cp's OEIS Frontend

Smallest number of factors of all factorizations of n into squarefree numbers, see also A128651, A001055. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 30 2007

Maximum number of invariant factors among abelian groups of order n. - Álvar Ibeas, Nov 01 2014

a(n) is the highest of the frequencies of the parts of the partition having Heinz number n. We define the Heinz number of a partition p = [p_1, p_2, ..., p_r] as Product(p_j-th prime, j=1..r) (concept used by Alois P. Heinz in A215366 as an "encoding" of a partition). For example, for the partition [1, 1, 2, 4, 10] we get 2*2*3*7*29 = 2436. Example: a(24) = 3; indeed, the partition having Heinz number 24 = 2*2*2*3 is [1,1,1,2], where the distinct parts 1 and 2 have frequencies 3 and 1, respectively. - Emeric Deutsch, Jun 04 2015

From Thomas Ordowski, Dec 02 2019: (Start)

a(n) is the smallest k such that b^(phi(n)+k) == b^k (mod n) for all b.

The Euler phi function can be replaced by the Carmichael lambda function.

Problems:

(*) Are there composite numbers n > 4 such that n == a(n) (mod phi(n))? By Lehmer's totient conjecture, there are no such squarefree numbers.

(**) Are there odd numbers n such that a(n) > 1 and n == a(n) (mod lambda(n))? These are odd numbers n such that a(n) > 1 and b^n == b^a(n) (mod n) for all b.

(***) Are there odd numbers n such that a(n) > 1 and n == a(n) (mod ord_{n}(2))? These are odd numbers n such that a(n) > 1 and 2^n == 2^a(n) (mod n).

Note: if (***) do not exist, then (**) do not exist. (End)

Niven (1969) proved that the asymptotic mean of this sequence is 1 + Sum_{j>=2} 1 - (1/zeta(j)) (A033150). - Amiram Eldar, Jul 10 2020

a(n) is the size of the Frattini subgroup of the cyclic group C_n - Ahmed Fares (ahmedfares(AT)my-deja.com), Jun 07 2001.

Also of the Frattini subgroup of the dihedral group with 2*n elements. - Sharon Sela (sharonsela(AT)hotmail.com), Jan 01 2002

Number of solutions to x^m==0 (mod n) provided that n < 2^(m+1), i.e. the sequence of sequences A000188, A000189, A000190, etc. converges to this sequence. - Henry Bottomley, Sep 18 2001

a(n) is the number of nilpotent elements in the ring Z/nZ. - Laszlo Toth, May 22 2009

The sequence of partial products of a(n) is A085056(n). - Peter Luschny, Jun 29 2009

The first occurrence of n in this sequence is at A064549(n). - Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Jul 25 2014

From Hal M. Switkay, Jul 03 2025: (Start)

For n > 1, a(n) is a proper divisor of n. Thus the sequence n, a(n), a(a(n)), ... eventually becomes 1. This yields a minimal factorization of n as a product of squarefree numbers (A005117), each factor dividing all larger factors, in a factorization that is conjugate to the minimal factorization of n as a product of prime powers (A000961), as follows.

Let f(n,0) = n, and let f(n,k) = a(f(n,k-1)) for k > 0. A051903(n) is the minimal value of k such that f(n,k) = 1. A051903(n) <= log(n)/log(2). Since n/a(n) = A007947(n) is always squarefree by definition, n is a product of squarefree factors in the form Product_{i=1..A051903(n)} [f(n,i-1)/f(n,i)].

The two factorizations correspond to conjugate partitions of bigomega(n) = A001222(n). (End)

Number of primitive sublattices of index n in generic 2-dimensional lattice; also index of Gamma_0(n) in SL_2(Z).

A generic 2-dimensional lattice L = consists of all vectors of the form mV + nW, (m,n integers). A sublattice S = has index |ad-bc| and is primitive if gcd(a,b,c,d) = 1. The generic lattice L has precisely a(2) = 3 sublattices of index 2, namely <2V,W>, and (which = ) and so on for other indices.

The sublattices of index n are in 1-to-1 correspondence with matrices [a b; 0 d] with a>0, ad=n, b in [0..d-1]. The number of these is Sum_{d|n} = sigma(n), which is A000203. A sublattice is primitive if gcd(a,b,d) = 1; the number of these is n * product_{p|n} (1+1/p), which is the present sequence.

SL_2(Z) = Gamma is the group of all 2 X 2 matrices [a b; c d] where a,b,c,d are integers with ad-bc = 1 and Gamma_0(N) is usually defined as the subgroup of this for which N|c. But conceptually Gamma is best thought of as the group of (positive) automorphisms of a lattice , its typical element taking V -> aV + bW, W -> cV + dW and then Gamma_0(N) can be defined as the subgroup consisting of the automorphisms that fix the sublattice of index N. - J. H. Conway, May 05 2001

Dedekind proved that if n = k_i*j_i for i in I represents all the ways to write n as a product, and e_i=gcd(k_i,j_i), then a(n)= sum(k_i / (e_i * phi(e_i)), i in I ) [cf. Dickson, History of the Theory of Numbers, Vol. 1, p. 123].

Also a(n)= number of cyclic subgroups of order n in an Abelian group of order n^2 and type (1,1) (Fricke). - Len Smiley, Dec 04 2001

The polynomial degree of the classical modular equation of degree n relating j(z) and j(nz) is psi(n) (Fricke). - Michael Somos, Nov 10 2006; clarified by Katherine E. Stange, Mar 11 2022

The Mobius transform of this sequence is A063659. - Gary W. Adamson, May 23 2008

The inverse Mobius transform of this sequence is A060648. - Vladeta Jovovic, Apr 05 2009

The Dirichlet inverse of this sequence is A008836(n) * A048250(n). - Álvar Ibeas, Mar 18 2015

The Riemann Hypothesis is true if and only if a(n)/n - e^gamma*log(log(n)) < 0 for any n > 30. - Enrique Pérez Herrero, Jul 12 2011

The Riemann Hypothesis is also equivalent to another inequality, see the Sole and Planat link. - Thomas Ordowski, May 28 2017

An infinitary analog of this sequence is the sum of the infinitary divisors of n (see A049417). - Vladimir Shevelev, Apr 01 2014

Problem: are there composite numbers n such that n+1 divides psi(n)? - Thomas Ordowski, May 21 2017

The sum of divisors d of n such that n/d is squarefree. - Amiram Eldar, Jan 11 2019

Psi(n)/n is a new maximum for each primorial (A002110) [proof in link: Patrick Sole and Michel Planat, Proposition 1 page 2]. - Bernard Schott, May 21 2020

From Jianing Song, Nov 05 2022: (Start)

a(n) is the number of subgroups of C_n X C_n that are isomorphic to C_n, where C_n is the cyclic group of order n. Proof: the number of elements of order n in C_n X C_n is A007434(n) (they are the elements of the form (a,b) in C_n X C_n where gcd(a,b,n) = 1), and each subgroup isomorphic to C_n contains phi(n) generators, so the number of such subgroups is A007434(n)/phi(n) = a(n).

The total number of order-n subgroups of C_n X C_n is A000203(n). (End)

a(n) depends only on prime signature of n (cf. A025487). So a(24) = a(375) since 24 = 2^3*3 and 375 = 3*5^3 both have prime signature (3, 1).

The infinite lower triangular matrix with A008966 on the main diagonal and the rest zeros is the square of triangle A143255. - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 02 2008

Also called core(n). [Not to be confused with the squarefree kernel of n, A007947.]

Sequence read mod 4 gives A065882. - Philippe Deléham, Mar 28 2004

This is an arithmetic function and is undefined if n <= 0.

A note on square roots of numbers: we can write sqrt(n) = b*sqrt(c) where c is squarefree. Then b = A000188(n) is the "inner square root" of n, c = A007913(n), lcm(A007947(b),c) = A007947(n) = "squarefree kernel" of n and bc = A019554(n) = "outer square root" of n. [Corrected by M. F. Hasler, Mar 01 2018]

If n > 1, the quantity f(n) = log(n/core(n))/log(n) satisfies 0 <= f(n) <= 1; f(n) = 0 when n is squarefree and f(n) = 1 when n is a perfect square. One can define n as being "epsilon-almost squarefree" if f(n) < epsilon. - Kurt Foster (drsardonicus(AT)earthlink.net), Jun 28 2008

a(n) is the smallest natural number m such that product of geometric mean of the divisors of n and geometric mean of the divisors of m are integers. Geometric mean of the divisors of number n is real number b(n) = Sqrt(n). a(n) = 1 for infinitely many n. a(n) = 1 for numbers from A000290: a(A000290(n)) = 1. For n = 8; b(8) = sqrt(8), a(n) = 2 because b(2) = sqrt(2); sqrt(8) * sqrt(2) = 4 (integer). - Jaroslav Krizek, Apr 26 2010

Dirichlet convolution of A010052 with the sequence of absolute values of A055615. - R. J. Mathar, Feb 11 2011

Booker, Hiary, & Keating outline a method for bounding (on the GRH) a(n) for large n using L-functions. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Feb 01 2013

According to the formula a(n) = n/A000188(n)^2, the scatterplot exhibits the straight lines y=x, y=x/4, y=x/9, ..., i.e., y=x/k^2 for all k=1,2,3,... - M. F. Hasler, May 08 2014

The Dirichlet inverse of this sequence is A008836(n) * A063659(n). - Álvar Ibeas, Mar 19 2015

a(n) = 1 if n is a square, a(n) = n if n is a product of distinct primes. - Zak Seidov, Jan 30 2016

All solutions of the Diophantine equation n*x=y^2 or, equivalently, G(n,x)=y, with G being the geometric mean, are of the form x=k^2*a(n), y=k*sqrt(n*a(n)), where k is a positive integer. - Stanislav Sykora, Feb 03 2016

If f is a multiplicative function then Sum_{d divides n} f(a(d)) is also multiplicative. For example, A010052(n) = Sum_{d divides n} mu(a(d)) and A046951(n) = Sum_{d divides n} mu(a(d)^2). - Peter Bala, Jan 24 2024

a(n) is the largest order of any element in the multiplicative group modulo n. - Joerg Arndt, Mar 19 2016

Largest period of repeating digits of 1/n written in different bases (i.e., largest value in each row of square array A066799 and least common multiple of each row). - Henry Bottomley, Dec 20 2001

From Gus Wiseman, Oct 23 2016: (Start)

There is a 1-to-1 correspondence between integers N >= 2 and sequences a(x_1),a(x_2),...,a(x_k) of terms from this sequence. Every N >= 2 can be written uniquely as a "power tower"

N = a(x_1)^a(x_2)^a(x_3)^...^a(x_k),

where the exponents are to be nested from the right.

Proof: If N is not a perfect power then N = a(x) for some x, and we are done. Otherwise, write N = a(x_1)^M for some M >=2, and repeat the process. QED

Of course, prime numbers also have distinct power towers (see A164336). (End)

These numbers can be computed with a modified Sieve of Eratosthenes: (1) start at n=2; (2) if n is not crossed out, then append n to the sequence and cross out all powers of n; (3) set n = n+1 and go to step 2. - Sam Alexander, Dec 15 2003

These are all numbers such that the multiplicities of the prime factors have no common divisor. The first number in the sequence whose prime multiplicities are not coprime is 180 = 2 * 2 * 3 * 3 * 5. Mathematica: CoprimeQ[2,2,1]->False. - Gus Wiseman, Jan 14 2017

Since the prime factorization of 1 is the empty product (i.e., the multiplicative identity, 1), it follows that the prime signature of 1 is the empty multiset { }. (Cf. http://oeis.org/wiki/Prime_signature)

MathWorld wrongly defines the prime signature of 1 as {1}, which is actually the prime signature of primes.

The sequences A025487, A036035, A046523 consider the prime signatures of 1 and 2 to be distinct, implying { } for 1 and {1} for 2.

Since the prime signature of n is a partition of Omega(n), also true for Omega(1) = 0, the order of exponents is only a matter of convention (using reverse sorted lists of exponents would create a different sequence).

Here the multisets of nonzero exponents are sorted in increasing order; it is slightly more common to order them, as the parts of partitions, in decreasing order. This yields A212171. - M. F. Hasler, Oct 12 2018

Every number n is a product of a unique subset of these numbers. This is sometimes called the Fermi-Dirac factorization of n (see A182979). Proof: In the prime factorization n = Product_{j>=1} p(j)^e(j) expand every exponent e(j) as binary number and pick the terms of this sequence corresponding to the positions of the ones in binary (it is clear that both n and n^2 have the same number of factors in this sequence, and that each factor appears with exponent 1 or 0).

Or, a(1) = 2; for n>1, a(n) = smallest number which cannot be obtained as the product of previous terms. This is evident from the unique factorization theorem and the fact that every number can be expressed as the sum of powers of 2. - Amarnath Murthy, Jan 09 2002

Except for the first term, same as A084400. - David Wasserman, Dec 22 2004

The least number having 2^n divisors (=A037992(n)) is the product of the first n terms of this sequence according to Ramanujan.

According to the Bose-Einstein distribution of particles, an unlimited number of particles may occupy the same state. On the other hand, according to the Fermi-Dirac distribution, no two particles can occupy the same state (by the Pauli exclusion principle). Unique factorizations of the positive integers by primes (A000040) and over terms of A050376 one can compare with two these distributions in physics of particles. In the correspondence with this, the factorizations over primes one can call "Bose-Einstein factorizations", while the factorizations over distinct terms of A050376 one can call "Fermi-Dirac factorizations". - Vladimir Shevelev, Apr 16 2010

The numbers of the form p^(2^k), where p is prime and k >= 0, might thus be called the "Fermi-Dirac primes", while the classic primes might be called the "Bose-Einstein primes". - Daniel Forgues, Feb 11 2011

In the theory of infinitary divisors, the most natural name of the terms is "infinitary primes" or "i-primes". Indeed, n is in the sequence, if and only if it has only two infinitary divisors. Since 1 and n are always infinitary divisors of n>1, an i-prime has no other infinitary divisors. - Vladimir Shevelev, Feb 28 2011

{a(n)} is the minimal set including all primes and closed with respect to squaring. In connection with this, note that n and n^2 have the same number of factors in their Fermi-Dirac representations. - Vladimir Shevelev, Mar 16 2012

In connection with this sequence, call an integer compact if the factors in its Fermi-Dirac factorization are pairwise coprime. The density of such integers equals (6/Pi^2)*Product_{prime p} (1+(Sum_{i>=1} p^(-(2^i-1))/(p+1))) = 0.872497... It is interesting that there exist only 7 compact factorials listed in A169661. - Vladimir Shevelev, Mar 17 2012

The first k terms of the sequence solve the following optimization problem:

Let x_1, x_2,..., x_k be integers with the restrictions: 2<=x_1A064547(Product{i=1..k} x_i) >= k. Let the goal function be Product_{i=1..k} x_i. Then the minimal value of the goal function is Product_{i=1..k} a(i). - Vladimir Shevelev, Apr 01 2012

From Joerg Arndt, Mar 11 2013: (Start)

Similarly to the first comment, for the sequence "Numbers of the form p^(3^k) or p^(2*3^k) where p is prime and k >= 0" one obtains a factorization into distinct factors by using the ternary expansion of the exponents (here n and n^3 have the same number of such factors).

The generalization to base r would use "Numbers of the form p^(r^k), p^(2*r^k), p^(3*r^k), ..., p^((r-1)*r^k) where p is prime and k >= 0" (here n and n^r have the same number of (distinct) factors). (End)

The first appearance of this sequence as a multiplicative basis in number theory with some new notions, formulas and theorems may have been in my 1981 paper (see the Abramovich reference). - Vladimir Shevelev, Apr 27 2014

Numbers n for which A064547(n) = 1. - Antti Karttunen, Feb 10 2016

Lexicographically earliest sequence of distinct nonnegative integers such that no term is a product of 2 or more distinct terms. Removing the distinctness requirement, the sequence becomes A000040 (the prime numbers); and the equivalent sequence where the product is of 2 distinct terms is A026416 (without its initial term, 1). - Peter Munn, Mar 05 2019

The sequence was independently developed as a multiplicative number system in 1985-1986 (and first published in 1995, see the Uhlmann reference) using a proof method involving representations of positive integers as sums of powers of 2. This approach offers an arguably simpler and more flexible means for analyzing the sequence. - Jeffrey K. Uhlmann, Nov 09 2022

a(0)=0, a(1)=1; thereafter a(n) is the number of ordered factorizations of n as a product of integers greater than 1.

Kalmár (1931) seems to be the earliest reference that mentions this sequence (as opposed to A002033). - N. J. A. Sloane, May 05 2016

a(n) is the permanent of the n-1 X n-1 matrix A with (i,j) entry = 1 if j|i+1 and = 0 otherwise. This is because ordered factorizations correspond to nonzero elementary products in the permanent. For example, with n=6, 3*2 -> 1,3,6 [partial products] -> 6,3,1 [reverse list] -> (6,3)(3,1) [partition into pairs with offset 1] -> (5,3)(2,1) [decrement first entry] -> (5,3)(2,1)(1,2)(3,4)(4,5) [append pairs (i,i+1) to get a permutation] -> elementary product A(1,2)A(2,1)A(3,4)A(4,5)A(5,3). - David Callan, Oct 19 2005

This sequence is important in describing the amount of energy in all wave structures in the Universe according to harmonics theory. - Ray Tomes (ray(AT)tomes.biz), Jul 22 2007

a(n) appears to be the number of permutation matrices contributing to the Moebius function. See A008683 for more information. Also a(n) appears to be the Moebius transform of A067824. Furthermore it appears that except for the first term a(n)=A067824(n)*(1/2). Are there other sequences such that when the Moebius transform is applied, the new sequence is also a constant factor times the starting sequence? - Mats Granvik, Jan 01 2009

Numbers divisible by n distinct primes appear to have ordered factorization values that can be found in an n-dimensional summatory Pascal triangle. For example, the ordered factorization values for numbers divisible by two distinct primes can be found in table A059576. - Mats Granvik, Sep 06 2009

Inverse Mobius transform of A174725 and also except for the first term, inverse Mobius transform of A174726. - Mats Granvik, Mar 28 2010

a(n) is a lower bound on the worst-case number of solutions to the probed partial digest problem for n fragments of DNA; see the Newberg & Naor reference, below. - Lee A. Newberg, Aug 02 2011

All integers greater than 1 are perfect numbers over this sequence (for definition of A-perfect numbers, see comment to A175522). - Vladimir Shevelev, Aug 03 2011

If n is squarefree, then a(n) = A000670(A001221(n)) = A000670(A001222(n)). - Vladimir Shevelev and Franklin T. Adams-Watters, Aug 05 2011

A034776 lists the values taken by this sequence. - Robert G. Wilson v, Jun 02 2012

From Gus Wiseman, Aug 25 2020: (Start)

Also the number of strict chains of divisors from n to 1. For example, the a(n) chains for n = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 30 are:

1 2/1 4/1 6/1 8/1 12/1 30/1

4/2/1 6/2/1 8/2/1 12/2/1 30/2/1

6/3/1 8/4/1 12/3/1 30/3/1

8/4/2/1 12/4/1 30/5/1

12/6/1 30/6/1

12/4/2/1 30/10/1

12/6/2/1 30/15/1

12/6/3/1 30/6/2/1

30/6/3/1

30/10/2/1

30/10/5/1

30/15/3/1

30/15/5/1

(End)

a(n) is also the number of ways to tile a strip of length log(n) with tiles having lengths {log(k) : k>=2}. - David Bevan, Jan 07 2025