cp's OEIS Frontend

This is a front-end for the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, made by Christian Perfect. The idea is to provide OEIS entries in non-ancient HTML, and then to think about how they're presented visually. The source code is on GitHub.

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A223516 Triangle T(n,k) represents the coefficients of (x^14*d/dx)^n, where n=1,2,3,...; generalization of Stirling numbers of second kind A008277, Lah-numbers A008297.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 14, 1, 378, 42, 1, 15120, 2100, 84, 1, 801360, 128520, 6720, 140, 1, 52889760, 9412200, 585480, 16380, 210, 1, 4178291040, 805865760, 56836080, 1928640, 33810, 294, 1, 384402775680, 79123806720, 6148457280, 240056880, 5174400, 62328, 392, 1
Offset: 1

Views

Author

Udita Katugampola, Mar 23 2013

Keywords

Examples

			1;
14,1;
378,42,1;
15120,2100,84,1;
801360,128520,6720,140,1;
52889760,9412200,585480,16380,210,1;
4178291040,805865760,56836080,1928640,33810,294,1;
384402775680,79123806720,6148457280,240056880,5174400,62328,392,1;
		

Crossrefs

Programs

  • Maple
    b[0]:=f(x):
    for j from 1 to 10 do
    b[j]:=simplify(x^14*diff(b[j-1],x$1);
    end do;

A223517 Triangle T(n,k) represents the coefficients of (x^15*d/dx)^n, where n=1,2,3,...; generalization of Stirling numbers of second kind A008277, Lah-numbers A008297.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 15, 1, 435, 45, 1, 18705, 2415, 90, 1, 1066185, 158775, 7725, 150, 1, 75699135, 12497985, 722700, 18825, 225, 1, 6434426475, 1150525845, 75372885, 2379300, 38850, 315, 1, 637008221025, 121487010975, 8763187230, 318061485, 6380850, 71610, 420, 1
Offset: 1

Views

Author

Udita Katugampola, Mar 23 2013

Keywords

Examples

			1;
15,1;
435,45,1;
18705,2415,90,1;
1066185,158775,7725,150,1;
75699135,12497985,722700,18825,225,1;
6434426475,1150525845,75372885,2379300,38850,315,1;
637008221025,121487010975,8763187230,318061485,6380850,71610,420,1;
		

Crossrefs

Programs

  • Maple
    b[0]:=f(x):
    for j from 1 to 10 do
    b[j]:=simplify(x^15*diff(b[j-1],x$1);
    end do;

A223518 Triangle T(n,k) represents the coefficients of (x^16*d/dx)^n, where n=1,2,3,...; generalization of Stirling numbers of second kind A008277, Lah-numbers A008297.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 16, 1, 496, 48, 1, 22816, 2752, 96, 1, 1391776, 193440, 8800, 160, 1, 105774976, 16286656, 879840, 21440, 240, 1, 9625522816, 1604147328, 98111776, 2895200, 44240, 336, 1, 1020305418496, 181269286912, 12200219136, 413688576, 7761600, 81536, 448, 1
Offset: 1

Views

Author

Udita Katugampola, Mar 23 2013

Keywords

Examples

			1;
16,1;
496,48,1;
22816,2752,96,1;
1391776,193440,8800,160,1;
105774976,16286656,879840,21440,240,1;
9625522816,1604147328,98111776,2895200,44240,336,1;
1020305418496,181269286912,12200219136,413688576,7761600,81536,448,1
		

Crossrefs

Programs

  • Maple
    b[0]:=f(x):
    for j from 1 to 10 do
    b[j]:=simplify(x^16*diff(b[j-1],x$1);
    end do;

A308440 Matrix product of triangle of Stirling numbers of second kind A008277 and square of unsigned Lah triangle A105278.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 5, 1, 37, 15, 1, 365, 223, 30, 1, 4501, 3675, 745, 50, 1, 66605, 68071, 18450, 1865, 75, 1, 1149877, 1411515, 479101, 64750, 3920, 105, 1, 22687565, 32512663, 13260030, 2244501, 181650, 7322, 140, 1, 503589781, 825175275, 393017185, 79948050, 8103711, 436590, 12558, 180, 1
Offset: 1

Views

Author

Shuhei Tsujie, May 27 2019

Keywords

Comments

Also the number of k-dimensional flats of the extended Catalan arrangement of dimension n consisting of hyperplanes x_i - x_j = d (1 <= i < j <= n, -2 <= d <= 2).

Examples

			Triangle begins:
     1;
     5,    1;
    37,   15,   1;
   365,  223,  30,  1;
  4501, 3675, 745, 50, 1;
  ...
		

Crossrefs

Cf. A008277, A105278, A050351 (first column), A109092 (row sums).

Formula

E.g.f.: exp((exp(x)-1)*y/(3-2exp(x))).

A007318 Pascal's triangle read by rows: C(n,k) = binomial(n,k) = n!/(k!*(n-k)!), 0 <= k <= n.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 3, 1, 1, 4, 6, 4, 1, 1, 5, 10, 10, 5, 1, 1, 6, 15, 20, 15, 6, 1, 1, 7, 21, 35, 35, 21, 7, 1, 1, 8, 28, 56, 70, 56, 28, 8, 1, 1, 9, 36, 84, 126, 126, 84, 36, 9, 1, 1, 10, 45, 120, 210, 252, 210, 120, 45, 10, 1, 1, 11, 55, 165, 330, 462, 462, 330, 165, 55, 11, 1
Offset: 0

Views

Author

N. J. A. Sloane and Mira Bernstein, Apr 28 1994

Keywords

Comments

A. W. F. Edwards writes: "It [the triangle] was first written down long before 1654, the year in which Blaise Pascal wrote his Traité du triangle arithmétique, but it was this work that brought together all the different aspects of the numbers for the first time. In it Pascal developed the properties of the number as a piece of pure mathematics ... and then, in a series of appendices, showed how these properties were relevant to the study of the figurate numbers, to the theory of combinations, to the expansion of binomial expressions, and to the solution of an important problem in the theory of probability." (A. W. F. Edwards, Pascal's Arithmetical Triangle, Johns Hopkins University Press (2002), p. xiii)
Edwards reports that the naming of the triangle after Pascal was done first by Montmort in 1708 as the "Table de M. Pascal pour les combinaisons" and then by De Moivre in 1730 as the "Triangulum Arithmeticum PASCALANIUM". (Edwards, p. xiv)
In China, Yang Hui in 1261 listed the coefficients of (a+b)^n up to n=6, crediting the expansion to Chia Hsein's Shih-so suan-shu circa 1100. Another prominent early use was in Chu Shih-Chieh's Precious Mirror of the Four Elements in 1303. (Edwards, p. 51)
In Persia, Al-Karaji discovered the binomial triangle "some time soon after 1007", and Al-Samawal published it in the Al-bahir some time before 1180. (Edwards, p. 52)
In India, Halayuda's commentary (circa 900) on Pingala's treatise on syllabic combinations (circa 200 B.C.E.) contains a clear description of the additive computation of the triangle. (Amulya Kumar Bag, Binomial Theorem in Ancient India, p. 72)
Also in India, the multiplicative formula for C(n,k) was known to Mahavira in 850 and restated by Bhaskara in 1150. (Edwards, p. 27)
In Italy, Tartaglia published the triangle in his General trattato (1556), and Cardano published it in his Opus novum (1570). (Edwards, p. 39, 44) - Russ Cox, Mar 29 2022
Also sometimes called Omar Khayyam's triangle.
Also sometimes called Yang Hui's triangle.
C(n,k) = number of k-element subsets of an n-element set.
Row n gives coefficients in expansion of (1+x)^n.
Binomial(n+k-1,n-1) is the number of ways of placing k indistinguishable balls into n boxes (the "bars and stars" argument - see Feller).
Binomial(n-1,k-1) is the number of compositions (ordered partitions) of n with k summands.
Binomial(n+k-1,k-1) is the number of weak compositions (ordered weak partitions) of n into exactly k summands. - Juergen Will, Jan 23 2016
Binomial(n,k) is the number of lattice paths from (0,0) to (n,k) using steps (1,0) and (1,1). - Joerg Arndt, Jul 01 2011
If thought of as an infinite lower triangular matrix, inverse begins:
+1
-1 +1
+1 -2 +1
-1 +3 -3 +1
+1 -4 +6 -4 +1
All 2^n palindromic binomial coefficients starting after the A006516(n)-th entry are odd. - Lekraj Beedassy, May 20 2003
Binomial(n+k-1,n-1) is the number of standard tableaux of shape (n,1^k). - Emeric Deutsch, May 13 2004
Can be viewed as an array, read by antidiagonals, where the entries in the first row and column are all 1's and A(i,j) = A(i-1,j) + A(i,j-1) for all other entries. The determinant of each of its n X n subarrays starting at (0,0) is 1. - Gerald McGarvey, Aug 17 2004
Also the lower triangular readout of the exponential of a matrix whose entry {j+1,j} equals j+1 (and all other entries are zero). - Joseph Biberstine (jrbibers(AT)indiana.edu), May 26 2006
Binomial(n-3,k-1) counts the permutations in S_n which have zero occurrences of the pattern 231 and one occurrence of the pattern 132 and k descents. Binomial(n-3,k-1) also counts the permutations in S_n which have zero occurrences of the pattern 231 and one occurrence of the pattern 213 and k descents. - David Hoek (david.hok(AT)telia.com), Feb 28 2007
Inverse of A130595 (as an infinite lower triangular matrix). - Philippe Deléham, Aug 21 2007
Consider integer lists LL of lists L of the form LL = [m#L] = [m#[k#2]] (where '#' means 'times') like LL(m=3,k=3) = [[2,2,2],[2,2,2],[2,2,2]]. The number of the integer list partitions of LL(m,k) is equal to binomial(m+k,k) if multiple partitions like [[1,1],[2],[2]] and [[2],[2],[1,1]] and [[2],[1,1],[2]] are counted only once. For the example, we find 4*5*6/3! = 20 = binomial(6,3). - Thomas Wieder, Oct 03 2007
The infinitesimal generator for Pascal's triangle and its inverse is A132440. - Tom Copeland, Nov 15 2007
Row n>=2 gives the number of k-digit (k>0) base n numbers with strictly decreasing digits; e.g., row 10 for A009995. Similarly, row n-1>=2 gives the number of k-digit (k>1) base n numbers with strictly increasing digits; see A009993 and compare A118629. - Rick L. Shepherd, Nov 25 2007
From Lee Naish (lee(AT)cs.mu.oz.au), Mar 07 2008: (Start)
Binomial(n+k-1, k) is the number of ways a sequence of length k can be partitioned into n subsequences (see the Naish link).
Binomial(n+k-1, k) is also the number of n- (or fewer) digit numbers written in radix at least k whose digits sum to k. For example, in decimal, there are binomial(3+3-1,3)=10 3-digit numbers whose digits sum to 3 (see A052217) and also binomial(4+2-1,2)=10 4-digit numbers whose digits sum to 2 (see A052216). This relationship can be used to generate the numbers of sequences A052216 to A052224 (and further sequences using radix greater than 10). (End)
From Milan Janjic, May 07 2008: (Start)
Denote by sigma_k(x_1,x_2,...,x_n) the elementary symmetric polynomials. Then:
Binomial(2n+1,2k+1) = sigma_{n-k}(x_1,x_2,...,x_n), where x_i = tan^2(i*Pi/(2n+1)), (i=1,2,...,n).
Binomial(2n,2k+1) = 2n*sigma_{n-1-k}(x_1,x_2,...,x_{n-1}), where x_i = tan^2(i*Pi/(2n)), (i=1,2,...,n-1).
Binomial(2n,2k) = sigma_{n-k}(x_1,x_2,...,x_n), where x_i = tan^2((2i-1)Pi/(4n)), (i=1,2,...,n).
Binomial(2n+1,2k) = (2n+1)sigma_{n-k}(x_1,x_2,...,x_n), where x_i = tan^2((2i-1)Pi/(4n+2)), (i=1,2,...,n). (End)
Given matrices R and S with R(n,k) = binomial(n,k)*r(n-k) and S(n,k) = binomial(n,k)*s(n-k), then R*S = T where T(n,k) = binomial(n,k)*[r(.)+s(.)]^(n-k), umbrally. And, the e.g.f.s for the row polynomials of R, S and T are, respectively, exp(x*t)*exp[r(.)*x], exp(x*t)*exp[s(.)*x] and exp(x*t)*exp[r(.)*x]*exp[s(.)*x] = exp{[t+r(.)+s(.)]*x}. The row polynomials are essentially Appell polynomials. See A132382 for an example. - Tom Copeland, Aug 21 2008
As the rectangle R(m,n) = binomial(m+n-2,m-1), the weight array W (defined generally at A144112) of R is essentially R itself, in the sense that if row 1 and column 1 of W=A144225 are deleted, the remaining array is R. - Clark Kimberling, Sep 15 2008
If A007318 = M as an infinite lower triangular matrix, M^n gives A130595, A023531, A007318, A038207, A027465, A038231, A038243, A038255, A027466, A038279, A038291, A038303, A038315, A038327, A133371, A147716, A027467 for n=-1,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 respectively. - Philippe Deléham, Nov 11 2008
The coefficients of the polynomials with e.g.f. exp(x*t)*(cosh(t)+sinh(t)). - Peter Luschny, Jul 09 2009
The triangle or chess sums, see A180662 for their definitions, link Pascal's triangle with twenty different sequences, see the crossrefs. All sums come in pairs due to the symmetrical nature of this triangle. The knight sums Kn14 - Kn110 have been added. It is remarkable that all knight sums are related to the Fibonacci numbers, i.e., A000045, but none of the others. - Johannes W. Meijer, Sep 22 2010
Binomial(n,k) is also the number of ways to distribute n+1 balls into k+1 urns so that each urn gets at least one ball. See example in the example section below. - Dennis P. Walsh, Jan 29 2011
Binomial(n,k) is the number of increasing functions from {1,...,k} to {1,...,n} since there are binomial(n,k) ways to choose the k distinct, ordered elements of the range from the codomain {1,...,n}. See example in the example section below. - Dennis P. Walsh, Apr 07 2011
Central binomial coefficients: T(2*n,n) = A000984(n), T(n, floor(n/2)) = A001405(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 09 2011
Binomial(n,k) is the number of subsets of {1,...,n+1} with k+1 as median element. To see this, note that Sum_{j=0..min(k,n-k)}binomial(k,j)*binomial(n-k,j) = binomial(n,k). See example in Example section below. - Dennis P. Walsh, Dec 15 2011
This is the coordinator triangle for the lattice Z^n, see Conway-Sloane, 1997. - N. J. A. Sloane, Jan 17 2012
One of three infinite families of integral factorial ratio sequences of height 1 (see Bober, Theorem 1.2). The other two are A046521 and A068555. For real r >= 0, C_r(n,k) := floor(r*n)!/(floor(r*k)!*floor(r*(n-k))!) is integral. See A211226 for the case r = 1/2. - Peter Bala, Apr 10 2012
Define a finite triangle T(m,k) with n rows such that T(m,0) = 1 is the left column, T(m,m) = binomial(n-1,m) is the right column, and the other entries are T(m,k) = T(m-1,k-1) + T(m-1,k) as in Pascal's triangle. The sum of all entries in T (there are A000217(n) elements) is 3^(n-1). - J. M. Bergot, Oct 01 2012
The lower triangular Pascal matrix serves as a representation of the operator exp(RLR) in a basis composed of a sequence of polynomials p_n(x) characterized by ladder operators defined by R p_n(x) = p_(n+1)(x) and L p_n(x) = n p_(n-1)(x). See A132440, A218272, A218234, A097805, and A038207. The transposed and padded Pascal matrices can be associated to the special linear group SL2. - Tom Copeland, Oct 25 2012
See A193242. - Alexander R. Povolotsky, Feb 05 2013
A permutation p_1...p_n of the set {1,...,n} has a descent at position i if p_i > p_(i+1). Let S(n) denote the subset of permutations p_1...p_n of {1,...,n} such that p_(i+1) - p_i <= 1 for i = 1,...,n-1. Then binomial(n,k) gives the number of permutations in S(n+1) with k descents. Alternatively, binomial(n,k) gives the number of permutations in S(n+1) with k+1 increasing runs. - Peter Bala, Mar 24 2013
Sum_{n=>0} binomial(n,k)/n! = e/k!, where e = exp(1), while allowing n < k where binomial(n,k) = 0. Also Sum_{n>=0} binomial(n+k-1,k)/n! = e * A000262(k)/k!, and for k>=1 equals e * A067764(k)/A067653(k). - Richard R. Forberg, Jan 01 2014
The square n X n submatrix (first n rows and n columns) of the Pascal matrix P(x) defined in the formulas below when multiplying on the left the Vandermonde matrix V(x_1,...,x_n) (with ones in the first row) translates the matrix to V(x_1+x,...,x_n+x) while leaving the determinant invariant. - Tom Copeland, May 19 2014
For k>=2, n>=k, k/((k/(k-1) - Sum_{n=k..m} 1/binomial(n,k))) = m!/((m-k+1)!*(k-2)!). Note: k/(k-1) is the infinite sum. See A000217, A000292, A000332 for examples. - Richard R. Forberg, Aug 12 2014
Let G_(2n) be the subgroup of the symmetric group S_(2n) defined by G_(2n) = {p in S_(2n) | p(i) = i (mod n) for i = 1,2,...,2n}. G_(2n) has order 2^n. Binomial(n,k) gives the number of permutations in G_(2n) having n + k cycles. Cf. A130534 and A246117. - Peter Bala, Aug 15 2014
C(n,k) = the number of Dyck paths of semilength n+1, with k+1 "u"'s in odd numbered positions and k+1 returns to the x axis. Example: {U = u in odd position and = return to x axis} binomial(3,0)=1 (Uudududd); binomial(3,1)=3 [(Uududd_Ud_), (Ud_Uududd_), (Uudd_Uudd_)]; binomial(3,2)=3 [(Ud_Ud_Uudd_), (Uudd_Ud_Ud_), (Ud_Uudd_Ud_)]; binomial(3,3)=1 (Ud_Ud_Ud_Ud_). - Roger Ford, Nov 05 2014
From Daniel Forgues, Mar 12 2015: (Start)
The binomial coefficients binomial(n,k) give the number of individuals of the k-th generation after n population doublings. For each doubling of population, each individual's clone has its generation index incremented by 1, and thus goes to the next row. Just tally up each row from 0 to 2^n - 1 to get the binomial coefficients.
0 1 3 7 15
0: O | . | . . | . . . . | . . . . . . . . |
1: | O | O . | O . . . | O . . . . . . . |
2: | | O | O O . | O O . O . . . |
3: | | | O | O O O . |
4: | | | | O |
This is a fractal process: to get the pattern from 0 to 2^n - 1, append a shifted down (by one row) copy of the pattern from 0 to 2^(n-1) - 1 to the right of the pattern from 0 to 2^(n-1) - 1. (Inspired by the "binomial heap" data structure.)
Sequence of generation indices: 1's-counting sequence: number of 1's in binary expansion of n (or the binary weight of n) (see A000120):
{0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, ...}
Binary expansion of 0 to 15:
0 1 10 11 100 101 110 111 1000 1001 1010 1011 1100 1101 1111
(End)
A258993(n,k) = T(n+k,n-k), n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 22 2015
T(n,k) is the number of set partitions w of [n+1] that avoid 1/2/3 with rb(w)=k. The same holds for ls(w)=k, where avoidance is in the sense of Klazar and ls,rb defined by Wachs and White.
Satisfies Benford's law [Diaconis, 1977] - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 09 2017
Let {A(n)} be a set with exactly n identical elements, with {A(0)} being the empty set E. Let {A(n,k)} be the k-th iteration of {A(n)}, with {A(n,0)} = {A(n)}. {A(n,1)} = The set of all the subsets of A{(n)}, including {A(n)} and E. {A(n,k)} = The set of all subsets of {A(n,k-1)}, including all of the elements of {A(n,k-1)}. Let A(n,k) be the number of elements in {A(n,k)}. Then A(n,k) = C(n+k,k), with each successive iteration replicating the members of the k-th diagonal of Pascal's Triangle. See examples. - Gregory L. Simay, Aug 06 2018
Binomial(n-1,k) is also the number of permutations avoiding both 213 and 312 with k ascents. - Lara Pudwell, Dec 19 2018
Binomial(n-1,k) is also the number of permutations avoiding both 132 and 213 with k ascents. - Lara Pudwell, Dec 19 2018
Binomial(n,k) is the dimension of the k-th exterior power of a vector space of dimension n. - Stefano Spezia, Dec 22 2018
C(n,k-1) is the number of unoriented colorings of the facets (or vertices) of an n-dimensional simplex using exactly k colors. Each chiral pair is counted as one when enumerating unoriented arrangements. - Robert A. Russell, Oct 20 2020
From Dilcher and Stolarsky: "Two of the most ubiquitous objects in mathematics are the sequence of prime numbers and the binomial coefficients (and thus Pascal's triangle). A connection between the two is given by a well-known characterization of the prime numbers: Consider the entries in the k-th row of Pascal's triangle, without the initial and final entries. They are all divisible by k if and only if k is a prime." - Tom Copeland, May 17 2021
Named "Table de M. Pascal pour les combinaisons" by Pierre Remond de Montmort (1708) after the French mathematician, physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662). - Amiram Eldar, Jun 11 2021
Consider the n-th diagonal of the triangle as a sequence b(n) with n starting at 0. From it form a new sequence by leaving the 0th term as is, and thereafter considering all compositions of n, taking the product of b(i) over the respective numbers i in each composition, adding terms corresponding to compositions with an even number of parts subtracting terms corresponding to compositions with an odd number of parts. Then the n-th row of the triangle is obtained, with every second term multiplied by -1, followed by infinitely many zeros. For sequences starting with 1, this operation is a special case of a self-inverse operation, and therefore the converse is true. - Thomas Anton, Jul 05 2021
C(n,k) is the number of vertices in an n-dimensional unit hypercube, at an L1 distance of k (or: with a shortest path of k 1d-edges) from a given vertex. - Eitan Y. Levine, May 01 2023
C(n+k-1,k-1) is the number of vertices at an L1 distance from a given vertex in an infinite-dimensional box, which has k sides of length 2^m for each m >= 0. Equivalently, given a set of tokens containing k distinguishable tokens with value 2^m for each m >= 0, C(n+k-1,k-1) is the number of subsets of tokens with a total value of n. - Eitan Y. Levine, Jun 11 2023
Numbers in the k-th column, i.e., numbers of the form C(n,k) for n >= k, are known as k-simplex numbers. - Pontus von Brömssen, Jun 26 2023
Let r(k) be the k-th row and c(k) the k-th column. Denote convolution by * and repeated convolution by ^. Then r(k)*r(m)=r(k+m) and c(k)*c(m)=c(k+m+1). This is because r(k) = r(1) ^ k and c(k) = c(0) ^ k+1. - Eitan Y. Levine, Jul 23 2023
Number of permutations of length n avoiding simultaneously the patterns 231 and 312(resp., 213 and 231; 213 and 312) with k descents (equivalently, with k ascents). An ascent (resp., descent) in a permutation a(1)a(2)...a(n) is position i such that a(i)a(i+1)). - Tian Han, Nov 25 2023
C(n,k) are generalized binomial coefficients of order m=0. Calculated by the formula C(n,k) = Sum_{i=0..n-k} binomial(n+1, n-k-i)*Stirling2(i+ m+ 1, i+1) *(-1)^i, where m = 0 for n>= 0, 0 <= k <= n. - Igor Victorovich Statsenko, Feb 26 2023
The Akiyama-Tanigawa algorithm applied to the diagonals, binomial(n+k,k), yields the powers of n. - Shel Kaphan, May 03 2024

Examples

			Triangle T(n,k) begins:
   n\k 0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  11 ...
   0   1
   1   1   1
   2   1   2   1
   3   1   3   3   1
   4   1   4   6   4   1
   5   1   5  10  10   5   1
   6   1   6  15  20  15   6   1
   7   1   7  21  35  35  21   7   1
   8   1   8  28  56  70  56  28   8   1
   9   1   9  36  84 126 126  84  36   9   1
  10   1  10  45 120 210 252 210 120  45  10   1
  11   1  11  55 165 330 462 462 330 165  55  11   1
  ...
There are C(4,2)=6 ways to distribute 5 balls BBBBB, among 3 different urns, < > ( ) [ ], so that each urn gets at least one ball, namely, <BBB>(B)[B], <B>(BBB)[B], <B>(B)[BBB], <BB>(BB)[B], <BB>(B)[BB], and <B>(BB)[BB].
There are C(4,2)=6 increasing functions from {1,2} to {1,2,3,4}, namely, {(1,1),(2,2)},{(1,1),(2,3)}, {(1,1),(2,4)}, {(1,2),(2,3)}, {(1,2),(2,4)}, and {(1,3),(2,4)}. - _Dennis P. Walsh_, Apr 07 2011
There are C(4,2)=6 subsets of {1,2,3,4,5} with median element 3, namely, {3}, {1,3,4}, {1,3,5}, {2,3,4}, {2,3,5}, and {1,2,3,4,5}. - _Dennis P. Walsh_, Dec 15 2011
The successive k-iterations of {A(0)} = E are E;E;E;...; the corresponding number of elements are 1,1,1,... The successive k-iterations of {A(1)} = {a} are (omitting brackets) a;a,E; a,E,E;...; the corresponding number of elements are 1,2,3,... The successive k-iterations of {A(2)} = {a,a} are aa; aa,a,E; aa, a, E and a,E and E;...; the corresponding number of elements are 1,3,6,... - _Gregory L. Simay_, Aug 06 2018
Boas-Buck type recurrence for column k = 4: T(8, 4) = (5/4)*(1 + 5 + 15 + 35) = 70. See the Boas-Buck comment above. - _Wolfdieter Lang_, Nov 12 2018
		

References

  • M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, eds., Handbook of Mathematical Functions, National Bureau of Standards Applied Math. Series 55, 1964 (and various reprintings), p. 828.
  • Amulya Kumar Bag, Binomial theorem in ancient India, Indian Journal of History of Science, vol. 1 (1966), pp. 68-74.
  • Arthur T. Benjamin and Jennifer Quinn, Proofs that really count: the art of combinatorial proof, M.A.A. 2003, p. 63ff.
  • Boris A. Bondarenko, Generalized Pascal Triangles and Pyramids (in Russian), FAN, Tashkent, 1990, ISBN 5-648-00738-8.
  • Louis Comtet, Advanced Combinatorics, Reidel, 1974, p. 306.
  • John H. Conway and Richard K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1996. See pp. 68-74.
  • Paul Curtz, Intégration numérique des systèmes différentiels à conditions initiales, Centre de Calcul Scientifique de l'Armement, Arcueil, 1969.
  • A. W. F. Edwards, Pascal's Arithmetical Triangle, 2002.
  • William Feller, An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Application, Vol. 1, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley, p. 36, 1968.
  • Ronald L. Graham, Donald E. Knuth, and Oren Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 2nd. ed., 1994, p. 155.
  • Jan Gullberg, Mathematics from the Birth of Numbers, W. W. Norton & Co., NY & London, 1997, §4.4 Powers and Roots, pp. 140-141.
  • David Hök, Parvisa mönster i permutationer [Swedish], 2007.
  • Donald E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 1, 2nd ed., p. 52.
  • Sergei K. Lando, Lecture on Generating Functions, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, R.I., 2003, pp. 60-61.
  • Blaise Pascal, Traité du triangle arithmétique, avec quelques autres petits traitez sur la mesme matière, Desprez, Paris, 1665.
  • Clifford A. Pickover, A Passion for Mathematics, Wiley, 2005; see p. 71.
  • Alfred S. Posamentier, Math Charmers, Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind, Prometheus Books, NY, 2003, pages 271-275.
  • A. P. Prudnikov, Yu. A. Brychkov, and O. I. Marichev, "Integrals and Series", Volume 1: "Elementary Functions", Chapter 4: "Finite Sums", New York, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1986-1992.
  • John Riordan, An Introduction to Combinatorial Analysis, Wiley, 1958, p. 6.
  • John Riordan, Combinatorial Identities, Wiley, 1968, p. 2.
  • Robert Sedgewick and Philippe Flajolet, An Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1996, p. 143.
  • N. J. A. Sloane and Simon Plouffe, The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1995 (includes this sequence).
  • Jerome Spanier and Keith B. Oldham, "Atlas of Functions", Hemisphere Publishing Corp., 1987, chapter 6, pages 43-52.
  • James J. Tattersall, Elementary Number Theory in Nine Chapters, Cambridge University Press, 1999, pages 13, 30-33.
  • David Wells, The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers, Penguin Books, 1987, pp. 115-118.
  • Douglas B. West, Combinatorial Mathematics, Cambridge, 2021, p. 25.

Crossrefs

Equals differences between consecutive terms of A102363. - David G. Williams (davidwilliams(AT)Paxway.com), Jan 23 2006
Row sums give A000079 (powers of 2).
Cf. A083093 (triangle read mod 3), A214292 (first differences of rows).
Partial sums of rows give triangle A008949.
The triangle of the antidiagonals is A011973.
Infinite matrix squared: A038207, cubed: A027465.
Cf. A101164. If rows are sorted we get A061554 or A107430.
Another version: A108044.
Triangle sums (see the comments): A000079 (Row1); A000007 (Row2); A000045 (Kn11 & Kn21); A000071 (Kn12 & Kn22); A001924 (Kn13 & Kn23); A014162 (Kn14 & Kn24); A014166 (Kn15 & Kn25); A053739 (Kn16 & Kn26); A053295 (Kn17 & Kn27); A053296 (Kn18 & Kn28); A053308 (Kn19 & Kn29); A053309 (Kn110 & Kn210); A001519 (Kn3 & Kn4); A011782 (Fi1 & Fi2); A000930 (Ca1 & Ca2); A052544 (Ca3 & Ca4); A003269 (Gi1 & Gi2); A055988 (Gi3 & Gi4); A034943 (Ze1 & Ze2); A005251 (Ze3 & Ze4). - Johannes W. Meijer, Sep 22 2010
Cf. A115940 (pandigital binomial coefficients C(m,k) with k>1).
Cf. (simplex colorings) A325002 (oriented), [k==n+1] (chiral), A325003 (achiral), A325000 (k or fewer colors), A325009 (orthotope facets, orthoplex vertices), A325017 (orthoplex facets, orthotope vertices).
Triangles of generalized binomial coefficients (n,k)_m (or generalized Pascal triangles) for m = 2..12: A001263, A056939, A056940, A056941, A142465, A142467, A142468, A174109, A342889, A342890, A342891.

Programs

  • Axiom
    -- (start)
    )set expose add constructor OutputForm
    pascal(0,n) == 1
    pascal(n,n) == 1
    pascal(i,j | 0 < i and i < j) == pascal(i-1,j-1) + pascal(i,j-1)
    pascalRow(n) == [pascal(i,n) for i in 0..n]
    displayRow(n) == output center blankSeparate pascalRow(n)
    for i in 0..20 repeat displayRow i -- (end)
    
  • GAP
    Flat(List([0..12],n->List([0..n],k->Binomial(n,k)))); # Stefano Spezia, Dec 22 2018
  • Haskell
    a007318 n k = a007318_tabl !! n !! k
    a007318_row n = a007318_tabl !! n
    a007318_list = concat a007318_tabl
    a007318_tabl = iterate (\row -> zipWith (+) ([0] ++ row) (row ++ [0])) [1]
    -- Cf. http://www.haskell.org/haskellwiki/Blow_your_mind#Mathematical_sequences
    -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 09 2011, Oct 22 2010
    
  • Magma
    /* As triangle: */ [[Binomial(n, k): k in [0..n]]: n in [0.. 10]]; // Vincenzo Librandi, Jul 29 2015
    
  • Maple
    A007318 := (n,k)->binomial(n,k);
  • Mathematica
    Flatten[Table[Binomial[n, k], {n, 0, 11}, {k, 0, n}]] (* Robert G. Wilson v, Jan 19 2004 *)
    Flatten[CoefficientList[CoefficientList[Series[1/(1 - x - x*y), {x, 0, 12}], x], y]] (* Mats Granvik, Jul 08 2014 *)
  • Maxima
    create_list(binomial(n,k),n,0,12,k,0,n); /* Emanuele Munarini, Mar 11 2011 */
    
  • PARI
    C(n,k)=binomial(n,k) \\ Charles R Greathouse IV, Jun 08 2011
    
  • Python
    # See Hobson link. Further programs:
    from math import prod,factorial
    def C(n,k): return prod(range(n,n-k,-1))//factorial(k) # M. F. Hasler, Dec 13 2019, updated Apr 29 2022, Feb 17 2023
    
  • Python
    from math import comb, isqrt
    def A007318(n): return comb(r:=(m:=isqrt(k:=n+1<<1))-(k<=m*(m+1)),n-comb(r+1,2)) # Chai Wah Wu, Nov 11 2024
    
  • Sage
    def C(n,k): return Subsets(range(n), k).cardinality() # Ralf Stephan, Jan 21 2014
    

Formula

a(n, k) = C(n,k) = binomial(n, k).
C(n, k) = C(n-1, k) + C(n-1, k-1).
The triangle is symmetric: C(n,k) = C(n,n-k).
a(n+1, m) = a(n, m) + a(n, m-1), a(n, -1) := 0, a(n, m) := 0, n
C(n, k) = n!/(k!(n-k)!) if 0<=k<=n, otherwise 0.
C(n, k) = ((n-k+1)/k) * C(n, k-1) with C(n, 0) = 1. - Michael B. Porter, Mar 23 2025
G.f.: 1/(1-y-x*y) = Sum_(C(n, k)*x^k*y^n, n, k>=0)
G.f.: 1/(1-x-y) = Sum_(C(n+k, k)*x^k*y^n, n, k>=0).
G.f. for row n: (1+x)^n = Sum_{k=0..n} C(n, k)*x^k.
G.f. for column k: x^k/(1-x)^(k+1); [corrected by Werner Schulte, Jun 15 2022].
E.g.f.: A(x, y) = exp(x+x*y).
E.g.f. for column n: x^n*exp(x)/n!.
In general the m-th power of A007318 is given by: T(0, 0) = 1, T(n, k) = T(n-1, k-1) + m*T(n-1, k), where n is the row-index and k is the column; also T(n, k) = m^(n-k)*C(n, k).
Triangle T(n, k) read by rows; given by A000007 DELTA A000007, where DELTA is Deléham's operator defined in A084938.
Let P(n+1) = the number of integer partitions of (n+1); let p(i) = the number of parts of the i-th partition of (n+1); let d(i) = the number of different parts of the i-th partition of (n+1); let m(i, j) = multiplicity of the j-th part of the i-th partition of (n+1). Define the operator Sum_{i=1..P(n+1), p(i)=k+1} as the sum running from i=1 to i=P(n+1) but taking only partitions with p(i)=(k+1) parts into account. Define the operator Product_{j=1..d(i)} = product running from j=1 to j=d(i). Then C(n, k) = Sum_{p(i)=(k+1), i=1..P(n+1)} p(i)! / [Product_{j=1..d(i)} m(i, j)!]. E.g., C(5, 3) = 10 because n=6 has the following partitions with m=3 parts: (114), (123), (222). For their multiplicities one has: (114): 3!/(2!*1!) = 3; (123): 3!/(1!*1!*1!) = 6; (222): 3!/3! = 1. The sum is 3 + 6 + 1 = 10 = C(5, 3). - Thomas Wieder, Jun 03 2005
C(n, k) = Sum_{j=0..k} (-1)^j*C(n+1+j, k-j)*A000108(j). - Philippe Deléham, Oct 10 2005
G.f.: 1 + x*(1 + x) + x^3*(1 + x)^2 + x^6*(1 + x)^3 + ... . - Michael Somos, Sep 16 2006
Sum_{k=0..floor(n/2)} x^(n-k)*T(n-k,k) = A000007(n), A000045(n+1), A002605(n), A030195(n+1), A057087(n), A057088(n), A057089(n), A057090(n), A057091(n), A057092(n), A057093(n) for x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, respectively. Sum_{k=0..floor(n/2)} (-1)^k*x^(n-k)*T(n-k,k) = A000007(n), A010892(n), A009545(n+1), A057083(n), A001787(n+1), A030191(n), A030192(n), A030240(n), A057084(n), A057085(n+1), A057086(n), A084329(n+1) for x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, respectively. - Philippe Deléham, Sep 16 2006
C(n,k) <= A062758(n) for n > 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 04 2008
C(t+p-1, t) = Sum_{i=0..t} C(i+p-2, i) = Sum_{i=1..p} C(i+t-2, t-1). A binomial number is the sum of its left parent and all its right ancestors, which equals the sum of its right parent and all its left ancestors. - Lee Naish (lee(AT)cs.mu.oz.au), Mar 07 2008
From Paul D. Hanna, Mar 24 2011: (Start)
Let A(x) = Sum_{n>=0} x^(n*(n+1)/2)*(1+x)^n be the g.f. of the flattened triangle:
A(x) = 1 + (x + x^2) + (x^3 + 2*x^4 + x^5) + (x^6 + 3*x^7 + 3*x^8 + x^9) + ...
then A(x) equals the series Sum_{n>=0} (1+x)^n*x^n*Product_{k=1..n} (1-(1+x)*x^(2*k-1))/(1-(1+x)*x^(2*k));
also, A(x) equals the continued fraction 1/(1- x*(1+x)/(1+ x*(1-x)*(1+x)/(1- x^3*(1+x)/(1+ x^2*(1-x^2)*(1+x)/(1- x^5*(1+x)/(1+ x^3*(1-x^3)*(1+x)/(1- x^7*(1+x)/(1+ x^4*(1-x^4)*(1+x)/(1- ...))))))))).
These formulas are due to (1) a q-series identity and (2) a partial elliptic theta function expression. (End)
For n > 0: T(n,k) = A029600(n,k) - A029635(n,k), 0 <= k <= n. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 16 2012
Row n of the triangle is the result of applying the ConvOffs transform to the first n terms of the natural numbers (1, 2, 3, ..., n). See A001263 or A214281 for a definition of this transformation. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 12 2012
From L. Edson Jeffery, Aug 02 2012: (Start)
Row n (n >= 0) of the triangle is given by the n-th antidiagonal of the infinite matrix P^n, where P = (p_{i,j}), i,j >= 0, is the production matrix
0, 1,
1, 0, 1,
0, 1, 0, 1,
0, 0, 1, 0, 1,
0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1,
0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1,
0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1,
0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1,
... (End)
Row n of the triangle is also given by the n+1 coefficients of the polynomial P_n(x) defined by the recurrence P_0(x) = 1, P_1(x) = x + 1, P_n(x) = x*P_{n-1}(x) + P_{n-2}(x), n > 1. - L. Edson Jeffery, Aug 12 2013
For a closed-form formula for arbitrary left and right borders of Pascal-like triangles see A228196. - Boris Putievskiy, Aug 18 2013
For a closed-form formula for generalized Pascal's triangle see A228576. - Boris Putievskiy, Sep 04 2013
(1+x)^n = Sum_{k=0..n} (-1)^(n-k)*binomial(n,k)*Sum_{i=0..k} k^(n-i)*binomial(k,i)*x^(n-i)/(n-i)!. - Vladimir Kruchinin, Oct 21 2013
E.g.f.: A(x,y) = exp(x+x*y) = 1 + (x+y*x)/( E(0)-(x+y*x)), where E(k) = 1 + (x+y*x)/(1 + (k+1)/E(k+1) ); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Nov 08 2013
E.g.f.: E(0) -1, where E(k) = 2 + x*(1+y)/(2*k+1 - x*(1+y)/E(k+1) ); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Dec 24 2013
G.f.: 1 + x*(1+x)*(1+x^2*(1+x)/(W(0)-x^2-x^3)), where W(k) = 1 + (1+x)*x^(k+2) - (1+x)*x^(k+3)/W(k+1); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Dec 24 2013
Sum_{n>=0} C(n,k)/n! = e/k!, where e = exp(1), while allowing n < k where C(n,k) = 0. Also Sum_{n>=0} C(n+k-1,k)/n! = e * A000262(k)/k!, and for k>=1 equals e * A067764(k)/A067653(k). - Richard R. Forberg, Jan 01 2014
Sum_{n>=k} 1/C(n,k) = k/(k-1) for k>=1. - Richard R. Forberg, Feb 10 2014
From Tom Copeland, Apr 26 2014: (Start)
Multiply each n-th diagonal of the Pascal lower triangular matrix by x^n and designate the result by A007318(x) = P(x). Then with :xD:^n = x^n*(d/dx)^n and B(n,x), the Bell polynomials (A008277),
A) P(x)= exp(x*dP) = exp[x*(e^M-I)] = exp[M*B(.,x)] = (I+dP)^B(.,x)
with dP = A132440, M = A238385-I, and I = identity matrix, and
B) P(:xD:) = exp(dP:xD:) = exp[(e^M-I):xD:] = exp[M*B(.,:xD:)] = exp[M*xD] = (I+dP)^(xD) with action P(:xD:)g(x) = exp(dP:xD:)g(x) = g[(I+dP)*x] (cf. also A238363).
C) P(x)^y = P(y*x). P(2x) = A038207(x) = exp[M*B(.,2x)], the face vectors of the n-dim hypercubes.
D) P(x) = [St2]*exp(x*M)*[St1] = [St2]*(I+dP)^x*[St1]
E) = [St1]^(-1)*(I+dP)^x*[St1] = [St2]*(I+dP)^x*[St2]^(-1)
where [St1]=padded A008275 just as [St2]=A048993=padded A008277 and exp(x*M) = (I+dP)^x = Sum_{k>=0} C(x,k) dP^k. (End)
T(n,k) = A245334(n,k) / A137948(n,k), 0 <= k <= n. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Aug 31 2014
From Peter Bala, Dec 21 2014: (Start)
Recurrence equation: T(n,k) = T(n-1,k)*(n + k)/(n - k) - T(n-1,k-1) for n >= 2 and 1 <= k < n, with boundary conditions T(n,0) = T(n,n) = 1. Note, changing the minus sign in the recurrence to a plus sign gives a recurrence for the square of the binomial coefficients - see A008459.
There is a relation between the e.g.f.'s of the rows and the diagonals of the triangle, namely, exp(x) * e.g.f. for row n = e.g.f. for diagonal n. For example, for n = 3 we have exp(x)*(1 + 3*x + 3*x^2/2! + x^3/3!) = 1 + 4*x + 10*x^2/2! + 20*x^3/3! + 35*x^4/4! + .... This property holds more generally for the Riordan arrays of the form ( f(x), x/(1 - x) ), where f(x) is an o.g.f. of the form 1 + f_1*x + f_2*x^2 + .... See, for example, A055248 and A106516.
Let P denote the present triangle. For k = 0,1,2,... define P(k) to be the lower unit triangular block array
/I_k 0\
\ 0 P/ having the k X k identity matrix I_k as the upper left block; in particular, P(0) = P. The infinite product P(0)*P(1)*P(2)*..., which is clearly well-defined, is equal to the triangle of Stirling numbers of the second kind A008277. The infinite product in the reverse order, that is, ...*P(2)*P(1)*P(0), is equal to the triangle of Stirling cycle numbers A130534. (End)
C(a+b,c) = Sum_{k=0..a} C(a,k)*C(b,b-c+k). This is a generalization of equation 1 from section 4.2.5 of the Prudnikov et al. reference, for a=b=c=n: C(2*n,n) = Sum_{k=0..n} C(n,k)^2. See Links section for animation of new formula. - Hermann Stamm-Wilbrandt, Aug 26 2015
The row polynomials of the Pascal matrix P(n,x) = (1+x)^n are related to the Bernoulli polynomials Br(n,x) and their umbral compositional inverses Bv(n,x) by the umbral relation P(n,x) = (-Br(.,-Bv(.,x)))^n = (-1)^n Br(n,-Bv(.,x)), which translates into the matrix relation P = M * Br * M * Bv, where P is the Pascal matrix, M is the diagonal matrix diag(1,-1,1,-1,...), Br is the matrix for the coefficients of the Bernoulli polynomials, and Bv that for the umbral inverse polynomials defined umbrally by Br(n,Bv(.,x)) = x^n = Bv(n,Br(.,x)). Note M = M^(-1). - Tom Copeland, Sep 05 2015
1/(1-x)^k = (r(x) * r(x^2) * r(x^4) * ...) where r(x) = (1+x)^k. - Gary W. Adamson, Oct 17 2016
Boas-Buck type recurrence for column k for Riordan arrays (see the Aug 10 2017 remark in A046521, also for the reference) with the Boas-Buck sequence b(n) = {repeat(1)}. T(n, k) = ((k+1)/(n-k))*Sum_{j=k..n-1} T(j, k), for n >= 1, with T(n, n) = 1. This reduces, with T(n, k) = binomial(n, k), to a known binomial identity (e.g, Graham et al. p. 161). - Wolfdieter Lang, Nov 12 2018
C((p-1)/a, b) == (-1)^b * fact_a(a*b-a+1)/fact_a(a*b) (mod p), where fact_n denotes the n-th multifactorial, a divides p-1, and the denominator of the fraction on the right side of the equation represents the modular inverse. - Isaac Saffold, Jan 07 2019
C(n,k-1) = A325002(n,k) - [k==n+1] = (A325002(n,k) + A325003(n,k)) / 2 = [k==n+1] + A325003(n,k). - Robert A. Russell, Oct 20 2020
From Hermann Stamm-Wilbrandt, May 13 2021: (Start)
Binomial sums are Fibonacci numbers A000045:
Sum_{k=0..n} C(n + k, 2*k + 1) = F(2*n).
Sum_{k=0..n} C(n + k, 2*k) = F(2*n + 1). (End)
C(n,k) = Sum_{i=0..k} A000108(i) * C(n-2i-1, k-i), for 0 <= k <= floor(n/2)-1. - Tushar Bansal, May 17 2025

Extensions

Checked all links, deleted 8 that seemed lost forever and were probably not of great importance. - N. J. A. Sloane, May 08 2018

A000110 Bell or exponential numbers: number of ways to partition a set of n labeled elements.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 1, 2, 5, 15, 52, 203, 877, 4140, 21147, 115975, 678570, 4213597, 27644437, 190899322, 1382958545, 10480142147, 82864869804, 682076806159, 5832742205057, 51724158235372, 474869816156751, 4506715738447323, 44152005855084346, 445958869294805289, 4638590332229999353, 49631246523618756274
Offset: 0

Keywords

Comments

The leading diagonal of its difference table is the sequence shifted, see Bernstein and Sloane (1995). - N. J. A. Sloane, Jul 04 2015
Also the number of equivalence relations that can be defined on a set of n elements. - Federico Arboleda (federico.arboleda(AT)gmail.com), Mar 09 2005
a(n) = number of nonisomorphic colorings of a map consisting of a row of n+1 adjacent regions. Adjacent regions cannot have the same color. - David W. Wilson, Feb 22 2005
If an integer is squarefree and has n distinct prime factors then a(n) is the number of ways of writing it as a product of its divisors. - Amarnath Murthy, Apr 23 2001
Consider rooted trees of height at most 2. Letting each tree 'grow' into the next generation of n means we produce a new tree for every node which is either the root or at height 1, which gives the Bell numbers. - Jon Perry, Jul 23 2003
Begin with [1,1] and follow the rule that [1,k] -> [1,k+1] and [1,k] k times, e.g., [1,3] is transformed to [1,4], [1,3], [1,3], [1,3]. Then a(n) is the sum of all components: [1,1] = 2; [1,2], [1,1] = 5; [1,3], [1,2], [1,2], [1,2], [1,1] = 15; etc. - Jon Perry, Mar 05 2004
Number of distinct rhyme schemes for a poem of n lines: a rhyme scheme is a string of letters (e.g., 'abba') such that the leftmost letter is always 'a' and no letter may be greater than one more than the greatest letter to its left. Thus 'aac' is not valid since 'c' is more than one greater than 'a'. For example, a(3)=5 because there are 5 rhyme schemes: aaa, aab, aba, abb, abc; also see example by Neven Juric. - Bill Blewett, Mar 23 2004
In other words, number of length-n restricted growth strings (RGS) [s(0),s(1),...,s(n-1)] where s(0)=0 and s(k) <= 1 + max(prefix) for k >= 1, see example (cf. A080337 and A189845). - Joerg Arndt, Apr 30 2011
Number of partitions of {1, ..., n+1} into subsets of nonconsecutive integers, including the partition 1|2|...|n+1. E.g., a(3)=5: there are 5 partitions of {1,2,3,4} into subsets of nonconsecutive integers, namely, 13|24, 13|2|4, 14|2|3, 1|24|3, 1|2|3|4. - Augustine O. Munagi, Mar 20 2005
Triangle (addition) scheme to produce terms, derived from the recurrence, from Oscar Arevalo (loarevalo(AT)sbcglobal.net), May 11 2005:
1
1 2
2 3 5
5 7 10 15
15 20 27 37 52
... [This is Aitken's array A011971]
With P(n) = the number of integer partitions of n, p(i) = the number of parts of the i-th partition of n, d(i) = the number of different parts of the i-th partition of n, p(j,i) = the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, m(i,j) = multiplicity of the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, one has: a(n) = Sum_{i=1..P(n)} (n!/(Product_{j=1..p(i)} p(i,j)!)) * (1/(Product_{j=1..d(i)} m(i,j)!)). - Thomas Wieder, May 18 2005
a(n+1) is the number of binary relations on an n-element set that are both symmetric and transitive. - Justin Witt (justinmwitt(AT)gmail.com), Jul 12 2005
If the rule from Jon Perry, Mar 05 2004, is used, then a(n-1) = [number of components used to form a(n)] / 2. - Daniel Kuan (dkcm(AT)yahoo.com), Feb 19 2006
a(n) is the number of functions f from {1,...,n} to {1,...,n,n+1} that satisfy the following two conditions for all x in the domain: (1) f(x) > x; (2) f(x)=n+1 or f(f(x))=n+1. E.g., a(3)=5 because there are exactly five functions that satisfy the two conditions: f1={(1,4),(2,4),(3,4)}, f2={(1,4),(2,3),(3,4)}, f3={(1,3),(2,4),(3,4)}, f4={(1,2),(2,4),(3,4)} and f5={(1,3),(2,3),(3,4)}. - Dennis P. Walsh, Feb 20 2006
Number of asynchronic siteswap patterns of length n which have no zero-throws (i.e., contain no 0's) and whose number of orbits (in the sense given by Allen Knutson) is equal to the number of balls. E.g., for n=4, the condition is satisfied by the following 15 siteswaps: 4444, 4413, 4242, 4134, 4112, 3441, 2424, 1344, 2411, 1313, 1241, 2222, 3131, 1124, 1111. Also number of ways to choose n permutations from identity and cyclic permutations (1 2), (1 2 3), ..., (1 2 3 ... n) so that their composition is identity. For n=3 we get the following five: id o id o id, id o (1 2) o (1 2), (1 2) o id o (1 2), (1 2) o (1 2) o id, (1 2 3) o (1 2 3) o (1 2 3). (To see the bijection, look at Ehrenborg and Readdy paper.) - Antti Karttunen, May 01 2006
a(n) is the number of permutations on [n] in which a 3-2-1 (scattered) pattern occurs only as part of a 3-2-4-1 pattern. Example: a(3) = 5 counts all permutations on [3] except 321. See "Eigensequence for Composition" reference a(n) = number of permutation tableaux of size n (A000142) whose first row contains no 0's. Example: a(3)=5 counts {{}, {}, {}}, {{1}, {}}, {{1}, {0}}, {{1}, {1}}, {{1, 1}}. - David Callan, Oct 07 2006
From Gottfried Helms, Mar 30 2007: (Start)
This sequence is also the first column in the matrix-exponential of the (lower triangular) Pascal-matrix, scaled by exp(-1): PE = exp(P) / exp(1) =
1
1 1
2 2 1
5 6 3 1
15 20 12 4 1
52 75 50 20 5 1
203 312 225 100 30 6 1
877 1421 1092 525 175 42 7 1
First 4 columns are A000110, A033306, A105479, A105480. The general case is mentioned in the two latter entries. PE is also the Hadamard-product Toeplitz(A000110) (X) P:
1
1 1
2 1 1
5 2 1 1
15 5 2 1 1 (X) P
52 15 5 2 1 1
203 52 15 5 2 1 1
877 203 52 15 5 2 1 1
(End)
The terms can also be computed with finite steps and precise integer arithmetic. Instead of exp(P)/exp(1) one can compute A = exp(P - I) where I is the identity-matrix of appropriate dimension since (P-I) is nilpotent to the order of its dimension. Then a(n)=A[n,1] where n is the row-index starting at 1. - Gottfried Helms, Apr 10 2007
When n is prime, a(n) == 2 (mod n), but the converse is not always true. Define a Bell pseudoprime to be a composite number n such that a(n) == 2 (mod n). W. F. Lunnon recently found the Bell pseudoprimes 21361 = 41*521 and C46 = 3*23*16218646893090134590535390526854205539989357 and conjectured that Bell pseudoprimes are extremely scarce. So the second Bell pseudoprime is unlikely to be known with certainty in the near future. I confirmed that 21361 is the first. - David W. Wilson, Aug 04 2007 and Sep 24 2007
This sequence and A000587 form a reciprocal pair under the list partition transform described in A133314. - Tom Copeland, Oct 21 2007
Starting (1, 2, 5, 15, 52, ...), equals row sums and right border of triangle A136789. Also row sums of triangle A136790. - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 21 2008
This is the exponential transform of A000012. - Thomas Wieder, Sep 09 2008
From Abdullahi Umar, Oct 12 2008: (Start)
a(n) is also the number of idempotent order-decreasing full transformations (of an n-chain).
a(n) is also the number of nilpotent partial one-one order-decreasing transformations (of an n-chain).
a(n+1) is also the number of partial one-one order-decreasing transformations (of an n-chain). (End)
From Peter Bala, Oct 19 2008: (Start)
Bell(n) is the number of n-pattern sequences [Cooper & Kennedy]. An n-pattern sequence is a sequence of integers (a_1,...,a_n) such that a_i = i or a_i = a_j for some j < i. For example, Bell(3) = 5 since the 3-pattern sequences are (1,1,1), (1,1,3), (1,2,1), (1,2,2) and (1,2,3).
Bell(n) is the number of sequences of positive integers (N_1,...,N_n) of length n such that N_1 = 1 and N_(i+1) <= 1 + max{j = 1..i} N_j for i >= 1 (see the comment by B. Blewett above). It is interesting to note that if we strengthen the latter condition to N_(i+1) <= 1 + N_i we get the Catalan numbers A000108 instead of the Bell numbers.
(End)
Equals the eigensequence of Pascal's triangle, A007318; and starting with offset 1, = row sums of triangles A074664 and A152431. - Gary W. Adamson, Dec 04 2008
The entries f(i, j) in the exponential of the infinite lower-triangular matrix of binomial coefficients b(i, j) are f(i, j) = b(i, j) e a(i - j). - David Pasino, Dec 04 2008
Equals lim_{k->oo} A071919^k. - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 02 2009
Equals A154107 convolved with A014182, where A014182 = expansion of exp(1-x-exp(-x)), the eigensequence of A007318^(-1). Starting with offset 1 = A154108 convolved with (1,2,3,...) = row sums of triangle A154109. - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 04 2009
Repeated iterates of (binomial transform of [1,0,0,0,...]) will converge upon (1, 2, 5, 15, 52, ...) when each result is prefaced with a "1"; such that the final result is the fixed limit: (binomial transform of [1,1,2,5,15,...]) = (1,2,5,15,52,...). - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 14 2009
From Karol A. Penson, May 03 2009: (Start)
Relation between the Bell numbers B(n) and the n-th derivative of 1/Gamma(1+x) evaluated at x=1:
a) produce a number of such derivatives through seq(subs(x=1, simplify((d^n/dx^n)GAMMA(1+x)^(-1))), n=1..5);
b) leave them expressed in terms of digamma (Psi(k)) and polygamma (Psi(k,n)) functions and unevaluated;
Examples of such expressions, for n=1..5, are:
n=1: -Psi(1),
n=2: -(-Psi(1)^2 + Psi(1,1)),
n=3: -Psi(1)^3 + 3*Psi(1)*Psi(1,1) - Psi(2,1),
n=4: -(-Psi(1)^4 + 6*Psi(1)^2*Psi(1,1) - 3*Psi(1,1)^2 - 4*Psi(1)*Psi(2,1) + Psi(3, 1)),
n=5: -Psi(1)^5 + 10*Psi(1)^3*Psi(1,1) - 15*Psi(1)*Psi(1,1)^2 - 10*Psi(1)^2*Psi(2,1) + 10*Psi(1,1)*Psi(2,1) + 5*Psi(1)*Psi(3,1) - Psi(4,1);
c) for a given n, read off the sum of absolute values of coefficients of every term involving digamma or polygamma functions.
This sum is equal to B(n). Examples: B(1)=1, B(2)=1+1=2, B(3)=1+3+1=5, B(4)=1+6+3+4+1=15, B(5)=1+10+15+10+10+5+1=52;
d) Observe that this decomposition of the Bell number B(n) apparently does not involve the Stirling numbers of the second kind explicitly.
(End)
The numbers given above by Penson lead to the multinomial coefficients A036040. - Johannes W. Meijer, Aug 14 2009
Column 1 of A162663. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Jul 09 2009
Asymptotic expansions (0!+1!+2!+...+(n-1)!)/(n-1)! = a(0) + a(1)/n + a(2)/n^2 + ... and (0!+1!+2!+...+n!)/n! = 1 + a(0)/n + a(1)/n^2 + a(2)/n^3 + .... - Michael Somos, Jun 28 2009
Starting with offset 1 = row sums of triangle A165194. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 06 2009
a(n+1) = A165196(2^n); where A165196 begins: (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 15, ...). such that A165196(2^3) = 15 = A000110(4). - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 06 2009
The divergent series g(x=1,m) = 1^m*1! - 2^m*2! + 3^m*3! - 4^m*4! + ..., m >= -1, which for m=-1 dates back to Euler, is related to the Bell numbers. We discovered that g(x=1,m) = (-1)^m * (A040027(m) - A000110(m+1) * A073003). We observe that A073003 is Gompertz's constant and that A040027 was published by Gould, see for more information A163940. - Johannes W. Meijer, Oct 16 2009
a(n) = E(X^n), i.e., the n-th moment about the origin of a random variable X that has a Poisson distribution with (rate) parameter, lambda = 1. - Geoffrey Critzer, Nov 30 2009
Let A000110 = S(x), then S(x) = A(x)/A(x^2) when A(x) = A173110; or (1, 1, 2, 5, 15, 52, ...) = (1, 1, 3, 6, 20, 60, ...) / (1, 0, 1, 0, 3, 0, 6, 0, 20, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 09 2010
The Bell numbers serve as the upper limit for the number of distinct homomorphic images from any given finite universal algebra. Every algebra homomorphism is determined by its kernel, which must be a congruence relation. As the number of possible congruence relations with respect to a finite universal algebra must be a subset of its possible equivalence classes (given by the Bell numbers), it follows naturally. - Max Sills, Jun 01 2010
For a proof of the o.g.f. given in the R. Stephan comment see, e.g., the W. Lang link under A071919. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 23 2010
Let B(x) = (1 + x + 2x^2 + 5x^3 + ...). Then B(x) is satisfied by A(x)/A(x^2) where A(x) = polcoeff A173110: (1 + x + 3x^2 + 6x^3 + 20x^4 + 60x^5 + ...) = B(x) * B(x^2) * B(x^4) * B(x^8) * .... - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 08 2010
Consider a set of A000217(n) balls of n colors in which, for each integer k = 1 to n, exactly one color appears in the set a total of k times. (Each ball has exactly one color and is indistinguishable from other balls of the same color.) a(n+1) equals the number of ways to choose 0 or more balls of each color without choosing any two colors the same positive number of times. (See related comments for A000108, A008277, A016098.) - Matthew Vandermast, Nov 22 2010
A binary counter with faulty bits starts at value 0 and attempts to increment by 1 at each step. Each bit that should toggle may or may not do so. a(n) is the number of ways that the counter can have the value 0 after n steps. E.g., for n=3, the 5 trajectories are 0,0,0,0; 0,1,0,0; 0,1,1,0; 0,0,1,0; 0,1,3,0. - David Scambler, Jan 24 2011
No Bell number is divisible by 8, and no Bell number is congruent to 6 modulo 8; see Theorem 6.4 and Table 1.7 in Lunnon, Pleasants and Stephens. - Jon Perry, Feb 07 2011, clarified by Eric Rowland, Mar 26 2014
a(n+1) is the number of (symmetric) positive semidefinite n X n 0-1 matrices. These correspond to equivalence relations on {1,...,n+1}, where matrix element M[i,j] = 1 if and only if i and j are equivalent to each other but not to n+1. - Robert Israel, Mar 16 2011
a(n) is the number of monotonic-labeled forests on n vertices with rooted trees of height less than 2. We note that a labeled rooted tree is monotonic-labeled if the label of any parent vertex is greater than the label of any offspring vertex. See link "Counting forests with Stirling and Bell numbers". - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 11 2011
a(n) = D^n(exp(x)) evaluated at x = 0, where D is the operator (1+x)*d/dx. Cf. A000772 and A094198. - Peter Bala, Nov 25 2011
B(n) counts the length n+1 rhyme schemes without repetitions. E.g., for n=2 there are 5 rhyme schemes of length 3 (aaa, aab, aba, abb, abc), and the 2 without repetitions are aba, abc. This is basically O. Munagi's result that the Bell numbers count partitions into subsets of nonconsecutive integers (see comment above dated Mar 20 2005). - Eric Bach, Jan 13 2012
Right and left borders and row sums of A212431 = A000110 or a shifted variant. - Gary W. Adamson, Jun 21 2012
Number of maps f: [n] -> [n] where f(x) <= x and f(f(x)) = f(x) (projections). - Joerg Arndt, Jan 04 2013
Permutations of [n] avoiding any given one of the 8 dashed patterns in the equivalence classes (i) 1-23, 3-21, 12-3, 32-1, and (ii) 1-32, 3-12, 21-3, 23-1. (See Claesson 2001 reference.) - David Callan, Oct 03 2013
Conjecture: No a(n) has the form x^m with m > 1 and x > 1. - Zhi-Wei Sun, Dec 02 2013
Sum_{n>=0} a(n)/n! = e^(e-1) = 5.57494152476..., see A234473. - Richard R. Forberg, Dec 26 2013 (This is the e.g.f. for x=1. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 02 2015)
Sum_{j=0..n} binomial(n,j)*a(j) = (1/e)*Sum_{k>=0} (k+1)^n/k! = (1/e) Sum_{k=1..oo} k^(n+1)/k! = a(n+1), n >= 0, using the Dobinski formula. See the comment by Gary W. Adamson, Dec 04 2008 on the Pascal eigensequence. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 02 2015
In fact it is not really an eigensequence of the Pascal matrix; rather the Pascal matrix acts on the sequence as a shift. It is an eigensequence (the unique eigensequence with eigenvalue 1) of the matrix derived from the Pascal matrix by adding at the top the row [1, 0, 0, 0 ...]. The binomial sum formula may be derived from the definition in terms of partitions: label any element X of a set S of N elements, and let X(k) be the number of subsets of S containing X with k elements. Since each subset has a unique coset, the number of partitions p(N) of S is given by p(N) = Sum_{k=1..N} (X(k) p(N-k)); trivially X(k) = N-1 choose k-1. - Mason Bogue, Mar 20 2015
a(n) is the number of ways to nest n matryoshkas (Russian nesting dolls): we may identify {1, 2, ..., n} with dolls of ascending sizes and the sets of a set partition with stacks of dolls. - Carlo Sanna, Oct 17 2015
Number of permutations of [n] where the initial elements of consecutive runs of increasing elements are in decreasing order. a(4) = 15: `1234, `2`134, `23`14, `234`1, `24`13, `3`124, `3`2`14, `3`24`1, `34`12, `34`2`1, `4`123, `4`2`13, `4`23`1, `4`3`12, `4`3`2`1. - Alois P. Heinz, Apr 27 2016
Taking with alternating signs, the Bell numbers are the coefficients in the asymptotic expansion (Ramanujan): (-1)^n*(A000166(n) - n!/exp(1)) ~ 1/n - 2/n^2 + 5/n^3 - 15/n^4 + 52/n^5 - 203/n^6 + O(1/n^7). - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Nov 10 2016
Number of treeshelves avoiding pattern T231. See A278677 for definitions and examples. - Sergey Kirgizov, Dec 24 2016
Presumably this satisfies Benford's law, although the results in Hürlimann (2009) do not make this clear. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 09 2017
a(n) = Sum(# of standard immaculate tableaux of shape m, m is a composition of n), where this sum is over all integer compositions m of n > 0. This formula is easily seen to hold by identifying standard immaculate tableaux of size n with set partitions of { 1, 2, ..., n }. For example, if we sum over integer compositions of 4 lexicographically, we see that 1+1+2+1+3+3+3+1 = 15 = A000110(4). - John M. Campbell, Jul 17 2017
a(n) is also the number of independent vertex sets (and vertex covers) in the (n-1)-triangular honeycomb bishop graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Aug 10 2017
Even-numbered entries represent the numbers of configurations of identity and non-identity for alleles of a gene in n diploid individuals with distinguishable maternal and paternal alleles. - Noah A Rosenberg, Jan 28 2019
Number of partial equivalence relations (PERs) on a set with n elements (offset=1), i.e., number of symmetric, transitive (not necessarily reflexive) relations. The idea is to add a dummy element D to the set, and then take equivalence relations on the result; anything equivalent to D is then removed for the partial equivalence relation. - David Spivak, Feb 06 2019
Number of words of length n+1 with no repeated letters, when letters are unlabeled. - Thomas Anton, Mar 14 2019
Named by Becker and Riordan (1948) after the Scottish-American mathematician and writer Eric Temple Bell (1883 - 1960). - Amiram Eldar, Dec 04 2020
Also the number of partitions of {1,2,...,n+1} with at most one n+1 singleton. E.g., a(3)=5: {13|24, 12|34, 123|4, 14|23, 1234}. - Yuchun Ji, Dec 21 2020
a(n) is the number of sigma algebras on the set of n elements. Note that each sigma algebra is generated by a partition of the set. For example, the sigma algebra generated by the partition {{1}, {2}, {3,4}} is {{}, {1}, {2}, {1,2}, {3,4}, {1,3,4}, {2,3,4}, {1,2,3,4}}. - Jianing Song, Apr 01 2021
a(n) is the number of P_3-free graphs on n labeled nodes. - M. Eren Kesim, Jun 04 2021
a(n) is the number of functions X:([n] choose 2) -> {+,-} such that for any ordered 3-tuple abc we have X(ab)X(ac)X(bc) not in {+-+,++-,-++}. - Robert Lauff, Dec 09 2022
From Manfred Boergens, Mar 11 2025: (Start)
The partitions in the definition can be described as disjoint covers of the set. "Covers" in general give rise to the following amendments:
For disjoint covers which may include one empty set see A186021.
For arbitrary (including non-disjoint) covers see A003465.
For arbitrary (including non-disjoint) covers which may include one empty set see A000371. (End)

Examples

			G.f. = 1 + x + 2*x^2 + 5*x^3 + 15*x^4 + 52*x^5 + 203*x^6 + 877*x^7 + 4140*x^8 + ...
From Neven Juric, Oct 19 2009: (Start)
The a(4)=15 rhyme schemes for n=4 are
  aaaa, aaab, aaba, aabb, aabc, abaa, abab, abac, abba, abbb, abbc, abca, abcb, abcc, abcd
The a(5)=52 rhyme schemes for n=5 are
  aaaaa, aaaab, aaaba, aaabb, aaabc, aabaa, aabab, aabac, aabba, aabbb, aabbc, aabca, aabcb, aabcc, aabcd, abaaa, abaab, abaac, ababa, ababb, ababc, abaca, abacb, abacc, abacd, abbaa, abbab, abbac, abbba, abbbb, abbbc, abbca, abbcb, abbcc, abbcd, abcaa, abcab, abcac, abcad, abcba, abcbb, abcbc, abcbd, abcca, abccb, abccc, abccd, abcda, abcdb, abcdc, abcdd, abcde
(End)
From _Joerg Arndt_, Apr 30 2011: (Start)
Restricted growth strings (RGS):
For n=0 there is one empty string;
for n=1 there is one string [0];
for n=2 there are 2 strings [00], [01];
for n=3 there are a(3)=5 strings [000], [001], [010], [011], and [012];
for n=4 there are a(4)=15 strings
1: [0000], 2: [0001], 3: [0010], 4: [0011], 5: [0012], 6: [0100], 7: [0101], 8: [0102], 9: [0110], 10: [0111], 11: [0112], 12: [0120], 13: [0121], 14: [0122], 15: [0123].
These are one-to-one with the rhyme schemes (identify a=0, b=1, c=2, etc.).
(End)
Consider the set S = {1, 2, 3, 4}. The a(4) = 1 + 3 + 6 + 4 + 1 = 15 partitions are: P1 = {{1}, {2}, {3}, {4}}; P21 .. P23 = {{a,4}, S\{a,4}} with a = 1, 2, 3; P24 .. P29 = {{a}, {b}, S\{a,b}} with 1 <= a < b <= 4;  P31 .. P34 = {S\{a}, {a}} with a = 1 .. 4; P4 = {S}. See the Bottomley link for a graphical illustration. - _M. F. Hasler_, Oct 26 2017
		

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  • Moser, Leo, and Max Wyman. An asymptotic formula for the Bell numbers. Trans. Royal Soc. Canada, 49 (1955), 49-53.
  • A. Murthy, Generalization of partition function, introducing Smarandache factor partition, Smarandache Notions Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1-2-3, Spring 2000.
  • Amarnath Murthy and Charles Ashbacher, Generalized Partitions and Some New Ideas on Number Theory and Smarandache Sequences, Hexis, Phoenix; USA 2005. See Section 1.4,1.8.
  • P. Peart, Hankel determinants via Stieltjes matrices. Proceedings of the Thirty-first Southeastern International Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Computing (Boca Raton, FL, 2000). Congr. Numer. 144 (2000), 153-159.
  • A. M. Robert, A Course in p-adic Analysis, Springer-Verlag, 2000; p. 212.
  • G.-C. Rota, Finite Operator Calculus.
  • Frank Ruskey, Jennifer Woodcock and Yuji Yamauchi, Counting and computing the Rand and block distances of pairs of set partitions, Journal of Discrete Algorithms, Volume 16, October 2012, Pages 236-248.
  • N. J. A. Sloane, A Handbook of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1973 (includes this sequence).
  • N. J. A. Sloane and Simon Plouffe, The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1995 (includes this sequence).
  • R. P. Stanley, Enumerative Combinatorics, Cambridge; see Section 1.4 and Example 5.2.4.
  • Abdullahi Umar, On the semigroups of order-decreasing finite full transformations, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 120A (1992), 129-142.
  • Abdullahi Umar, On the semigroups of partial one-to-one order-decreasing finite transformations, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 123A (1993), 355-363.

Crossrefs

Equals row sums of triangle A008277 (Stirling subset numbers).
Partial sums give A005001. a(n) = A123158(n, 0).
See A061462 for powers of 2 dividing a(n).
Rightmost diagonal of triangle A121207. A144293 gives largest prime factor.
Equals row sums of triangle A152432.
Row sums, right and left borders of A212431.
A diagonal of A011971. - N. J. A. Sloane, Jul 31 2012
Diagonal of A102661. - Manfred Boergens, Mar 11 2025
Cf. A054767 (period of this sequence mod n).
Row sums are A048993. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 16 2014
Sequences in the Erné (1974) paper: A000110, A000798, A001035, A001927, A001929, A006056, A006057, A006058, A006059.
Bell polynomials B(n,x): A001861 (x=2), A027710 (x=3), A078944 (x=4), A144180 (x=5), A144223 (x=6), A144263 (x=7), A221159 (x=8).
Cf. A243991 (sum of reciprocals), A085686 (inv. Euler Transf.).

Programs

  • Haskell
    type N = Integer
    n_partitioned_k :: N -> N -> N
    1 `n_partitioned_k` 1 = 1
    1 `n_partitioned_k` _ = 0
    n `n_partitioned_k` k = k * (pred n `n_partitioned_k` k) + (pred n `n_partitioned_k` pred k)
    n_partitioned :: N -> N
    n_partitioned 0 = 1
    n_partitioned n = sum $ map (\k -> n `n_partitioned_k` k) $ [1 .. n]
    -- Felix Denis, Oct 16 2012
    
  • Haskell
    a000110 = sum . a048993_row -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Jun 30 2013
    
  • Julia
    function a(n)
        t = [zeros(BigInt, n+1) for _ in 1:n+1]
        t[1][1] = 1
        for i in 2:n+1
            t[i][1] = t[i-1][i-1]
            for j in 2:i
                t[i][j] = t[i-1][j-1] + t[i][j-1]
            end
        end
        return [t[i][1] for i in 1:n+1]
    end
    print(a(28)) # Paul Muljadi, May 07 2024
    
  • Magma
    [Bell(n): n in [0..40]]; // Vincenzo Librandi, Feb 07 2011
    
  • Maple
    A000110 := proc(n) option remember; if n <= 1 then 1 else add( binomial(n-1,i)*A000110(n-1-i),i=0..n-1); fi; end: # version 1
    A := series(exp(exp(x)-1),x,60): A000110 := n->n!*coeff(A,x,n): # version 2
    A000110:= n-> add(Stirling2(n, k), k=0..n): seq(A000110(n), n=0..22); # version 3, from Zerinvary Lajos, Jun 28 2007
    A000110 := n -> combinat[bell](n): # version 4, from Peter Luschny, Mar 30 2011
    spec:= [S, {S=Set(U, card >= 1), U=Set(Z, card >= 1)}, labeled]: G:={P=Set(Set(Atom, card>0))}: combstruct[gfsolve](G, unlabeled, x): seq(combstruct[count]([P, G, labeled], size=i), i=0..22);  # version 5, Zerinvary Lajos, Dec 16 2007
    BellList := proc(m) local A, P, n; A := [1, 1]; P := [1]; for n from 1 to m - 2 do
    P := ListTools:-PartialSums([A[-1], op(P)]); A := [op(A), P[-1]] od; A end: BellList(29); # Peter Luschny, Mar 24 2022
  • Mathematica
    f[n_] := Sum[ StirlingS2[n, k], {k, 0, n}]; Table[ f[n], {n, 0, 40}] (* Robert G. Wilson v *)
    Table[BellB[n], {n, 0, 40}] (* Harvey P. Dale, Mar 01 2011 *)
    B[0] = 1; B[n_] := 1/E Sum[k^(n - 1)/(k-1)!, {k, 1, Infinity}] (* Dimitri Papadopoulos, Mar 10 2015, edited by M. F. Hasler, Nov 30 2018 *)
    BellB[Range[0,40]] (* Eric W. Weisstein, Aug 10 2017 *)
    b[1] = 1; k = 1; Flatten[{1, Table[Do[j = k; k += b[m]; b[m] = j;, {m, 1, n-1}]; b[n] = k, {n, 1, 40}]}] (* Vaclav Kotesovec, Sep 07 2019 *)
    Table[j! Coefficient[Series[Exp[Exp[x] - 1], {x, 0, 20}], x, j], {j, 0, 20}] (* Nikolaos Pantelidis, Feb 01 2023 *)
    Table[(D[Exp[Exp[x]], {x, n}] /. x -> 0)/E, {n, 0, 20}] (* Joan Ludevid, Nov 05 2024 *)
  • Maxima
    makelist(belln(n),n,0,40); /* Emanuele Munarini, Jul 04 2011 */
    
  • PARI
    {a(n) = my(m); if( n<0, 0, m = contfracpnqn( matrix(2, n\2, i, k, if( i==1, -k*x^2, 1 - (k+1)*x))); polcoeff(1 / (1 - x + m[2,1] / m[1,1]) + x * O(x^n), n))}; /* Michael Somos */
    
  • PARI
    {a(n) = polcoeff( sum( k=0, n, prod( i=1, k, x / (1 - i*x)), x^n * O(x)), n)}; /* Michael Somos, Aug 22 2004 */
    
  • PARI
    a(n)=round(exp(-1)*suminf(k=0,1.0*k^n/k!)) \\ Gottfried Helms, Mar 30 2007 - WARNING! For illustration only: Gives silently a wrong result for n = 42 and an error for n > 42, with standard precision of 38 digits. - M. F. Hasler, Nov 30 2018
    
  • PARI
    {a(n) = if( n<0, 0, n! * polcoeff( exp( exp( x + x * O(x^n)) - 1), n))}; /* Michael Somos, Jun 28 2009 */
    
  • PARI
    Vec(serlaplace(exp(exp('x+O('x^66))-1))) \\ Joerg Arndt, May 26 2012
    
  • PARI
    A000110(n)=sum(k=0,n,stirling(n,k,2)) \\ M. F. Hasler, Nov 30 2018
    
  • Perl
    use bignum;sub a{my($n)=@;my@t=map{[(0)x($n+1)]}0..$n;$t[0][0]=1;for my$i(1..$n){$t[$i][0]=$t[$i-1][$i-1];for my$j(1..$i){$t[$i][$j]=$t[$i-1][$j-1]+$t[$i][$j-1]}}return map{$t[$][0]}0..$n-1}print join(", ",a(28)),"\n" # Paul Muljadi, May 08 2024
  • Python
    # The objective of this implementation is efficiency.
    # m -> [a(0), a(1), ..., a(m)] for m > 0.
    def A000110_list(m):
        A = [0 for i in range(m)]
        A[0] = 1
        R = [1, 1]
        for n in range(1, m):
            A[n] = A[0]
            for k in range(n, 0, -1):
                A[k-1] += A[k]
            R.append(A[0])
        return R
    A000110_list(40) # Peter Luschny, Jan 18 2011
    
  • Python
    # requires python 3.2 or higher. Otherwise use def'n of accumulate in python docs.
    from itertools import accumulate
    A000110, blist, b = [1,1], [1], 1
    for _ in range(20):
        blist = list(accumulate([b]+blist))
        b = blist[-1]
        A000110.append(b) # Chai Wah Wu, Sep 02 2014, updated Chai Wah Wu, Sep 19 2014
    
  • Python
    from sympy import bell
    print([bell(n) for n in range(27)]) # Michael S. Branicky, Dec 15 2021
    
  • Python
    from functools import cache
    @cache
    def a(n, k=0): return int(n < 1) or k*a(n-1, k) + a(n-1, k+1)
    print([a(n) for n in range(27)])  # Peter Luschny, Jun 14 2022
    
  • Sage
    from sage.combinat.expnums import expnums2; expnums2(30, 1) # Zerinvary Lajos, Jun 26 2008
    
  • Sage
    [bell_number(n) for n in (0..40)] # G. C. Greubel, Jun 13 2019
    

Formula

E.g.f.: exp(exp(x) - 1).
Recurrence: a(n+1) = Sum_{k=0..n} a(k)*binomial(n, k).
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} Stirling2(n, k).
a(n) = Sum_{j=0..n-1} (1/(n-1)!)*A000166(j)*binomial(n-1, j)*(n-j)^(n-1). - André F. Labossière, Dec 01 2004
G.f.: (Sum_{k>=0} 1/((1-k*x)*k!))/exp(1) = hypergeom([-1/x], [(x-1)/x], 1)/exp(1) = ((1-2*x)+LaguerreL(1/x, (x-1)/x, 1)+x*LaguerreL(1/x, (2*x-1)/x, 1))*Pi/(x^2*sin(Pi*(2*x-1)/x)), where LaguerreL(mu, nu, z) = (gamma(mu+nu+1)/(gamma(mu+1)*gamma(nu+1)))* hypergeom([-mu], [nu+1], z) is the Laguerre function, the analytic extension of the Laguerre polynomials, for mu not equal to a nonnegative integer. This generating function has an infinite number of poles accumulating in the neighborhood of x=0. - Karol A. Penson, Mar 25 2002
a(n) = exp(-1)*Sum_{k >= 0} k^n/k! [Dobinski]. - Benoit Cloitre, May 19 2002
a(n) is asymptotic to n!*(2 Pi r^2 exp(r))^(-1/2) exp(exp(r)-1) / r^n, where r is the positive root of r exp(r) = n. See, e.g., the Odlyzko reference.
a(n) is asymptotic to b^n*exp(b-n-1/2)*sqrt(b/(b+n)) where b satisfies b*log(b) = n - 1/2 (see Graham, Knuth and Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics, 2nd ed., p. 493). - Benoit Cloitre, Oct 23 2002, corrected by Vaclav Kotesovec, Jan 06 2013
Lovasz (Combinatorial Problems and Exercises, North-Holland, 1993, Section 1.14, Problem 9) gives another asymptotic formula, quoted by Mezo and Baricz. - N. J. A. Sloane, Mar 26 2015
G.f.: Sum_{k>=0} x^k/(Product_{j=1..k} (1-j*x)) (see Klazar for a proof). - Ralf Stephan, Apr 18 2004
a(n+1) = exp(-1)*Sum_{k>=0} (k+1)^(n)/k!. - Gerald McGarvey, Jun 03 2004
For n>0, a(n) = Aitken(n-1, n-1) [i.e., a(n-1, n-1) of Aitken's array (A011971)]. - Gerald McGarvey, Jun 26 2004
a(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} (1/k!)*(Sum_{i=1..k} (-1)^(k-i)*binomial(k, i)*i^n + 0^n). - Paul Barry, Apr 18 2005
a(n) = A032347(n) + A040027(n+1). - Jon Perry, Apr 26 2005
a(n) = (2*n!/(Pi*e))*Im( Integral_{x=0..Pi} e^(e^(e^(ix))) sin(nx) dx ) where Im denotes imaginary part [Cesaro]. - David Callan, Sep 03 2005
O.g.f.: 1/(1-x-x^2/(1-2*x-2*x^2/(1-3*x-3*x^2/(.../(1-n*x-n*x^2/(...)))))) (continued fraction due to Ph. Flajolet). - Paul D. Hanna, Jan 17 2006
From Karol A. Penson, Jan 14 2007: (Start)
Representation of Bell numbers B(n), n=1,2,..., as special values of hypergeometric function of type (n-1)F(n-1), in Maple notation: B(n)=exp(-1)*hypergeom([2,2,...,2],[1,1,...,1],1), n=1,2,..., i.e., having n-1 parameters all equal to 2 in the numerator, having n-1 parameters all equal to 1 in the denominator and the value of the argument equal to 1.
Examples:
B(1)=exp(-1)*hypergeom([],[],1)=1
B(2)=exp(-1)*hypergeom([2],[1],1)=2
B(3)=exp(-1)*hypergeom([2,2],[1,1],1)=5
B(4)=exp(-1)*hypergeom([2,2,2],[1,1,1],1)=15
B(5)=exp(-1)*hypergeom([2,2,2,2],[1,1,1,1],1)=52
(Warning: this formula is correct but its application by a computer may not yield exact results, especially with a large number of parameters.)
(End)
a(n+1) = 1 + Sum_{k=0..n-1} Sum_{i=0..k} binomial(k,i)*(2^(k-i))*a(i). - Yalcin Aktar, Feb 27 2007
a(n) = [1,0,0,...,0] T^(n-1) [1,1,1,...,1]', where T is the n X n matrix with main diagonal {1,2,3,...,n}, 1's on the diagonal immediately above and 0's elsewhere. [Meier]
a(n) = ((2*n!)/(Pi * e)) * ImaginaryPart(Integral[from 0 to Pi](e^e^e^(i*theta))*sin(n*theta) dtheta). - Jonathan Vos Post, Aug 27 2007
From Tom Copeland, Oct 10 2007: (Start)
a(n) = T(n,1) = Sum_{j=0..n} S2(n,j) = Sum_{j=0..n} E(n,j) * Lag(n,-1,j-n) = Sum_{j=0..n} [ E(n,j)/n! ] * [ n!*Lag(n,-1, j-n) ] where T(n,x) are the Bell / Touchard / exponential polynomials; S2(n,j), the Stirling numbers of the second kind; E(n,j), the Eulerian numbers; and Lag(n,x,m), the associated Laguerre polynomials of order m. Note that E(n,j)/n! = E(n,j) / (Sum_{k=0..n} E(n,k)).
The Eulerian numbers count the permutation ascents and the expression [n!*Lag(n,-1, j-n)] is A086885 with a simple combinatorial interpretation in terms of seating arrangements, giving a combinatorial interpretation to n!*a(n) = Sum_{j=0..n} E(n,j) * [n!*Lag(n,-1, j-n)].
(End)
Define f_1(x), f_2(x), ... such that f_1(x)=e^x and for n=2,3,... f_{n+1}(x) = (d/dx)(x*f_n(x)). Then for Bell numbers B_n we have B_n=1/e*f_n(1). - Milan Janjic, May 30 2008
a(n) = (n-1)! Sum_{k=1..n} a(n-k)/((n-k)! (k-1)!) where a(0)=1. - Thomas Wieder, Sep 09 2008
a(n+k) = Sum_{m=0..n} Stirling2(n,m) Sum_{r=0..k} binomial(k,r) m^r a(k-r). - David Pasino (davepasino(AT)yahoo.com), Jan 25 2009. (Umbrally, this may be written as a(n+k) = Sum_{m=0..n} Stirling2(n,m) (a+m)^k. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 07 2009)
Sum_{k=1..n-1} a(n)*binomial(n,k) = Sum_{j=1..n}(j+1)*Stirling2(n,j+1). - [Zhao] - R. J. Mathar, Jun 24 2024
From Thomas Wieder, Feb 25 2009: (Start)
a(n) = Sum_{k_1=0..n+1} Sum_{k_2=0..n}...Sum_{k_i=0..n-i}...Sum_{k_n=0..1}
delta(k_1,k_2,...,k_i,...,k_n)
where delta(k_1,k_2,...,k_i,...,k_n) = 0 if any k_i > k_(i+1) and k_(i+1) <> 0
and delta(k_1,k_2,...,k_i,...,k_n) = 1 otherwise.
(End)
Let A be the upper Hessenberg matrix of order n defined by: A[i,i-1]=-1, A[i,j]:=binomial(j-1,i-1), (i<=j), and A[i,j]=0 otherwise. Then, for n>=1, a(n)=det(A). - Milan Janjic, Jul 08 2010
G.f. satisfies A(x) = (x/(1-x))*A(x/(1-x)) + 1. - Vladimir Kruchinin, Nov 28 2011
G.f.: 1 / (1 - x / (1 - 1*x / (1 - x / (1 - 2*x / (1 - x / (1 - 3*x / ... )))))). - Michael Somos, May 12 2012
a(n+1) = Sum_{m=0..n} Stirling2(n, m)*(m+1), n >= 0. Compare with the third formula for a(n) above. Here Stirling2 = A048993. - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 03 2015
G.f.: (-1)^(1/x)*((-1/x)!/e + (!(-1-1/x))/x) where z! and !z are factorial and subfactorial generalized to complex arguments. - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Apr 24 2013
The following formulas were proposed during the period Dec 2011 - Oct 2013 by Sergei N. Gladkovskii: (Start)
E.g.f.: exp(exp(x)-1) = 1 + x/(G(0)-x); G(k) = (k+1)*Bell(k) + x*Bell(k+1) - x*(k+1)*Bell(k)*Bell(k+2)/G(k+1) (continued fraction).
G.f.: W(x) = (1-1/(G(0)+1))/exp(1); G(k) = x*k^2 + (3*x-1)*k - 2 + x - (k+1)*(x*k+x-1)^2/G(k+1); (continued fraction Euler's kind, 1-step).
G.f.: W(x) = (1 + G(0)/(x^2-3*x+2))/exp(1); G(k) = 1 - (x*k+x-1)/( ((k+1)!) - (((k+1)!)^2)*(1-x-k*x+(k+1)!)/( ((k+1)!)*(1-x-k*x+(k+1)!) - (x*k+2*x-1)*(1-2*x-k*x+(k+2)!)/G(k+1))); (continued fraction).
G.f.: A(x) = 1/(1 - x/(1-x/(1 + x/G(0)))); G(k) = x - 1 + x*k + x*(x-1+x*k)/G(k+1); (continued fraction, 1-step).
G.f.: -1/U(0) where U(k) = x*k - 1 + x - x^2*(k+1)/U(k+1); (continued fraction, 1-step).
G.f.: 1 + x/U(0) where U(k) = 1 - x*(k+2) - x^2*(k+1)/U(k+1); (continued fraction, 1-step).
G.f.: 1 + 1/(U(0) - x) where U(k) = 1 + x - x*(k+1)/(1 - x/U(k+1)); (continued fraction, 2-step).
G.f.: 1 + x/(U(0)-x) where U(k) = 1 - x*(k+1)/(1 - x/U(k+1)); (continued fraction, 2-step).
G.f.: 1/G(0) where G(k) = 1 - x/(1 - x*(2*k+1)/(1 - x/(1 - x*(2*k+2)/G(k+1) ))); (continued fraction).
G.f.: G(0)/(1+x) where G(k) = 1 - 2*x*(k+1)/((2*k+1)*(2*x*k-1) - x*(2*k+1)*(2*k+3)*(2*x*k-1)/(x*(2*k+3) - 2*(k+1)*(2*x*k+x-1)/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: -(1+2*x) * Sum_{k >= 0} x^(2*k)*(4*x*k^2-2*k-2*x-1) / ((2*k+1) * (2*x*k-1)) * A(k) / B(k) where A(k) = Product_{p=0..k} (2*p+1), B(k) = Product_{p=0..k} (2*p-1) * (2*x*p-x-1) * (2*x*p-2*x-1).
G.f.: (G(0) - 1)/(x-1) where G(k) = 1 - 1/(1-k*x)/(1-x/(x-1/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: 1 + x*(S-1) where S = Sum_{k>=0} ( 1 + (1-x)/(1-x-x*k) )*(x/(1-x))^k/Product_{i=0..k-1} (1-x-x*i)/(1-x).
G.f.: (G(0) - 2)/(2*x-1) where G(k) = 2 - 1/(1-k*x)/(1-x/(x-1/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: -G(0) where G(k) = 1 - (x*k - 2)/(x*k - 1 - x*(x*k - 1)/(x + (x*k - 2)/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: G(0) where G(k) = 2 - (2*x*k - 1)/(x*k - 1 - x*(x*k - 1)/(x + (2*x*k - 1)/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: (G(0) - 1)/(1+x) where G(k) = 1 + 1/(1-k*x)/(1-x/(x+1/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: 1/(x*(1-x)*G(0)) - 1/x where G(k) = 1 - x/(x - 1/(1 + 1/(x*k-1)/G(k+1) )); (continued fraction).
G.f.: 1 + x/( Q(0) - x ) where Q(k) = 1 + x/( x*k - 1 )/Q(k+1); (continued fraction).
G.f.: 1+x/Q(0), where Q(k) = 1 - x - x/(1 - x*(k+1)/Q(k+1)); (continued fraction).
G.f.: 1/(1-x*Q(0)), where Q(k) = 1 + x/(1 - x + x*(k+1)/(x - 1/Q(k+1))); (continued fraction).
G.f.: Q(0)/(1-x), where Q(k) = 1 - x^2*(k+1)/( x^2*(k+1) - (1-x*(k+1))*(1-x*(k+2))/Q(k+1) ); (continued fraction).
(End)
a(n) ~ exp(exp(W(n))-n-1)*n^n/W(n)^(n+1/2), where W(x) is the Lambert W-function. - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Nov 01 2015
a(n) ~ n^n * exp(n/W(n)-1-n) / (sqrt(1+W(n)) * W(n)^n). - Vaclav Kotesovec, Nov 13 2015
From Natalia L. Skirrow, Apr 13 2025: (Start)
By taking logarithmic derivatives of the equivalent to Kotesovec's asymptotic for Bell polynomials at x=1, we obtain properties of the nth row of A008277 as a statistical distribution (where W=W(n),X=W(n)+1)
a(n+1)/a(n) ~ n/W + W/(2*(W+1)^2) is 1 more than the expectation.
(2*a(n+1)+a(n+2))/a(n) - (a(n+1)/a(n))^2 - a(n+2)/a(n+1) ~ n/(W*X)+1/(2*X^2)-3/(2*X^3)+1/X^4 is 1 more than the variance.
(This is a complete asymptotic characterisation, since they converge to normal distributions; see Harper, 1967)
(End)
a(n) are the coefficients in the asymptotic expansion of -exp(-1)*(-1)^x*x*Gamma(-x,0,-1), where Gamma(a,z0,z1) is the generalized incomplete Gamma function. - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Nov 12 2015
a(n) = 1 + floor(exp(-1) * Sum_{k=1..2*n} k^n/k!). - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Nov 13 2015
a(p^m) == m+1 (mod p) when p is prime and m >= 1 (see Lemma 3.1 in the Hurst/Schultz reference). - Seiichi Manyama, Jun 01 2016
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} hypergeom([1, -k], [], 1)*Stirling2(n+1, k+1) = Sum_{k=0..n} A182386(k)*Stirling2(n+1, k+1). - Mélika Tebni, Jul 02 2022
For n >= 1, a(n) = Sum_{i=0..n-1} a(i)*A074664(n-i). - Davide Rotondo, Apr 21 2024
a(n) is the n-th derivative of e^e^x divided by e at point x=0. - Joan Ludevid, Nov 05 2024

Extensions

Edited by M. F. Hasler, Nov 30 2018

A000225 a(n) = 2^n - 1. (Sometimes called Mersenne numbers, although that name is usually reserved for A001348.)

Original entry on oeis.org

0, 1, 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, 127, 255, 511, 1023, 2047, 4095, 8191, 16383, 32767, 65535, 131071, 262143, 524287, 1048575, 2097151, 4194303, 8388607, 16777215, 33554431, 67108863, 134217727, 268435455, 536870911, 1073741823, 2147483647, 4294967295, 8589934591
Offset: 0

Keywords

Comments

This is the Gaussian binomial coefficient [n,1] for q=2.
Number of rank-1 matroids over S_n.
Numbers k such that the k-th central binomial coefficient is odd: A001405(k) mod 2 = 1. - Labos Elemer, Mar 12 2003
This gives the (zero-based) positions of odd terms in the following convolution sequences: A000108, A007460, A007461, A007463, A007464, A061922.
Also solutions (with minimum number of moves) for the problem of Benares Temple, i.e., three diamond needles with n discs ordered by decreasing size on the first needle to place in the same order on the third one, without ever moving more than one disc at a time and without ever placing one disc at the top of a smaller one. - Xavier Acloque, Oct 18 2003
a(0) = 0, a(1) = 1; a(n) = smallest number such that a(n)-a(m) == 0 (mod (n-m+1)), for all m. - Amarnath Murthy, Oct 23 2003
Binomial transform of [1, 1/2, 1/3, ...] = [1/1, 3/2, 7/3, ...]; (2^n - 1)/n, n=1,2,3, ... - Gary W. Adamson, Apr 28 2005
Numbers whose binary representation is 111...1. E.g., the 7th term is (2^7) - 1 = 127 = 1111111 (in base 2). - Alexandre Wajnberg, Jun 08 2005
Number of nonempty subsets of a set with n elements. - Michael Somos, Sep 03 2006
For n >= 2, a(n) is the least Fibonacci n-step number that is not a power of 2. - Rick L. Shepherd, Nov 19 2007
Let P(A) be the power set of an n-element set A. Then a(n+1) = the number of pairs of elements {x,y} of P(A) for which x and y are disjoint and for which either x is a subset of y or y is a subset of x. - Ross La Haye, Jan 10 2008
A simpler way to state this is that it is the number of pairs (x,y) where at least one of x and y is the empty set. - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Oct 28 2011
2^n-1 is the sum of the elements in a Pascal triangle of depth n. - Brian Lewis (bsl04(AT)uark.edu), Feb 26 2008
Sequence generalized: a(n) = (A^n -1)/(A-1), n >= 1, A integer >= 2. This sequence has A=2; A003462 has A=3; A002450 has A=4; A003463 has A=5; A003464 has A=6; A023000 has A=7; A023001 has A=8; A002452 has A=9; A002275 has A=10; A016123 has A=11; A016125 has A=12; A091030 has A=13; A135519 has A=14; A135518 has A=15; A131865 has A=16; A091045 has A=17; A064108 has A=20. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Mar 03 2008
a(n) is also a Mersenne prime A000668 when n is a prime number in A000043. - Omar E. Pol, Aug 31 2008
a(n) is also a Mersenne number A001348 when n is prime. - Omar E. Pol, Sep 05 2008
With offset 1, = row sums of triangle A144081; and INVERT transform of A009545 starting with offset 1; where A009545 = expansion of sin(x)*exp(x). - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 10 2008
Numbers n such that A000120(n)/A070939(n) = 1. - Ctibor O. Zizka, Oct 15 2008
For n > 0, sequence is equal to partial sums of A000079; a(n) = A000203(A000079(n-1)). - Lekraj Beedassy, May 02 2009
Starting with offset 1 = the Jacobsthal sequence, A001045, (1, 1, 3, 5, 11, 21, ...) convolved with (1, 2, 2, 2, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, May 23 2009
Numbers n such that n=2*phi(n+1)-1. - Farideh Firoozbakht, Jul 23 2009
a(n) = (a(n-1)+1)-th odd numbers = A005408(a(n-1)) for n >= 1. - Jaroslav Krizek, Sep 11 2009
Partial sums of a(n) for n >= 0 are A000295(n+1). Partial sums of a(n) for n >= 1 are A000295(n+1) and A130103(n+1). a(n) = A006127(n) - (n+1). - Jaroslav Krizek, Oct 16 2009
If n is even a(n) mod 3 = 0. This follows from the congruences 2^(2k) - 1 ~ 2*2*...*2 - 1 ~ 4*4*...*4 - 1 ~ 1*1*...*1 - 1 ~ 0 (mod 3). (Note that 2*2*...*2 has an even number of terms.) - Washington Bomfim, Oct 31 2009
Let A be the Hessenberg matrix of order n, defined by: A[1,j]=1, A[i,i]:=2,(i>1), A[i,i-1]=-1, and A[i,j]=0 otherwise. Then, for n >= 1, a(n)=det(A). - Milan Janjic, Jan 26 2010
This is the sequence A(0,1;1,2;2) = A(0,1;3,-2;0) 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
a(n) = S(n+1,2), a Stirling number of the second kind. See the example below. - Dennis P. Walsh, Mar 29 2011
Entries of row a(n) in Pascal's triangle are all odd, while entries of row a(n)-1 have alternating parities of the form odd, even, odd, even, ..., odd.
Define the bar operation as an operation on signed permutations that flips the sign of each entry. Then a(n+1) is the number of signed permutations of length 2n that are equal to the bar of their reverse-complements and avoid the set of patterns {(-2,-1), (-1,+2), (+2,+1)}. (See the Hardt and Troyka reference.) - Justin M. Troyka, Aug 13 2011
A159780(a(n)) = n and A159780(m) < n for m < a(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Oct 21 2011
This sequence is also the number of proper subsets of a set with n elements. - Mohammad K. Azarian, Oct 27 2011
a(n) is the number k such that the number of iterations of the map k -> (3k +1)/2 == 1 (mod 2) until reaching (3k +1)/2 == 0 (mod 2) equals n. (see the Collatz problem). - Michel Lagneau, Jan 18 2012
For integers a, b, denote by a<+>b the least c >= a such that Hd(a,c) = b (note that, generally speaking, a<+>b differs from b<+>a). Then a(n+1)=a(n)<+>1. Thus this sequence is the Hamming analog of nonnegative integers. - Vladimir Shevelev, Feb 13 2012
Pisano period lengths: 1, 1, 2, 1, 4, 2, 3, 1, 6, 4, 10, 2, 12, 3, 4, 1, 8, 6, 18, 4, ... apparently A007733. - R. J. Mathar, Aug 10 2012
Start with n. Each n generates a sublist {n-1,n-2,...,1}. Each element of each sublist also generates a sublist. Take the sum of all. E.g., 3->{2,1} and 2->{1}, so a(3)=3+2+1+1=7. - Jon Perry, Sep 02 2012
This is the Lucas U(P=3,Q=2) sequence. - R. J. Mathar, Oct 24 2012
The Mersenne numbers >= 7 are all Brazilian numbers, as repunits in base two. See Proposition 1 & 5.2 in Links: "Les nombres brésiliens". - Bernard Schott, Dec 26 2012
Number of line segments after n-th stage in the H tree. - Omar E. Pol, Feb 16 2013
Row sums of triangle in A162741. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 16 2013
a(n) is the highest power of 2 such that 2^a(n) divides (2^n)!. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Aug 17 2013
In computer programming, these are the only unsigned numbers such that k&(k+1)=0, where & is the bitwise AND operator and numbers are expressed in binary. - Stanislav Sykora, Nov 29 2013
Minimal number of moves needed to interchange n frogs in the frogs problem (see for example the NRICH 1246 link or the Britton link below). - N. J. A. Sloane, Jan 04 2014
a(n) !== 4 (mod 5); a(n) !== 10 (mod 11); a(n) !== 2, 4, 5, 6 (mod 7). - Carmine Suriano, Apr 06 2014
After 0, antidiagonal sums of the array formed by partial sums of integers (1, 2, 3, 4, ...). - Luciano Ancora, Apr 24 2015
a(n+1) equals the number of ternary words of length n avoiding 01,02. - Milan Janjic, Dec 16 2015
With offset 0 and another initial 0, the n-th term of 0, 0, 1, 3, 7, 15, ... is the number of commas required in the fully-expanded von Neumann definition of the ordinal number n. For example, 4 := {0, 1, 2, 3} := {{}, {{}}, {{}, {{}}}, {{}, {{}}, {{}, {{}}}}}, which uses seven commas. Also, for n>0, a(n) is the total number of symbols required in the fully-expanded von Neumann definition of ordinal n - 1, where a single symbol (as usual) is always used to represent the empty set and spaces are ignored. E.g., a(5) = 31, the total such symbols for the ordinal 4. - Rick L. Shepherd, May 07 2016
With the quantum integers defined by [n+1]A001045%20are%20given%20by%20q%20=%20i%20*%20sqrt(2)%20for%20i%5E2%20=%20-1.%20Cf.%20A239473.%20-%20_Tom%20Copeland">q = (q^(n+1) - q^(-n-1)) / (q - q^(-1)), the Mersenne numbers are a(n+1) = q^n [n+1]_q with q = sqrt(2), whereas the signed Jacobsthal numbers A001045 are given by q = i * sqrt(2) for i^2 = -1. Cf. A239473. - _Tom Copeland, Sep 05 2016
For n>1: numbers n such that n - 1 divides sigma(n + 1). - Juri-Stepan Gerasimov, Oct 08 2016
This is also the second column of the Stirling2 triangle A008277 (see also A048993). - Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 21 2017
Except for the initial terms, the decimal representation of the x-axis of the n-th stage of growth of the two-dimensional cellular automaton defined by "Rule 659", "Rule 721" and "Rule 734", based on the 5-celled von Neumann neighborhood initialized with a single on cell. - Robert Price, Mar 14 2017
a(n), n > 1, is the number of maximal subsemigroups of the monoid of order-preserving partial injective mappings on a set with n elements. - James Mitchell and Wilf A. Wilson, Jul 21 2017
Also the number of independent vertex sets and vertex covers in the complete bipartite graph K_{n-1,n-1}. - Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 21 2017
Sum_{k=0..n} p^k is the determinant of n X n matrix M_(i, j) = binomial(i + j - 1, j)*p + binomial(i+j-1, i), in this case p=2 (empirical observation). - Tony Foster III, May 11 2019
The rational numbers r(n) = a(n+1)/2^(n+1) = a(n+1)/A000079(n+1) appear also as root of the n-th iteration f^{[n]}(c; x) = 2^(n+1)*x - a(n+1)*c of f(c; x) = f^{[0]}(c; x) = 2*x - c as r(n)*c. This entry is motivated by a riddle of Johann Peter Hebel (1760 - 1826): Erstes Rechnungsexempel(Ein merkwürdiges Rechnungs-Exempel) from 1803, with c = 24 and n = 2, leading to the root r(2)*24 = 21 as solution. See the link and reference. For the second problem, also involving the present sequence, see a comment in A130330. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 28 2019
a(n) is the sum of the smallest elements of all subsets of {1,2,..,n} that contain n. For example, a(3)=7; the subsets of {1,2,3} that contain 3 are {3}, {1,3}, {2,3}, {1,2,3}, and the sum of smallest elements is 7. - Enrique Navarrete, Aug 21 2020
a(n-1) is the number of nonempty subsets of {1,2,..,n} which don't have an element that is the size of the set. For example, for n = 4, a(3) = 7 and the subsets are {2}, {3}, {4}, {1,3}, {1,4}, {3,4}, {1,2,4}. - Enrique Navarrete, Nov 21 2020
From Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 04 2021: (Start)
Also the number of dominating sets in the complete graph K_n.
Also the number of minimum dominating sets in the n-helm graph for n >= 3. (End)
Conjecture: except for a(2)=3, numbers m such that 2^(m+1) - 2^j - 2^k - 1 is composite for all 0 <= j < k <= m. - Chai Wah Wu, Sep 08 2021
a(n) is the number of three-in-a-rows passing through a corner cell in n-dimensional tic-tac-toe. - Ben Orlin, Mar 15 2022
From Vladimir Pletser, Jan 27 2023: (Start)
a(n) == 1 (mod 30) for n == 1 (mod 4);
a(n) == 7 (mod 120) for n == 3 (mod 4);
(a(n) - 1)/30 = (a(n+2) - 7)/120 for n odd;
(a(n) - 1)/30 = (a(n+2) - 7)/120 = A131865(m) for n == 1 (mod 4) and m >= 0 with A131865(0) = 0. (End)
a(n) is the number of n-digit numbers whose smallest decimal digit is 8. - Stefano Spezia, Nov 15 2023
Also, number of nodes in a perfect binary tree of height n-1, or: number of squares (or triangles) after the n-th step of the construction of a Pythagorean tree: Start with a segment. At each step, construct squares having the most recent segment(s) as base, and isosceles right triangles having the opposite side of the squares as hypotenuse ("on top" of each square). The legs of these triangles will serve as the segments which are the bases of the squares in the next step. - M. F. Hasler, Mar 11 2024
a(n) is the length of the longest path in the n-dimensional hypercube. - Christian Barrientos, Apr 13 2024
a(n) is the diameter of the n-Hanoi graph. Equivalently, a(n) is the largest minimum number of moves between any two states of the Towers of Hanoi problem (aka problem of Benares Temple described above). - Allan Bickle, Aug 09 2024

Examples

			For n=3, a(3)=S(4,2)=7, a Stirling number of the second kind, since there are 7 ways to partition {a,b,c,d} into 2 nonempty subsets, namely,
  {a}U{b,c,d}, {b}U{a,c,d}, {c}U{a,b,d}, {d}U{a,b,c}, {a,b}U{c,d}, {a,c}U{b,d}, and {a,d}U{b,c}. - _Dennis P. Walsh_, Mar 29 2011
From _Justin M. Troyka_, Aug 13 2011: (Start)
Since a(3) = 7, there are 7 signed permutations of 4 that are equal to the bar of their reverse-complements and avoid {(-2,-1), (-1,+2), (+2,+1)}. These are:
  (+1,+2,-3,-4),
  (+1,+3,-2,-4),
  (+1,-3,+2,-4),
  (+2,+4,-1,-3),
  (+3,+4,-1,-2),
  (-3,+1,-4,+2),
  (-3,-4,+1,+2). (End)
G.f. = x + 3*x^2 + 7*x^3 + 15*x^4 + 31*x^5 + 63*x^6 + 127*x^7 + ...
For the Towers of Hanoi problem with 2 disks, the moves are as follows, so a(2) = 3.
12|_|_ -> 2|1|_ -> _|1|2 -> _|_|12  - _Allan Bickle_, Aug 07 2024
		

References

  • P. Bachmann, Niedere Zahlentheorie (1902, 1910), reprinted Chelsea, NY, 1968, vol. 2, p. 75.
  • Ralph P. Grimaldi, Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics: An Applied Introduction, Fifth Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2004, p. 134.
  • Jan Gullberg, Mathematics from the Birth of Numbers, W. W. Norton & Co., NY & London, 1997, §3.2 Prime Numbers, p. 79.
  • Johann Peter Hebel, Gesammelte Werke in sechs Bänden, Herausgeber: Jan Knopf, Franz Littmann und Hansgeorg Schmidt-Bergmann unter Mitarbeit von Ester Stern, Wallstein Verlag, 2019. Band 3, S. 20-21, Loesung, S. 36-37. See also the link below.
  • Paulo Ribenboim, The Little Book of Bigger Primes, Springer-Verlag NY 2004. See pp. 46, 60, 75-83.
  • N. J. A. Sloane, A Handbook of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1973 (includes this sequence).
  • N. J. A. Sloane and Simon Plouffe, The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1995 (includes this sequence).
  • James J. Tattersall, Elementary Number Theory in Nine Chapters, Cambridge University Press, 1999, page 141.
  • D. Wells, The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers, "Tower of Hanoi", Penguin Books, 1987, pp. 112-113.

Crossrefs

Cf. A000043 (Mersenne exponents).
Cf. A000668 (Mersenne primes).
Cf. A001348 (Mersenne numbers with n prime).
Cf. a(n)=A112492(n, 2). Rightmost column of A008969.
a(n) = A118654(n, 1) = A118654(n-1, 3), for n > 0.
Subsequence of A132781.
Smallest number whose base b sum of digits is n: this sequence (b=2), A062318 (b=3), A180516 (b=4), A181287 (b=5), A181288 (b=6), A181303 (b=7), A165804 (b=8), A140576 (b=9), A051885 (b=10).
Cf. A008277, A048993 (columns k=2), A000918, A130330.
Cf. A000225, A029858, A058809, A375256 (Hanoi graphs).

Programs

  • Haskell
    a000225 = (subtract 1) . (2 ^)
    a000225_list = iterate ((+ 1) . (* 2)) 0
    -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 20 2012
    
  • Maple
    A000225 := n->2^n-1; [ seq(2^n-1,n=0..50) ];
    A000225:=1/(2*z-1)/(z-1); # Simon Plouffe in his 1992 dissertation, sequence starting at a(1)
  • Mathematica
    a[n_] := 2^n - 1; Table[a[n], {n, 0, 30}] (* Stefan Steinerberger, Mar 30 2006 *)
    Array[2^# - 1 &, 50, 0] (* Joseph Biberstine (jrbibers(AT)indiana.edu), Dec 26 2006 *)
    NestList[2 # + 1 &, 0, 32] (* Robert G. Wilson v, Feb 28 2011 *)
    2^Range[0, 20] - 1 (* Eric W. Weisstein, Jul 17 2017 *)
    LinearRecurrence[{3, -2}, {1, 3}, 20] (* Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 21 2017 *)
    CoefficientList[Series[1/(1 - 3 x + 2 x^2), {x, 0, 20}], x] (* Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 21 2017 *)
  • PARI
    A000225(n) = 2^n-1  \\ Michael B. Porter, Oct 27 2009
    
  • PARI
    concat(0, Vec(x/((1-2*x)*(1-x)) + O(x^100))) \\ Altug Alkan, Oct 28 2015
    
  • Python
    def A000225(n): return (1<Chai Wah Wu, Jul 06 2022
  • SageMath
    def isMersenne(n): return n == sum([(1 - b) << s for (s, b) in enumerate((n+1).bits())]) # Peter Luschny, Sep 01 2019
    

Formula

G.f.: x/((1-2*x)*(1-x)).
E.g.f.: exp(2*x) - exp(x).
E.g.f. if offset 1: ((exp(x)-1)^2)/2.
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n-1} 2^k. - Paul Barry, May 26 2003
a(n) = a(n-1) + 2*a(n-2) + 2, a(0)=0, a(1)=1. - Paul Barry, Jun 06 2003
Let b(n) = (-1)^(n-1)*a(n). Then b(n) = Sum_{i=1..n} i!*i*Stirling2(n,i)*(-1)^(i-1). E.g.f. of b(n): (exp(x)-1)/exp(2x). - Mario Catalani (mario.catalani(AT)unito.it), Dec 19 2003
a(n+1) = 2*a(n) + 1, a(0) = 0.
a(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} binomial(n, k).
a(n) = n + Sum_{i=0..n-1} a(i); a(0) = 0. - Rick L. Shepherd, Aug 04 2004
a(n+1) = (n+1)*Sum_{k=0..n} binomial(n, k)/(k+1). - Paul Barry, Aug 06 2004
a(n+1) = Sum_{k=0..n} binomial(n+1, k+1). - Paul Barry, Aug 23 2004
Inverse binomial transform of A001047. Also U sequence of Lucas sequence L(3, 2). - Ross La Haye, Feb 07 2005
a(n) = A099393(n-1) - A020522(n-1) for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 07 2006
a(n) = A119258(n,n-1) for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, May 11 2006
a(n) = 3*a(n-1) - 2*a(n-2); a(0)=0, a(1)=1. - Lekraj Beedassy, Jun 07 2006
Sum_{n>0} 1/a(n) = 1.606695152... = A065442, see A038631. - Philippe Deléham, Jun 27 2006
Stirling_2(n-k,2) starting from n=k+1. - Artur Jasinski, Nov 18 2006
a(n) = A125118(n,1) for n > 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 21 2006
a(n) = StirlingS2(n+1,2). - Ross La Haye, Jan 10 2008
a(n) = A024036(n)/A000051(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 14 2009
a(n) = A024088(n)/A001576(n). -Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 15 2009
a(2*n) = a(n)*A000051(n); a(n) = A173787(n,0). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Feb 28 2010
For n > 0: A179857(a(n)) = A024036(n) and A179857(m) < A024036(n) for m < a(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 31 2010
From Enrique Pérez Herrero, Aug 21 2010: (Start)
a(n) = J_n(2), where J_n is the n-th Jordan Totient function: (A007434, is J_2).
a(n) = Sum_{d|2} d^n*mu(2/d). (End)
A036987(a(n)) = 1. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 06 2012
a(n+1) = A044432(n) + A182028(n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 07 2012
a(n) = A007283(n)/3 - 1. - Martin Ettl, Nov 11 2012
a(n+1) = A001317(n) + A219843(n); A219843(a(n)) = 0. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Nov 30 2012
a(n) = det(|s(i+2,j+1)|, 1 <= i,j <= n-1), where s(n,k) are Stirling numbers of the first kind. - Mircea Merca, Apr 06 2013
G.f.: Q(0), where Q(k) = 1 - 1/(4^k - 2*x*16^k/(2*x*4^k - 1/(1 - 1/(2*4^k - 8*x*16^k/(4*x*4^k - 1/Q(k+1)))))); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, May 22 2013
E.g.f.: Q(0), where Q(k) = 1 - 1/(2^k - 2*x*4^k/(2*x*2^k - (k+1)/Q(k+1))); (continued fraction).
G.f.: Q(0), where Q(k) = 1 - 1/(2^k - 2*x*4^k/(2*x*2^k - 1/Q(k+1))); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, May 23 2013
a(n) = A000203(2^(n-1)), n >= 1. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Aug 17 2013
a(n) = Sum_{t_1+2*t_2+...+n*t_n=n} n*multinomial(t_1+t_2 +...+t_n,t_1,t_2,...,t_n)/(t_1+t_2 +...+t_n). - Mircea Merca, Dec 06 2013
a(0) = 0; a(n) = a(n-1) + 2^(n-1) for n >= 1. - Fred Daniel Kline, Feb 09 2014
a(n) = A125128(n) - A000325(n) + 1. - Miquel Cerda, Aug 07 2016
From Ilya Gutkovskiy, Aug 07 2016: (Start)
Binomial transform of A057427.
Sum_{n>=0} a(n)/n! = A090142. (End)
a(n) = A000918(n) + 1. - Miquel Cerda, Aug 09 2016
a(n+1) = (A095151(n+1) - A125128(n))/2. - Miquel Cerda, Aug 12 2016
a(n) = (A079583(n) - A000325(n+1))/2. - Miquel Cerda, Aug 15 2016
Convolution of binomial coefficient C(n,a(k)) with itself is C(n,a(k+1)) for all k >= 3. - Anton Zakharov, Sep 05 2016
a(n) = (A083706(n-1) + A000325(n))/2. - Miquel Cerda, Sep 30 2016
a(n) = A005803(n) + A005408(n-1). - Miquel Cerda, Nov 25 2016
a(n) = A279396(n+2,2). - Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 10 2017
a(n) = n + Sum_{j=1..n-1} (n-j)*2^(j-1). See a Jun 14 2017 formula for A000918(n+1) with an interpretation. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 14 2017
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n-1} Sum_{i=0..n-1} C(k,i). - Wesley Ivan Hurt, Sep 21 2017
a(n+m) = a(n)*a(m) + a(n) + a(m). - Yuchun Ji, Jul 27 2018
a(n+m) = a(n+1)*a(m) - 2*a(n)*a(m-1). - Taras Goy, Dec 23 2018
a(n+1) is the determinant of n X n matrix M_(i, j) = binomial(i + j - 1, j)*2 + binomial(i+j-1, i) (empirical observation). - Tony Foster III, May 11 2019
From Peter Bala, Jun 27 2025: (Start)
For n >= 1, a(3*n)/a(n) = A001576(n), a(4*n)/a(n) = A034496(n), a(5*n)/a(n) = A020514(n) a(6*n)/a(n) = A034665(n), a(7*n)/a(n) = A020516(n) and a(8*n)/a(n) = A034674(n).
exp( Sum_{n >= 1} a(2*n)/a(n)*x^n/n ) = Sum_{n >= 0} a(n+1)*x^n.
Modulo differences in offsets, exp( Sum_{n >= 1} a(k*n)/a(n)*x^n/n ) is the o.g.f. of A006095 (k = 3), A006096 (k = 4), A006097 (k = 5), A006110 (k = 6), A022189 (k = 7), A022190 (k = 8), A022191 (k = 9) and A022192 (k = 10).
The following are all examples of telescoping series:
Sum_{n >= 1} 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+1)) = 1; Sum_{n >= 1} 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+1)*a(n+2)) = 1/9.
In general, for k >= 1, Sum_{n >= 1} 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+1)*...*a(n+k)) = 1/(a(1)*a(2)*...*a(k)*a(k)).
Sum_{n >= 1} 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+2)) = 4/9, since 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+2)) = b(n) - b(n+1), where b(n) = (2/3)*(3*2^(n-1) - 1)/((2^(n+1) - 1)*(2^n - 1)).
Sum_{n >= 1} (-2)^n/(a(n)*a(n+2)) = -2/9, since (-2)^n/(a(n)*a(n+2)) = c(n) - c(n+1), where c(n) = (1/3)*(-2)^n/((2^(n+1) - 1)*(2^n - 1)).
Sum_{n >= 1} 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+4)) = 18/175, since 2^n/(a(n)*a(n+4)) = d(n) - d(n+1), where d(n) = (120*8^n - 140*4^n + 45*2^n - 4)/(15*(2^n - 1)*(2^(n+1) - 1)*(2^(n+2) - 1)*(2^(n+3) - 1)).
Sum_{n >= 1} (-2)^n/(a(n)*a(n+4)) = -26/525, since (-2)^n/(a(n)*a(n+4)) = e(n) - e(n+1), where e(n) = (-1)^n*(40*8^n - 24*4^n + 5*2^n)/(15*(2^n - 1)*(2^(n+1) - 1)*(2^(n+2) - 1)*(2^(n+3) - 1)). (End)

Extensions

Name partially edited by Eric W. Weisstein, Sep 04 2021

A008275 Triangle read by rows of Stirling numbers of first kind, s(n,k), n >= 1, 1 <= k <= n.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, -1, 1, 2, -3, 1, -6, 11, -6, 1, 24, -50, 35, -10, 1, -120, 274, -225, 85, -15, 1, 720, -1764, 1624, -735, 175, -21, 1, -5040, 13068, -13132, 6769, -1960, 322, -28, 1, 40320, -109584, 118124, -67284, 22449, -4536, 546, -36, 1, -362880, 1026576, -1172700, 723680, -269325, 63273, -9450, 870, -45, 1
Offset: 1

Keywords

Comments

The unsigned numbers are also called Stirling cycle numbers: |s(n,k)| = number of permutations of n objects with exactly k cycles.
The unsigned numbers (read from right to left) also give the number of permutations of 1..n with complexity k, where the complexity of a permutation is defined to be the sum of the lengths of the cycles minus the number of cycles. In other words, the complexity equals the sum of (length of cycle)-1 over all cycles. For n=5, the numbers of permutations with complexity 0,1,2,3,4 are 1, 10, 35, 50, 24. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 08 2019
The unsigned numbers are also the number of permutations of 1..n with k left to right maxima (see Khovanova and Lewis, Smith).
With P(n) = the number of integer partitions of n, T(i,n) = the number of parts of the i-th partition of n, D(i,n) = the number of different parts of the i-th partition of n, p(j,i,n) = the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, m(j,i,n) = multiplicity of the j-th part of the i-th partition of n, Sum_[T(i,n)=k]{i=1}^{P(n)} = sum running from i=1 to i=p(n) but taking only partitions with T(i,n)=k parts into account, Product{j=1..T(i,n)} = product running from j=1 to j=T(i,n), Product_{j=1..D(i,n)} = product running from j=1 to j=D(i,n) one has S1(n,k) = Sum_[T(i,n)=k]{i=1}^{P(n)} (n!/Product{j=1..T(i,n)} p(j,i,n))* (1/Product_{j=1..D(i,n)} m(j,i,n)!). For example, S1(6,3) = 225 because n=6 has the following partitions with k=3 parts: (114), (123), (222). Their complexions are: (114): (6!/1*1*4)*(1/2!*1!) = 90, (123): (6!/1*2*3)*(1/1!*1!*1!) = 120, (222): (6!/2*2*2)*(1/3!) = 15. The sum of the complexions is 90+120+15 = 225 = S1(6,3). - Thomas Wieder, Aug 04 2005
Row sums equal 0. - Jon Perry, Nov 14 2005
|s(n,k)| enumerates unordered n-vertex forests composed of k increasing non-plane (unordered) trees. Proof from the e.g.f. of the first column and the F. Bergeron et al. reference, especially Table 1, last row (non-plane "recursive"), given in A049029. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 12 2007
|s(n,k)| enumerates unordered increasing n-vertex k-forests composed of k unary trees (out-degree r from {0,1}) whose vertices of depth (distance from the root) j >= 0 come in j+1 colors (j=0 for the k roots). - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 12 2007, Feb 22 2008
A refinement of the unsigned array is A036039. For an association to forests of "naturally grown" rooted non-planar trees, dispositions of flags on flagpoles, and colorings of the vertices of the complete graphs K_n, see A130534. - Tom Copeland, Mar 30 and Apr 05 2014
The Stirling numbers of the first kind were related to the falling factorial and the convolved, or generalized, Bernoulli numbers B_n by Norlund in 1924 through Sum_{k=1..n+1} T(n+1,k) * x^(k-1) = (x-1)!/(x-1-n)! = (x + B.(0))^n = B_n(x), umbrally evaluated with (B.(0))^k = B_k(0) and the associated Appell polynomial B_n(x) defined by the e.g.f. (t/(exp(t) - 1))^(n+1) * exp(x*t) = exp(B.(x)t). - Tom Copeland, Sep 29 2015
With x = e^z, D_x = d/dx, D_z = d/dz, and p_n(x) the row polynomials of this entry, x^n (D_x)^n = p_n(D_z) = (D_z)! / (D_z - n)! = (xD_x)! / (xD_x - n)!. - Tom Copeland, Nov 27 2015
From the operator relation z + Psi(1) + sum_{n > 0} (-1)^n (-1/n) binomial(D,n) = z + Psi(1+D) with D = d/dz and Psi the digamma function, Zeta(n+1) = Sum_{k > n-1} (1/k) |S(k,n)| / k! for n > 0 and Zeta the Riemann zeta function. - Tom Copeland, Aug 12 2016
Let X_1,...,X_n be i.i.d. random variables with exponential distribution having mean = 1. Let Y = max{X_1,...,X_n}. Then (-1)^n*n!/( Sum_{k=1..n+1} a(n+1,k) t^(k-1) ) is the moment generating function of Y. The expectation of Y is the n-th harmonic number. - Geoffrey Critzer, Dec 25 2018
In the Ewens sampling theory describing the multivariate probability distribution of the sizes of the allelic classes in a sample of size n under the Infinite Alleles Model, |s(n,k)| gives the coefficient in the formula for the probability that a sample of n alleles has exactly k distinct types. - Noah A Rosenberg, Feb 10 2019
Named by Nielson (1906) after the Scottish mathematician James Stirling (1692-1770). - Amiram Eldar, Jun 11 2021 and Oct 02 2023
The first few row polynomials along with a recursion formula are found in a manuscript by Newton written in 1664 or 1665 (p. 169 of Turnbull) giving a geometric presentation of the binomial theorem for rational powers. - Tom Copeland, Dec 10 2022

Examples

			|s(3,2)| = 3 for the three unordered 2-forest with 3 vertices and two increasing (nonplane) trees: ((1),(2,3)), ((2),(1,3)), ((3),(1,2)).
Triangle begins:
                                      1
                                 -1,      1
                               2,    -3,      1
                          -6,    11,     -6,     1
                      24,    -50,    35,    -10,    1
                -120,    274,  -225,     85,   -15,    1
             720,  -1764,   1624,  -735,    175,  -21,   1
       -5040,  13068, -13132,  6769,  -1960,   322,  -28,  1
  40320, -109584, 118124, -67284, 22449,  -4536,  546, -36,  1
Another version of the same triangle, from _Joerg Arndt_, Oct 05 2009: (Start)
s(n,k) := number of permutations of n elements with exactly k cycles ("Stirling cycle numbers")
  n|  total   m=1      2      3     4     5    6   7  8 9
  -+-----------------------------------------------------
  1|      1     1
  2|      2     1      1
  3|      6     2      3      1
  4|     24     6     11      6     1
  5|    120    24     50     35    10     1
  6|    720   120    274    225    85    15    1
  7|   5040   720   1764   1624   735   175   21   1
  8|  40320  5040  13068  13132  6769  1960  322  28  1
  9| 362880 40320 109584 118124 67284 22449 4536 546 36 1
(End)
|s(4,2)| = 11 for the eleven unordered 2-forest with 4 vertices, composed of two increasing (nonplane) trees: ((1),((23)(24))), ((2),((13)(14))), ((3),((12)(14))), ((4),((12)(13))); ((1),(2,3,4)),((2),(1,2,3)), ((3), (1,2,4)), ((4),(1,2,3)); ((1,2),(3,4)), ((1,3),(2,4)), ((1,4),(2,3)). - _Wolfdieter Lang_, Feb 22 2008
		

References

  • M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, eds., Handbook of Mathematical Functions, National Bureau of Standards Applied Math. Series 55, 1964 (and various reprintings), p. 833.
  • Arthur T. Benjamin and Jennifer Quinn, Proofs that really count: the art of combinatorial proof, M.A.A. 2003, p. 93ff.
  • Boris A. Bondarenko, Generalized Pascal Triangles and Pyramids (in Russian), FAN, Tashkent, 1990, ISBN 5-648-00738-8.
  • George Boole, Finite Differences, 5th ed. New York, NY: Chelsea, 1970.
  • Louis Comtet, Advanced Combinatorics, Reidel, 1974; Chapter V, also p. 310.
  • John H. Conway and Richard K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, Copernicus Press, NY, 1996, p. 93.
  • Florence Nightingale David, Maurice George Kendall and David Elliot Barton, Symmetric Function and Allied Tables, Cambridge, 1966, p. 226.
  • Saber N. Elaydi, An Introduction to Difference Equations, 3rd ed. Springer, 2005.
  • Herman H. Goldstine, A History of Numerical Analysis, Springer-Verlag, 1977; Section 2.7.
  • Ronald L. Graham, Donald E. Knuth and Oren Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990, p. 245. In the second edition, see Chapter 6, especially p. 259.
  • M. Miyata and J. W. Son, On the complexity of permutations and the metric space of bijections, Tensor, 60 (1998), No. 1, 109-116 (MR1768839).
  • Isaac Newton, A Method whereby to find ye areas of Those Lines wch can be squared, pp. 168-171 of Turnbull below.
  • John Riordan, An Introduction to Combinatorial Analysis, p. 48.
  • Robert Sedgewick and Phillipe Flajolet, An Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1996.
  • H. Turnbull (editor), The Correspondence of Isaac Newton Vol. II 1676-1687, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1960.

Crossrefs

Diagonals: A000217, A000914, A001303, A000915, A053567, etc.
Cf. A048994, A008277 (Stirling numbers of second kind), A039814, A039815, A039816, A039817, A048993, A087748.
Cf. A084938, A094216, A008276 (row reversed), A008277, A008278, A094262, A121632, A130534 (unsigned version), A087755 (triangle mod 2), A000142 (row sums of absolute values).

Programs

  • Haskell
    a008275 n k = a008275_tabl !! (n-1) !! (k-1)
    a008275_row n = a008275_tabl !! (n-1)
    a008275_tabl = map tail $ tail a048994_tabl
    -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 18 2013
  • Maple
    with (combinat):seq(seq(stirling1(n, k), k=1..n), n=1..10); # Zerinvary Lajos, Jun 03 2007
    for i from 0 to 9 do seq(stirling1(i, j), j = 1 .. i) od; # Zerinvary Lajos, Nov 29 2007
  • Mathematica
    Flatten[Table[StirlingS1[n, k], {n, 1, 10}, {k, 1, n}]] (* Jean-François Alcover, May 18 2011 *)
    Flatten@Table[Coefficient[Product[x-k, {k, 0, n-1}], x, Range[n]], {n, Range[10]}] (* Oliver Seipel, Jun 11 2024 *)
    a[n_, n_] := 1; a[n_, 0] := 0; a[0, k_] := 0;
    a[n_, k_] := a[n, k] = a[n-1, k-1] + (n-1) a[n-1, k];
    Flatten@Table[(-1)^(n-k) a[n, k], {n, 1, 10}, {k, 1, n}] (* Oliver Seipel, Jun 11 2024 *)
  • Maxima
    create_list(stirling1(n+1,k+1),n,0,30,k,0,n); /* Emanuele Munarini, Jun 01 2012 */
    
  • PARI
    T(n,k)=if(n<1,0,n!*polcoeff(binomial(x,n),k))
    
  • PARI
    T(n,k)=if(n<1,0,n!*polcoeff(polcoeff((1+x+x*O(x^n))^y,n),k))
    
  • PARI
    vecstirling(n)=Vec(factorback(vector(n-1,i,1-i*'x))) /* (A function that returns all the s(n,k) as a vector) */ \\ Bill Allombert (Bill.Allombert(AT)math.u-bordeaux1.fr), Mar 16 2009
    

Formula

s(n, k) = s(n-1, k-1) - (n-1)*s(n-1, k), n, k >= 1; s(n, 0) = s(0, k) = 0; s(0, 0) = 1.
The unsigned numbers a(n, k)=|s(n, k)| satisfy a(n, k) = a(n-1, k-1) + (n-1)*a(n-1, k), n, k >= 1; a(n, 0) = a(0, k) = 0; a(0, 0) = 1.
E.g.f.: for m-th column (unsigned): ((-log(1-x))^m)/m!.
s(n, k) = T(n-1, k-1), n>1 and k>1, where T(n, k) is the triangle [ -1, -1, -2, -2, -3, -3, -4, -4, -5, -5, -6, -6, ...] DELTA [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ...] and DELTA is Deléham's operator defined in A084938. The unsigned numbers are also |s(n, k)| = T(n-1, k-1), for n>0 and k>0, where T(n, k) = [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, ...] DELTA [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, ...].
Sum_{i=0..n} (-1)^(n-i) * StirlingS1(n, i) * binomial(i, k) = (-1)^(n-k) * StirlingS1(n+1, k+1). - Carlo Wood (carlo(AT)alinoe.com), Feb 13 2007
G.f. for row n: Product_{j=1..n} (x-j) (e.g., (x-1)*(x-2)*(x-3) = x^3 - 6*x^2 + 11*x - 6). - Jon Perry, Nov 14 2005
s(n,k) = A048994(n,k), for k=1..n. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 18 2013 (Corrected by N. J. A. Sloane, May 07 2025 at the suggestion of Manfred Boergens, May 07 2025)
As lower triangular matrices A008277*A008275 = I, the identity matrix. - Tom Copeland, Apr 25 2014
a(n,k) = s(n,k) = lim_{y -> 0} Sum_{j=0..k} (-1)^j*binomial(k,j)*((-j*y)!/(-j*y-n)!)*y^(-k)/k! = Sum_{j=0..k} (-1)^(n-j)*binomial(k,j)*((j*y - 1 + n)!/(j*y-1)!)*y^(-k)/k!. - Tom Copeland, Aug 28 2015
From Daniel Forgues Jan 16 2016: (Start)
Let x_(0) := 1 (empty product), and for n >= 1:
x_(n) := Product_{k=0..n-1} (x-k), called a factorial term (Boole, 1970) or a factorial polynomial (Elaydi, 2005: p. 60), and also x_(-n) := 1 / [Product_{k=0..n-1} (x+k)].
Then, for n >= 1: x_(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} T(n,k) * x^k, 1 / [x_(-n)] = Sum_{k=1..n} |T(n,k)| * x^k, x^n = Sum_{k=1..n} A008277(n,k) * x_(k), where A008277(n,k) are Stirling numbers of the second kind.
The row sums (of either signed or absolute values) are Sum_{k=1..n} T(n,k) = 0^(n-1), Sum_{k=1..n} |T(n,k)| = T(n+1,1) = n!. (End)
s(n,m) = ((-1)^(n-m)/n)*Sum_{i=0..m-1} C(2*n-m-i, m-i-1)*A008517(n-m+1,n-m-i+1). - Vladimir Kruchinin, Feb 14 2018
Orthogonal relation: Sum_{i=0..n} i^p*Sum_{j=k..n} (-1)^(i+j) * binomial(j,i) * Stirling1(j,k)/j! = delta(p,k), i,k,p <= n, n >= 1. - Leonid Bedratyuk, Jul 27 2020
From Zizheng Fang, Dec 28 2020: (Start)
Sum_{k=1..n} (-1)^k * k * T(n, k) = -T(n+1, 2).
Sum_{k=1..n} k * T(n, k) = (-1)^n * (n-2)! = T(n-1, 1) for n>=2. (End)
n-th row polynomial = n!*Sum_{k = 0..2*n} (-1)^(n+k)*binomial(x, k)*binomial(x-1, 2*n-k) = n!*Sum_{k = 0..2*n+1} (-1)^(n+k+1)*binomial(x, k)*binomial(x-1, 2*n+1-k). - Peter Bala, Mar 29 2024

A048993 Triangle of Stirling numbers of 2nd kind, S(n,k), n >= 0, 0 <= k <= n.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 3, 1, 0, 1, 7, 6, 1, 0, 1, 15, 25, 10, 1, 0, 1, 31, 90, 65, 15, 1, 0, 1, 63, 301, 350, 140, 21, 1, 0, 1, 127, 966, 1701, 1050, 266, 28, 1, 0, 1, 255, 3025, 7770, 6951, 2646, 462, 36, 1, 0, 1, 511, 9330, 34105, 42525, 22827, 5880, 750, 45, 1
Offset: 0

Author

N. J. A. Sloane, Dec 11 1999

Keywords

Comments

Also known as Stirling set numbers.
S(n,k) enumerates partitions of an n-set into k nonempty subsets.
The o.g.f. for the sequence of diagonal k (k=0 for the main diagonal) is G(k,x) = ((x^k)/(1-x)^(2*k+1))*Sum_{m=0..k-1} A008517(k,m+1)*x^m. A008517 is the second-order Eulerian triangle. - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 14 2005
From Philippe Deléham, Nov 14 2007: (Start)
Sum_{k=0..n} S(n,k)*x^k = B_n(x), where B_n(x) = Bell polynomials.
The first few Bell polynomials are:
B_0(x) = 1;
B_1(x) = 0 + x;
B_2(x) = 0 + x + x^2;
B_3(x) = 0 + x + 3x^2 + x^3;
B_4(x) = 0 + x + 7x^2 + 6x^3 + x^4;
B_5(x) = 0 + x + 15x^2 + 25x^3 + 10x^4 + x^5;
B_6(x) = 0 + x + 31x^2 + 90x^3 + 65x^4 + 15x^5 + x^6;
(End)
This is the Sheffer triangle (1, exp(x) - 1), an exponential (binomial) convolution triangle. The a-sequence is given by A006232/A006233 (Cauchy sequence). The z-sequence is the zero sequence. See the link under A006232 for the definition and use of these sequences. The row sums give A000110 (Bell), and the alternating row sums give A000587 (see the Philippe Deléham formulas and crossreferences below). - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 16 2014
Also the inverse Bell transform of the factorial numbers (A000142). For the definition of the Bell transform see A264428 and for cross-references A265604. - Peter Luschny, Dec 31 2015
From Wolfdieter Lang, Feb 21 2017: (Start)
The transposed (trans) of this lower triagonal Sheffer matrix of the associated type S = (1, exp(x) - 1) (taken as N X N matrix for arbitrarily large N) provides the transition matrix from the basis {x^n/n!}, n >= 0, to the basis {y^n/n!}, n >= 0, with y^n/n! = Sum_{m>=n} S^{trans}(n, m) x^m/m! = Sum_{m>=0} x^m/m!*S(m, n).
The Sheffer transform with S = (g, f) of a sequence {a_n} to {b_n} for n >= 0, in matrix notation vec(b) = S vec(a), satisfies, with e.g.f.s A and B, B(x) = g(x)*A(f(x)) and B(x) = A(y(x)) identically, with vec(xhat) = S^{trans,-1} vec(yhat) in symbolic notation with vec(xhat)_n = x^n/n! (similarly for vec(yhat)).
(End)
Number of partitions of {1, 2, ..., n+1} into k+1 nonempty subsets such that no subset contains two adjacent numbers. - Thomas Anton, Sep 26 2022

Examples

			The triangle S(n,k) begins:
  n\k 0 1    2     3      4       5       6      7      8     9   10 11 12
  0:  1
  1:  0 1
  2:  0 1    1
  3:  0 1    3     1
  4:  0 1    7     6      1
  5:  0 1   15    25     10       1
  6:  0 1   31    90     65      15       1
  7:  0 1   63   301    350     140      21      1
  8:  0 1  127   966   1701    1050     266     28      1
  9:  0 1  255  3025   7770    6951    2646    462     36     1
 10:  0 1  511  9330  34105   42525   22827   5880    750    45    1
 11:  0 1 1023 28501 145750  246730  179487  63987  11880  1155   55  1
 12:  0 1 2047 86526 611501 1379400 1323652 627396 159027 22275 1705 66  1
 ... reformatted and extended - _Wolfdieter Lang_, Oct 16 2014
Completely symmetric function S(4, 2) = h^{(2)}_2 = 1^2 + 2^2 + 1^1*2^1 = 7; S(5, 2) = h^{(2)}_3 = 1^3 + 2^3 + 1^2*2^1 + 1^1*2^2 = 15. - _Wolfdieter Lang_, May 26 2017
From _Wolfdieter Lang_, Aug 11 2017: (Start)
Recurrence: S(5, 3) = S(4, 2) + 2*S(4, 3) = 7 + 3*6 = 25.
Boas-Buck recurrence for column m = 3, and n = 5: S(5, 3) = (3/2)*((5/2)*S(4, 3) + 10*Bernoulli(2)*S(3, 3)) = (3/2)*(15 + 10*(1/6)*1) = 25. (End)
		

References

  • M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, eds., Handbook of Mathematical Functions, National Bureau of Standards Applied Math. Series 55, 1964 (and various reprintings), p. 835.
  • L. Comtet, Advanced Combinatorics, Reidel, 1974, p. 310.
  • J. H. Conway and R. K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, Springer, p. 92.
  • F. N. David, M. G. Kendall and D. E. Barton, Symmetric Function and Allied Tables, Cambridge, 1966, p. 223.
  • R. L. Graham, D. E. Knuth and O. Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990, p. 244.
  • J. Riordan, An Introduction to Combinatorial Analysis, p. 48.

Crossrefs

See especially A008277 which is the main entry for this triangle.
A000110(n) = sum(S(n, k)) k=0..n, n >= 0. Cf. A085693.
Cf. A084938, A106800 (mirror image), A138378, A213061 (mod 2).

Programs

  • Haskell
    a048993 n k = a048993_tabl !! n !! k
    a048993_row n = a048993_tabl !! n
    a048993_tabl = iterate (\row ->
       [0] ++ (zipWith (+) row $ zipWith (*) [1..] $ tail row) ++ [1]) [1]
    -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 26 2012
  • Maple
    for n from 0 to 10 do seq(Stirling2(n,k),k=0..n) od; # yields sequence in triangular form # Emeric Deutsch, Nov 01 2006
  • Mathematica
    t[n_, k_] := StirlingS2[n, k]; Table[t[n, k], {n, 0, 10}, {k, 0, n}] // Flatten (* Robert G. Wilson v *)
  • Maxima
    create_list(stirling2(n,k),n,0,12,k,0,n); /* Emanuele Munarini, Mar 11 2011 */
    
  • PARI
    for(n=0, 22, for(k=0, n, print1(stirling(n, k, 2), ", ")); print()); \\ Joerg Arndt, Apr 21 2013
    

Formula

S(n, k) = k*S(n-1, k) + S(n-1, k-1), n > 0; S(0, k) = 0, k > 0; S(0, 0) = 1.
Equals [0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 3, 0, 4, 0, 5, ...] DELTA [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ...] where DELTA is Deléham's operator defined in A084938.
Sum_{k = 0..n} x^k*S(n, k) = A213170(n), A000587(n), A000007(n), A000110(n), A001861(n), A027710(n), A078944(n), A144180(n), A144223(n), A144263(n) respectively for x = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. - Philippe Deléham, May 09 2004, Feb 16 2013
S(n, k) = Sum_{i=0..k} (-1)^(k+i)binomial(k, i)i^n/k!. - Paul Barry, Aug 05 2004
Sum_{k=0..n} k*S(n,k) = B(n+1)-B(n), where B(q) are the Bell numbers (A000110). - Emeric Deutsch, Nov 01 2006
Equals the inverse binomial transform of A008277. - Gary W. Adamson, Jan 29 2008
G.f.: 1/(1-xy/(1-x/(1-xy/(1-2x/(1-xy/1-3x/(1-xy/(1-4x/(1-xy/(1-5x/(1-... (continued fraction equivalent to Deléham DELTA construction). - Paul Barry, Dec 06 2009
G.f.: 1/Q(0), where Q(k) = 1 - (y+k)*x - (k+1)*y*x^2/Q(k+1); (continued fraction). - Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Nov 09 2013
Inverse of padded A008275 (padded just as A048993 = padded A008277). - Tom Copeland, Apr 25 2014
E.g.f. for the row polynomials s(n,x) = Sum_{k=0..n} S(n,k)*x^k is exp(x*(exp(z)-1)) (Sheffer property). E.g.f. for the k-th column sequence with k leading zeros is ((exp(x)-1)^k)/k! (Sheffer property). - Wolfdieter Lang, Oct 16 2014
G.f. for column k: x^k/Product_{j=1..k} (1-j*x), k >= 0 (with the empty product for k = 0 put to 1). See Abramowitz-Stegun, p. 824, 24.1.4 B. - Wolfdieter Lang, May 26 2017
Boas-Buck recurrence for column sequence m: S(n, k) = (k/(n - k))*(n*S(n-1, k)/2 + Sum_{p=k..n-2} (-1)^(n-p)*binomial(n,p)*Bernoulli(n-p)*S(p, k)), for n > k >= 0, with input T(k,k) = 1. See a comment and references in A282629. An example is given below. - Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 11 2017
The n-th row polynomial has the form x o x o ... o x (n factors), where o denotes the white diamond multiplication operator defined in Bala - see Example E4. - Peter Bala, Jan 07 2018
Sum_{k=1..n} k*S(n,k) = A138378(n). - Alois P. Heinz, Jan 07 2022
S(n,k) = Sum_{j=k..n} (-1)^(j-k)*A059297(n,j)*A354794(j,k). - Mélika Tebni, Jan 27 2023

A000165 Double factorial of even numbers: (2n)!! = 2^n*n!.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 2, 8, 48, 384, 3840, 46080, 645120, 10321920, 185794560, 3715891200, 81749606400, 1961990553600, 51011754393600, 1428329123020800, 42849873690624000, 1371195958099968000, 46620662575398912000, 1678343852714360832000, 63777066403145711616000
Offset: 0

Keywords

Comments

a(n) is also the size of the automorphism group of the graph (edge graph) of the n-dimensional hypercube and also of the geometric automorphism group of the hypercube (the two groups are isomorphic). This group is an extension of an elementary Abelian group (C_2)^n by S_n. (C_2 is the cyclic group with two elements and S_n is the symmetric group.) - Avi Peretz (njk(AT)netvision.net.il), Feb 21 2001
Then a(n) appears in the power series: sqrt(1+sin(y)) = Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^floor(n/2)*y^(n)/a(n) and sqrt((1+cos(y))/2) = Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^n*y^(2n)/a(2n). - Benoit Cloitre, Feb 02 2002
Appears to be the BinomialMean transform of A001907. See A075271. - John W. Layman, Sep 28 2002
Number of n X n monomial matrices with entries 0, +-1.
Also number of linear signed orders.
Define a "downgrade" to be the permutation d which places the items of a permutation p in descending order. This note concerns those permutations that are equal to their double-downgrades. The number of permutations of order 2n having this property are equinumerous with those of order 2n+1. a(n) = number of double-downgrading permutations of order 2n and 2n+1. - Eugene McDonnell (eemcd(AT)mac.com), Oct 27 2003
a(n) = (Integral_{x=0..Pi/2} cos(x)^(2*n+1) dx) where the denominators are b(n) = (2*n)!/(n!*2^n). - Al Hakanson (hawkuu(AT)excite.com), Mar 02 2004
1 + (1/2)x - (1/8)x^2 - (1/48)x^3 + (1/384)x^4 + ... = sqrt(1+sin(x)).
a(n)*(-1)^n = coefficient of the leading term of the (n+1)-th derivative of arctan(x), see Hildebrand link. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jan 14 2006
a(n) is the Pfaffian of the skew-symmetric 2n X 2n matrix whose (i,j) entry is j for iDavid Callan, Sep 25 2006
a(n) is the number of increasing plane trees with n+1 edges. (In a plane tree, each subtree of the root is an ordered tree but the subtrees of the root may be cyclically rotated.) Increasing means the vertices are labeled 0,1,2,...,n+1 and each child has a greater label than its parent. Cf. A001147 for increasing ordered trees, A000142 for increasing unordered trees and A000111 for increasing 0-1-2 trees. - David Callan, Dec 22 2006
Hamed Hatami and Pooya Hatami prove that this is an upper bound on the cardinality of any minimal dominating set in C_{2n+1}^n, the Cartesian product of n copies of the cycle of size 2n+1, where 2n+1 is a prime. - Jonathan Vos Post, Jan 03 2007
This sequence and (1,-2,0,0,0,0,...) form a reciprocal pair under the list partition transform and associated operations described in A133314. - Tom Copeland, Oct 29 2007
a(n) = number of permutations of the multiset {1,1,2,2,...,n,n,n+1,n+1} such that between the two occurrences of i, there is exactly one entry >i, for i=1,2,...,n. Example: a(2) = 8 counts 121323, 131232, 213123, 231213, 232131, 312132, 321312, 323121. Proof: There is always exactly one entry between the two 1s (when n>=1). Given a permutation p in A(n) (counted by a(n)), record the position i of the first 1, then delete both 1s and subtract 1 from every entry to get a permutation q in A(n-1). The mapping p -> (i,q) is a bijection from A(n) to the Cartesian product [1,2n] X A(n-1). - David Callan, Nov 29 2007
Row sums of A028338. - Paul Barry, Feb 07 2009
a(n) is the number of ways to seat n married couples in a row so that everyone is next to their spouse. Compare A007060. - Geoffrey Critzer, Mar 29 2009
From Gary W. Adamson, Apr 21 2009: (Start)
Equals (-1)^n * (1, 1, 2, 8, 48, ...) dot (1, -3, 5, -7, 9, ...).
Example: a(4) = 384 = (1, 1, 2, 8, 48) dot (1, -3, 5, -7, 9) = (1, -3, 10, -56, 432). (End)
exp(x/2) = Sum_{n>=0} x^n/a(n). - Jaume Oliver Lafont, Sep 07 2009
Assuming n starts at 0, a(n) appears to be the number of Gray codes on n bits. It certainly is the number of Gray codes on n bits isomorphic to the canonical one. Proof: There are 2^n different starting positions for each code. Also, each code has a particular pattern of bit positions that are flipped (for instance, 1 2 1 3 1 2 1 for n=3), and these bit position patterns can be permuted in n! ways. - D. J. Schreffler (ds1404(AT)txstate.edu), Jul 18 2010
E.g.f. of 0,1,2,8,... is x/(1-2x/(2-2x/(3-8x/(4-8x/(5-18x/(6-18x/(7-... (continued fraction). - Paul Barry, Jan 17 2011
Number of increasing 2-colored trees with choice of two colors for each edge. In general, if we replace 2 with k we get the number of increasing k-colored trees. For example, for k=3 we get the triple factorial numbers. - Wenjin Woan, May 31 2011
a(n) = row sums of triangle A193229. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 18 2011
Also the number of permutations of 2n (or of 2n+1) that are equal to their reverse-complements. (See the Egge reference.) Note that the double-downgrade described in the preceding comment (McDonnell) is equivalent to the reverse-complement. - Justin M. Troyka, Aug 11 2011
The e.g.f. can be used to form a generator, [1/(1-2x)] d/dx, for A000108, so a(n) can be applied to A145271 to generate the Catalan numbers. - Tom Copeland, Oct 01 2011
The e.g.f. of 1/a(n) is BesselI(0,sqrt(2*x)). See Abramowitz-Stegun (reference and link under A008277), p. 375, 9.6.10. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jan 09 2012
a(n) = order of the largest imprimitive group of degree 2n with n systems of imprimitivity (see [Miller], p. 203). - L. Edson Jeffery, Feb 05 2012
Row sums of triangle A208057. - Gary W. Adamson, Feb 22 2012
a(n) is the number of ways to designate a subset of elements in each n-permutation. a(n) = A000142(n) + A001563(n) + A001804(n) + A001805(n) + A001806(n) + A001807(n) + A035038(n) * n!. - Geoffrey Critzer, Nov 08 2012
For n>1, a(n) is the order of the Coxeter groups (also called Weyl groups) of types B_n and C_n. - Tom Edgar, Nov 05 2013
For m>0, k*a(m-1) is the m-th cumulant of the chi-squared probability distribution for k degrees of freedom. - Stanislav Sykora, Jun 27 2014
a(n) with 0 prepended is the binomial transform of A120765. - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Oct 28 2015
Exponential self-convolution of A001147. - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Oct 08 2016
Also the order of the automorphism group of the n-ladder rung graph. - Eric W. Weisstein, Jul 22 2017
a(n) is the order of the group O_n(Z) = {A in M_n(Z): A*A^T = I_n}, the group of n X n orthogonal matrices over the integers. - Jianing Song, Mar 29 2021
a(n) is the number of ways to tile a (3n,3n)-benzel or a (3n+1,3n+2)-benzel using left stones and two kinds of bones; see Defant et al., below. - James Propp, Jul 22 2023
a(n) is the number of labeled histories for a labeled topology with the modified lodgepole shape and n+1 cherry nodes. - Noah A Rosenberg, Jan 16 2025

Examples

			The following permutations and their reversals are all of the permutations of order 5 having the double-downgrade property:
  0 1 2 3 4
  0 3 2 1 4
  1 0 2 4 3
  1 4 2 0 3
G.f. = 1 + 2*x + 8*x^2 + 48*x^3 + 384*x^4 + 3840*x^5 + 46080*x^6 + 645120*x^7 + ...
		

References

  • N. J. A. Sloane, A Handbook of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1973 (includes this sequence).
  • N. J. A. Sloane and Simon Plouffe, The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1995 (includes this sequence).

Crossrefs

Cf. A000142 (n!), A001147 ((2n-1)!!), A032184 (2^n*(n-1)!).
This sequence gives the row sums in A060187, and (-1)^n*a(n) the alternating row sums in A039757.
Also row sums in A028338.
Column k=2 of A329070.

Programs

  • Haskell
    a000165 n = product [2, 4 .. 2 * n]  -- Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 28 2015
    
  • Magma
    [2^n*Factorial(n): n in [0..35]]; // Vincenzo Librandi, Apr 22 2011
    
  • Magma
    I:=[2,8]; [1] cat [n le 2 select I[n]  else (3*n-1)*Self(n-1)-2*(n-1)^2*Self(n-2): n in [1..35] ]; // Vincenzo Librandi, Feb 19 2015
    
  • Maple
    A000165 := proc(n) option remember; if n <= 1 then 1 else n*A000165(n-2); fi; end;
    ZL:=[S, {a = Atom, b = Atom, S = Prod(X,Sequence(Prod(X,b))), X = Sequence(b,card >= 0)}, labelled]: seq(combstruct[count](ZL, size=n), n=0..17); # Zerinvary Lajos, Mar 26 2008
    G(x):=(1-2*x)^(-1): f[0]:=G(x): for n from 1 to 29 do f[n]:=diff(f[n-1],x) od: x:=0: seq(f[n],n=0..17); # Zerinvary Lajos, Apr 03 2009
    A000165 := proc(n) doublefactorial(2*n) ; end proc; seq(A000165(n),n=0..10) ; # R. J. Mathar, Oct 20 2009
  • Mathematica
    Table[(2 n)!!, {n, 30}] (* Vladimir Joseph Stephan Orlovsky, Dec 13 2008 *)
    (2 Range[0, 30])!! (* Harvey P. Dale, Jan 23 2015 *)
    RecurrenceTable[{a[n] == 2 n*a[n-1], a[0] == 1}, a, {n,0,30}] (* Ray Chandler, Jul 30 2015 *)
  • PARI
    a(n)=n!<Charles R Greathouse IV, Feb 11 2011
    
  • PARI
    {a(n) = prod( k=1, n, 2*k)}; /* Michael Somos, Jan 04 2013 */
    
  • Python
    from math import factorial
    def A000165(n): return factorial(n)<Chai Wah Wu, Jan 24 2023
    
  • SageMath
    [2^n*factorial(n) for n in range(31)] # G. C. Greubel, Jul 21 2024

Formula

E.g.f.: 1/(1-2*x).
a(n) = A001044(n)/A000142(n)*A000079(n) = Product_{i=0..n-1} (2*i+2) = 2^n*Pochhammer(1,n). - Daniel Dockery (peritus(AT)gmail.com), Jun 13 2003
D-finite with recurrence a(n) = 2*n * a(n-1), n>0, a(0)=1. - Paul Barry, Aug 26 2004
This is the binomial mean transform of A001907. See Spivey and Steil (2006). - Michael Z. Spivey (mspivey(AT)ups.edu), Feb 26 2006
a(n) = Integral_{x>=0} x^n*exp(-x/2)/2 dx. - Paul Barry, Jan 28 2008
G.f.: 1/(1-2x/(1-2x/(1-4x/(1-4x/(1-6x/(1-6x/(1-.... (continued fraction). - Paul Barry, Feb 07 2009
a(n) = A006882(2*n). - R. J. Mathar, Oct 20 2009
From Gary W. Adamson, Jul 18 2011: (Start)
a(n) = upper left term in M^n, M = a production matrix (twice Pascal's triangle deleting the first "2", with the rest zeros; cf. A028326):
2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, ...
2, 4, 2, 0, 0, 0, ...
2, 6, 6, 2, 0, 0, ...
2, 8, 12, 8, 2, 0, ...
2, 10, 20, 20, 10, 2, ...
... (End)
From Sergei N. Gladkovskii, Apr 11 2013, May 01 2013, May 24 2013, Sep 30 2013, Oct 27 2013: (Start)
Continued fractions:
G.f.: 1 + x*(Q(0) - 1)/(x+1) where Q(k) = 1 + (2*k+2)/(1-x/(x+1/Q(k+1))).
G.f.: 1/Q(0) where Q(k) = 1 + 2*k*x - 2*x*(k+1)/Q(k+1).
G.f.: G(0)/2 where G(k) = 1 + 1/(1 - x*(2*k+2)/(x*(2*k+2) + 1/G(k+1))).
G.f.: 1/Q(0) where Q(k) = 1 - x*(4*k+2) - 4*x^2*(k+1)^2/Q(k+1).
G.f.: R(0) where R(k) = 1 - x*(2*k+2)/(x*(2*k+2)-1/(1-x*(2*k+2)/(x*(2*k+2) -1/R(k+1)))). (End)
a(n) = (2n-2)*a(n-2) + (2n-1)*a(n-1), n>1. - Ivan N. Ianakiev, Aug 06 2013
From Peter Bala, Feb 18 2015: (Start)
Recurrence equation: a(n) = (3*n - 1)*a(n-1) - 2*(n - 1)^2*a(n-2) with a(1) = 2 and a(2) = 8.
The sequence b(n) = A068102(n) also satisfies this second-order recurrence. This leads to the generalized continued fraction expansion lim_{n -> oo} b(n)/a(n) = log(2) = 1/(2 - 2/(5 - 8/(8 - 18/(11 - ... - 2*(n - 1)^2/((3*n - 1) - ... ))))). (End)
From Amiram Eldar, Jun 25 2020: (Start)
Sum_{n>=0} 1/a(n) = sqrt(e) (A019774).
Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^n/a(n) = 1/sqrt(e) (A092605). (End)
Limit_{n->oo} a(n)^4 / (n * A134372(n)) = Pi. - Daniel Suteu, Apr 09 2022
a(n) = 1/([x^n] hypergeom([1], [1], x/2)). - Peter Luschny, Sep 13 2024
a(n) = Sum_{k=0..n} k!*(n-k)!*binomial(n,k)^2. - Ridouane Oudra, Jul 13 2025
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