{i=0..n-1} A000217(i) and this is the case d = 1 in the identity n^2*(d*n-d+2)/2 - Sum_{i=0..n-1} i*(d*i-d+2)/2 = n*(n+1)(2*d*n-2*d+3)/6, or also the case d = 0 in n^2*(n+2*d+1)/2 - Sum_{i=0..n-1} i*(i+2*d+1)/2 = n*(n+1)*(2*n+3*d+1)/6. - Bruno Berselli, Apr 21 2010, Apr 03 2012

a(n)/n = k^2 (k = integer) for n = 337; a(337) = 12814425, a(n)/n = 38025, k = 195, i.e., the number k = 195 is the quadratic mean (root mean square) of the first 337 positive integers. There are other such numbers -- see A084231 and A084232. - Jaroslav Krizek, May 23 2010

Also the number of moves to solve the "alternate coins game": given 2n+1 coins (n+1 Black, n White) set alternately in a row (BWBW...BWB) translate (not rotate) a pair of adjacent coins at a time (1 B and 1 W) so that at the end the arrangement shall be BBBBB..BW...WWWWW (Blacks separated by Whites). Isolated coins cannot be moved. - Carmine Suriano, Sep 10 2010

From J. M. Bergot, Aug 23 2011: (Start)

Using four consecutive numbers n, n+1, n+2, and n+3 take all possible pairs (n, n+1), (n, n+2), (n, n+3), (n+1, n+2), (n+1, n+3), (n+2, n+3) to create unreduced Pythagorean triangles. The sum of all six areas is 60*a(n+1).

Using three consecutive odd numbers j, k, m, (j+k+m)^3 - (j^3 + k^3 + m^3) equals 576*a(n) = 24^2*a(n) where n = (j+1)/2. (End)

From Ant King, Oct 17 2012: (Start)

For n > 0, the digital roots of this sequence A010888(a(n)) form the purely periodic 27-cycle {1, 5, 5, 3, 1, 1, 5, 6, 6, 7, 2, 2, 9, 7, 7, 2, 3, 3, 4, 8, 8, 6, 4, 4, 8, 9, 9}.

For n > 0, the units' digits of this sequence A010879(a(n)) form the purely periodic 20-cycle {1, 5, 4, 0, 5, 1, 0, 4, 5, 5, 6, 0, 9, 5, 0, 6, 5, 9, 0, 0}. (End)

Length of the Pisano period of this sequence mod n, n>=1: 1, 4, 9, 8, 5, 36, 7, 16, 27, 20, 11, 72, 13, 28, 45, 32, 17, 108, 19, 40, ... . - R. J. Mathar, Oct 17 2012

Sum of entries of n X n square matrix with elements min(i,j). - Enrique Pérez Herrero, Jan 16 2013

The number of intersections of diagonals in the interior of regular n-gon for odd n > 1 divided by n is a square pyramidal number; that is, A006561(2*n+1)/(2*n+1) = A000330(n-1) = (1/6)*n*(n-1)*(2*n-1). - Martin Renner, Mar 06 2013

For n > 1, a(n)/(2n+1) = A024702(m), for n such that 2n+1 = prime, which results in 2n+1 = A000040(m). For example, for n = 8, 2n+1 = 17 = A000040(7), a(8) = 204, 204/17 = 12 = A024702(7). - Richard R. Forberg, Aug 20 2013

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

The n-th square pyramidal number = the n-th triangular dipyramidal number (Johnson 12), which is the sum of the n-th + (n-1)-st tetrahedral numbers. E.g., the 3rd tetrahedral number is 10 = 1+3+6, the 2nd is 4 = 1+3. In triangular "dipyramidal form" these numbers can be written as 1+3+6+3+1 = 14. For "square pyramidal form", rebracket as 1+(1+3)+(3+6) = 14. - John F. Richardson, Mar 27 2014

Beukers and Top prove that no square pyramidal number > 1 equals a tetrahedral number A000292. - Jonathan Sondow, Jun 21 2014

Odd numbered entries are related to dissections of polygons through A100157. - Tom Copeland, Oct 05 2014

From Bui Quang Tuan, Apr 03 2015: (Start)

We construct a number triangle from the integers 1, 2, 3, ..., n as follows. The first column contains 2*n-1 integers 1. The second column contains 2*n-3 integers 2, ... The last column contains only one integer n. The sum of all the numbers in the triangle is a(n).

Here is an example with n = 5:

1

1 2

1 2 3

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4

1 2 3

1 2

1

(End)

The Catalan number series A000108(n+3), offset 0, gives Hankel transform revealing the square pyramidal numbers starting at 5, A000330(n+2), offset 0 (empirical observation). - Tony Foster III, Sep 05 2016; see Dougherty et al. link p. 2. - Andrey Zabolotskiy, Oct 13 2016

Number of floating point additions in the factorization of an (n+1) X (n+1) real matrix by Gaussian elimination as e.g. implemented in LINPACK subroutines sgefa.f or dgefa.f. The number of multiplications is given by A007290. - Hugo Pfoertner, Mar 28 2018

The Jacobi polynomial P(n-1,-n+2,2,3) or equivalently the sum of dot products of vectors from the first n rows of Pascal's triangle (A007318) with the up-diagonal Chebyshev T coefficient vector (1,3,2,0,...) (A053120) or down-diagonal vector (1,-7,32,-120,400,...) (A001794). a(5) = 1 + (1,1).(1,3) + (1,2,1).(1,3,2) + (1,3,3,1).(1,3,2,0) + (1,4,6,4,1).(1,3,2,0,0) = (1 + (1,1).(1,-7) + (1,2,1).(1,-7,32) + (1,3,3,1).(1,-7,32,-120) + (1,4,6,4,1).(1,-7,32,-120,400))*(-1)^(n-1) = 55. - Richard Turk, Jul 03 2018

Coefficients in the terminating series identity 1 - 5*n/(n + 4) + 14*n*(n - 1)/((n + 4)*(n + 5)) - 30*n*(n - 1)*(n - 2)/((n + 4)*(n + 5)*(n + 6)) + ... = 0 for n = 1,2,3,.... Cf. A002415 and A108674. - Peter Bala, Feb 12 2019

n divides a(n) iff n == +- 1 (mod 6) (see A007310). (See De Koninck reference.) Examples: a(11) = 506 = 11 * 46, and a(13) = 819 = 13 * 63. - Bernard Schott, Jan 10 2020

For n > 0, a(n) is the number of ternary words of length n+2 having 3 letters equal to 2 and 0 only occurring as the last letter. For example, for n=2, the length 4 words are 2221,2212,2122,1222,2220. - Milan Janjic, Jan 28 2020

Conjecture: Every integer can be represented as a sum of three generalized square pyramidal numbers. A related conjecture is given in A336205 corresponding to pentagonal case. A stronger version of these conjectures is that every integer can be expressed as a sum of three generalized r-gonal pyramidal numbers for all r >= 3. In here "generalized" means negative indices are included. - Altug Alkan, Jul 30 2020

The natural number y is a term if and only if y = a(floor((3 * y)^(1/3))). - Robert Israel, Dec 04 2024

Also the number of directed bishop moves on an n X n chessboard, where two moves are considered the same if one can be obtained from the other by a rotation of the board. Reflections are ignored. Equivalently, number of directed bishop moves on an n X n chessboard, where two moves are considered the same if one can be obtained from the other by an axial reflection of the board (horizontal or vertical). Rotations and diagonal reflections are ignored. - Hilko Koning, Aug 22 2025

Number of edges in the join of two complete graphs, each of order n, K_n * K_n. - Roberto E. Martinez II, Jan 07 2002

The power series expansion of the entropy function H(x) = (1+x)log(1+x) + (1-x)log(1-x) has 1/a_i as the coefficient of x^(2i) (the odd terms being zero). - Tommaso Toffoli (tt(AT)bu.edu), May 06 2002

Partial sums of A016813 (4n+1). Also with offset = 0, a(n) = (2n+1)(n+1) = A005408 * A000027 = 2n^2 + 3n + 1, i.e., a(0) = 1. - Jeremy Gardiner, Sep 29 2002

Sequence also gives the greatest semiperimeter of primitive Pythagorean triangles having inradius n-1. Such a triangle has consecutive longer sides, with short leg 2n-1, hypotenuse a(n) - (n-1) = A001844(n), and area (n-1)*a(n) = 6*A000330(n-1). - Lekraj Beedassy, Apr 23 2003

Number of divisors of 12^(n-1), i.e., A000005(A001021(n-1)). - Henry Bottomley, Oct 22 2001

More generally, if p1 and p2 are two arbitrarily chosen distinct primes then a(n) is the number of divisors of (p1^2*p2)^(n-1) or equivalently of any member of A054753^(n-1). - Ant King, Aug 29 2011

Number of standard tableaux of shape (2n-1,1,1) (n>=1). - Emeric Deutsch, May 30 2004

It is well known that for n>0, A014105(n) [0,3,10,21,...] is the first of 2n+1 consecutive integers such that the sum of the squares of the first n+1 such integers is equal to the sum of the squares of the last n; e.g., 10^2 + 11^2 + 12^2 = 13^2 + 14^2.

Less well known is that for n>1, a(n) [0,1,6,15,28,...] is the first of 2n consecutive integers such that sum of the squares of the first n such integers is equal to the sum of the squares of the last n-1 plus n^2; e.g., 15^2 + 16^2 + 17^2 = 19^2 + 20^2 + 3^2. - Charlie Marion, Dec 16 2006

a(n) is also a perfect number A000396 when n is an even superperfect number A061652. - Omar E. Pol, Sep 05 2008

Sequence found by reading the line from 0, in the direction 0, 6, ... and the line from 1, in the direction 1, 15, ..., in the square spiral whose vertices are the generalized hexagonal numbers A000217. - Omar E. Pol, Jan 09 2009

For n>=1, 1/a(n) = Sum_{k=0..2*n-1} ((-1)^(k+1)*binomial(2*n-1,k)*binomial(2*n-1+k,k)*H(k)/(k+1)) with H(k) harmonic number of order k.

The number of possible distinct colorings of any 2 colors chosen from n colors of a square divided into quadrants. - Paul Cleary, Dec 21 2010

Central terms of the triangle in A051173. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 23 2011

For n>0, a(n-1) is the number of triples (w,x,y) with all terms in {0,...,n} and max(|w-x|,|x-y|) = |w-y|. - Clark Kimberling, Jun 12 2012

a(n) is the number of positions of one domino in an even pyramidal board with base 2n. - César Eliud Lozada, Sep 26 2012

Partial sums give A002412. - Omar E. Pol, Jan 12 2013

Let a triangle have T(0,0) = 0 and T(r,c) = |r^2 - c^2|. The sum of the differences of the terms in row(n) and row(n-1) is a(n). - J. M. Bergot, Jun 17 2013

With T_(i+1,i)=a(i+1) and all other elements of the lower triangular matrix T zero, T is the infinitesimal generator for A176230, analogous to A132440 for the Pascal matrix. - Tom Copeland, Dec 11 2013

a(n) is the number of length 2n binary sequences that have exactly two 1's. a(2) = 6 because we have: {0,0,1,1}, {0,1,0,1}, {0,1,1,0}, {1,0,0,1}, {1,0,1,0}, {1,1,0,0}. The ordinary generating function with interpolated zeros is: (x^2 + 3*x^4)/(1-x^2)^3. - Geoffrey Critzer, Jan 02 2014

For n > 0, a(n) is the largest integer k such that k^2 + n^2 is a multiple of k + n. More generally, for m > 0 and n > 0, the largest integer k such that k^(2*m) + n^(2*m) is a multiple of k + n is given by k = 2*n^(2*m) - n. - Derek Orr, Sep 04 2014

Binomial transform of (0, 1, 4, 0, 0, 0, ...) and second partial sum of (0, 1, 4, 4, 4, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 05 2015

a(n) also gives the dimension of the simple Lie algebras D_n, for n >= 4. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 21 2015

For n > 0, a(n) equals the number of compositions of n+11 into n parts avoiding parts 2, 3, 4. - Milan Janjic, Jan 07 2016

Also the number of minimum dominating sets and maximal irredundant sets in the n-cocktail party graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Jun 29 and Aug 17 2017

As Beedassy's formula shows, this Hexagonal number sequence is the odd bisection of the Triangle number sequence. Both of these sequences are figurative number sequences. For A000384, a(n) can be found by multiplying its triangle number by its hexagonal number. For example let's use the number 153. 153 is said to be the 17th triangle number but is also said to be the 9th hexagonal number. Triangle(17) Hexagonal(9). 17*9=153. Because the Hexagonal number sequence is a subset of the Triangle number sequence, the Hexagonal number sequence will always have both a triangle number and a hexagonal number. n* (2*n-1) because (2*n-1) renders the triangle number. - Bruce J. Nicholson, Nov 05 2017

Also numbers k with the property that in the symmetric representation of sigma(k) the smallest Dyck path has a central valley and the largest Dyck path has a central peak, n >= 1. Thus all hexagonal numbers > 0 have middle divisors. (Cf. A237593.) - Omar E. Pol, Aug 28 2018

k^a(n-1) mod n = 1 for prime n and k=2..n-1. - Joseph M. Shunia, Feb 10 2019

Consider all Pythagorean triples (X, Y, Z=Y+1) ordered by increasing Z: a(n+1) gives the semiperimeter of related triangles; A005408, A046092 and A001844 give the X, Y and Z values. - Ralf Steiner, Feb 25 2020

See A002939(n) = 2*a(n) for the corresponding perimeters. - M. F. Hasler, Mar 09 2020

It appears that these are the numbers k with the property that the smallest subpart in the symmetric representation of sigma(k) is 1. - Omar E. Pol, Aug 28 2021

The above conjecture is true. See A280851 for a proof. - Hartmut F. W. Hoft, Feb 02 2022

The n-th hexagonal number equals the sum of the n consecutive integers with the same parity starting at n; for example, 1, 2+4, 3+5+7, 4+6+8+10, etc. In general, the n-th 2k-gonal number is the sum of the n consecutive integers with the same parity starting at (k-2)*n - (k-3). When k = 1 and 2, this result generates the positive integers, A000027, and the squares, A000290, respectively. - Charlie Marion, Mar 02 2022

Conjecture: For n>0, min{k such that there exist subsets A,B of {0,1,2,...,a(n)} such that |A|=|B|=k and A+B={0,1,2,...,2*a(n)}} = 2*n. - Michael Chu, Mar 09 2022

An n X n nonnegative matrix A is primitive (see A070322) iff every element of A^k is > 0 for some power k. If A is primitive then the power which should have all positive entries is <= n^2 - 2n + 2 (Wielandt).

a(n) = Phi_4(n), where Phi_k is the k-th cyclotomic polynomial.

As the positive solution to x=2n+1/x is x=n+sqrt(a(n)), the continued fraction expansion of sqrt(a(n)) is {n; 2n, 2n, 2n, 2n, ...}. - Benoit Cloitre, Dec 07 2001

a(n) is one less than the arithmetic mean of its neighbors: a(n) = (a(n-1) + a(n+1))/2 - 1. E.g., 2 = (1+5)/2 - 1, 5 = (2+10)/2 - 1. - Amarnath Murthy, Jul 29 2003

Equivalently, the continued fraction expansion of sqrt(a(n)) is (n;2n,2n,2n,...). - Franz Vrabec, Jan 23 2006

Number of {12,1*2*,21}-avoiding signed permutations in the hyperoctahedral group.

The number of squares of side 1 which can be drawn without lifting the pencil, starting at one corner of an n X n grid and never visiting an edge twice is n^2-2n+2. - Sébastien Dumortier, Jun 16 2005

Also, numbers m such that m^3 - m^2 is a square, (n*(1 + n^2))^2. - Zak Seidov

1 + 2/2 + 2/5 + 2/10 + ... = Pi*coth Pi [Jolley], see A113319. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 21 2006

For n >= 1, a(n-1) is the minimal number of choices from an n-set such that at least one particular element has been chosen at least n times or each of the n elements has been chosen at least once. Some games define "matches" this way; e.g., in the classic Parker Brothers, now Hasbro, board game Risk, a(2)=5 is the number of cards of three available types (suits) required to guarantee at least one match of three different types or of three of the same type (ignoring any jokers or wildcards). - Rick L. Shepherd, Nov 18 2007

Positive X values of solutions to the equation X^3 + (X - 1)^2 + X - 2 = Y^2. To prove that X = n^2 + 1: Y^2 = X^3 + (X - 1)^2 + X - 2 = X^3 + X^2 - X - 1 = (X - 1)(X^2 + 2X + 1) = (X - 1)*(X + 1)^2 it means: (X - 1) must be a perfect square, so X = n^2 + 1 and Y = n(n^2 + 2). - Mohamed Bouhamida, Nov 29 2007

{a(k): 0 <= k < 4} = divisors of 10. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 17 2009

Appears in A054413 and A086902 in relation to sequences related to the numerators and denominators of continued fractions convergents to sqrt((2*n)^2/4 + 1), n=1, 2, 3, ... . - Johannes W. Meijer, Jun 12 2010

For n > 0, continued fraction [n,n] = n/a(n); e.g., [5,5] = 5/26. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 15 2010

The only real solution of the form f(x) = A*x^p with negative p which satisfies f^(m)(x) = f^[-1](x), x >= 0, m >= 1, with f^(m) the m-th derivative and f^[-1] the compositional inverse of f, is obtained for m=2*n, p=p(n)= -(sqrt(a(n))-n) and A=A(n)=(fallfac(p(n),2*n))^(-p(n)/(p(n)+1)), with fallfac(x,k):=Product_{j=0..k-1} (x-j) (falling factorials). See the T. Koshy reference, pp. 263-4 (there are also two solutions for positive p, see the corresponding comment in A087475). - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 21 2010

n + sqrt(a(n)) = [2*n;2*n,2*n,...] with the regular continued fraction with period 1. This is the even case. For the general case see A087475 with the Schroeder reference and comments. For the odd case see A078370.

a(n-1) counts configurations of non-attacking bishops on a 2 X n strip [Chaiken et al., Ann. Combin. 14 (2010) 419]. - R. J. Mathar, Jun 16 2011

Also numbers k such that 4*k-4 is a square. Hence this sequence is the union of A053755 and A069894. - Arkadiusz Wesolowski, Aug 02 2011

a(n) is also the Moore lower bound on the order, A191595(n), of an (n,5)-cage. - Jason Kimberley, Oct 17 2011

Left edge of the triangle in A195437: a(n+1) = A195437(n,0). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 23 2011

If h (5,17,37,65,101,...) is prime is relatively prime to 6, then h^2-1 is divisible by 24. - Vincenzo Librandi, Apr 14 2014

The identity (4*n^2+2)^2 - (n^2+1)*(4*n)^2 = 4 can be written as A005899(n)^2 - a(n)*A008586(n)^2 = 4. - Vincenzo Librandi, Jun 15 2014

a(n) is also the number of permutations simultaneously avoiding 213 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

a(n-1) is the maximum number of stages in the Gale-Shapley algorithm for finding a stable matching between two sets of n elements given an ordering of preferences for each element (see Gura et al.). - Melvin Peralta, Feb 07 2016

Because of Fermat's little theorem, a(n) is never divisible by 3. - Altug Alkan, Apr 08 2016

For n > 0, if a(n) points are placed inside an n X n square, it will always be the case that at least two of the points will be a distance of sqrt(2) units apart or less. - Melvin Peralta, Jan 21 2017

Also the limit as q->1^- of the unimodal polynomial (1-q^(n*k+1))/(1-q) after making the simplification k=n. The unimodal polynomial is from O'Hara's proof of unimodality of q-binomials after making the restriction to partitions of size <= 1. See G_1(n,k) from arXiv:1711.11252. As the size restriction s increases, G_s->G_infinity=G: the q-binomials. Then substituting k=n and q=1 yields the central binomial coefficients: A000984. - Bryan T. Ek, Apr 11 2018

a(n) is the smallest number congruent to both 1 (mod n) and 2 (mod n+1). - David James Sycamore, Apr 04 2019

a(n) is the number of permutations of 1,2,...,n+1 with exactly one reduced decomposition. - Richard Stanley, Dec 22 2022

From Klaus Purath, Apr 03 2025: (Start)

The odd prime factors of these terms are always of the form 4*k + 1.

All a(n) = D satisfy the Pell equation (k*x)^2 - D*y^2 = -1. The values for k and the solutions x, y can be calculated using the following algorithm: k = n, x(0) = 1, x(1) = 4*D - 1, y(0) = 1, y(1) = 4*D - 3. The two recurrences are of the form (4*D - 2, -1). The solutions x, y of the Pell equations for n = {1 ... 14} are in OEIS.

It follows from the above that this sequence is a subsequence of A031396. (End)

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

2

.P

1 n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number of sequences (e(1), ..., e(n+1)), 0 <= e(i) < i, such that there is no triple i < j < k with e(i) < e(j) != e(k). [Martinez and Savage, 2.4]

Number of sequences (e(1), ..., e(n+1)), 0 <= e(i) < i, such that there is no triple i < j < k with e(i) < e(j) and e(i) < e(k). [Martinez and Savage, 2.4]

Number of sequences (e(1), ..., e(n+1)), 0 <= e(i) < i, such that there is no triple i < j < k with e(i) >= e(j) != e(k). [Martinez and Savage, 2.4]

(End)

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

From Klaus Purath, Jan 29 2020: (Start)

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

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

(End)

From Roger Ford, May 10 2021: (Start)

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

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

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

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

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

//\\

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

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

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

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

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

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

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