cp's OEIS Frontend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

| \/ | \/ | \/ |

| /\ | /\ | /\ |

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U = U_(6,2) =

(0 0 1)

(0 2 0)

(2 0 1).

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

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

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

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

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

From Paul Curtz, Dec 11 2012: (Start)

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

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

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

1/2 0 1 1 3 5 ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a a a a a b

a a b b a b (End)

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

Also known as Stirling set numbers and written {n, k}.

S2(n,k) counts partitions of an n-set into k nonempty subsets.

From Manfred Boergens, Apr 07 2025: (Start)

With regard to the preceding comment:

For disjoint collections of subsets see A256894.

For arbitrary collections of subsets see A163353.

For arbitrary collections of nonempty subsets see A055154. (End)

Triangle S2(n,k), 1 <= k <= n, read by rows, given by [0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 3, 0, 4, 0, 5, 0, 6, ...] DELTA [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ...] where DELTA is Deléham's operator defined in A084938.

Number of partitions of {1, ..., n+1} into k+1 nonempty subsets of nonconsecutive integers, including the partition 1|2|...|n+1 if n=k. E.g., S2(3,2)=3 since the number of partitions of {1,2,3,4} into three subsets of nonconsecutive integers is 3, i.e., 13|2|4, 14|2|3, 1|24|3. - Augustine O. Munagi, Mar 20 2005

Draw n cards (with replacement) from a deck of k cards. Let prob(n,k) be the probability that each card was drawn at least once. Then prob(n,k) = S2(n,k)*k!/k^n (see A090582). - Rainer Rosenthal, Oct 22 2005

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 f_n(x) = e^x*Sum_{k=1..n} S2(n,k)*x^(k-1). - Milan Janjic, May 30 2008

From Peter Bala, Oct 03 2008: (Start)

For tables of restricted Stirling numbers of the second kind see A143494 - A143496.

S2(n,k) gives the number of 'patterns' of words of length n using k distinct symbols - see [Cooper & Kennedy] for an exact definition of the term 'pattern'. As an example, the words AADCBB and XXEGTT, both of length 6, have the same pattern of letters. The five patterns of words of length 3 are AAA, AAB, ABA, BAA and ABC giving row 3 of this table as (1,3,1).

Equivalently, S2(n,k) gives the number of sequences of positive integers (N_1,...,N_n) of length n, with k distinct entries, such that N_1 = 1 and N_(i+1) <= 1 + max{j = 1..i} N_j for i >= 1 (restricted growth functions). For example, Stirling(4,2) = 7 since the sequences of length 4 having 2 distinct entries that satisfy the conditions are (1,1,1,2), (1,1,2,1), (1,2,1,1), (1,1,2,2), (1,2,2,2), (1,2,2,1) and (1,2,1,2).

(End)

Number of combinations of subsets in the plane. - Mats Granvik, Jan 13 2009

S2(n+1,k+1) is the number of size k collections of pairwise disjoint, nonempty subsets of [n]. For example: S2(4,3)=6 because there are six such collections of subsets of [3] that have cardinality two: {(1)(23)},{(12)(3)}, {(13)(2)}, {(1)(2)}, {(1)(3)}, {(2)(3)}. - Geoffrey Critzer, Apr 06 2009

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, k+1) equals the number of ways to choose 0 or more balls of each color in such a way that exactly (n-k) colors are chosen at least once, and no two colors are chosen the same positive number of times. - Matthew Vandermast, Nov 22 2010

S2(n,k) is the number of monotonic-labeled forests on n vertices with exactly k rooted trees, each of height one or less. See link "Counting forests with Stirling and Bell numbers" below. - Dennis P. Walsh, Nov 16 2011

If D is the operator d/dx, and E the operator xd/dx, Stirling numbers are given by: E^n = Sum_{k=1..n} S2(n,k) * x^k*D^k. - Hyunwoo Jang, Dec 13 2011

The Stirling polynomials of the second kind (a.k.a. the Bell / Touchard polynomials) are the umbral compositional inverses of the falling factorials (a.k.a. the Pochhammer symbol or Stirling polynomials of the first kind), i.e., binomial(Bell(.,x),n) = x^n/n! (cf. Copeland's 2007 formulas), implying binomial(xD,n) = binomial(Bell(.,:xD:),n) = :xD:^n/n! where D = d/dx and :xD:^n = x^n*D^n. - Tom Copeland, Apr 17 2014

S2(n,k) is the number of ways to nest n matryoshkas (Russian nesting dolls) so that exactly k matryoshkas are not contained in any other matryoshka. - Carlo Sanna, Oct 17 2015

The row polynomials R(n, x) = Sum_{k=1..n} S2(n, k)*x^k appear in the numerator of the e.g.f. of n-th powers, E(n, x) = Sum_{m>=0} m^n*x^m/m!, as E(n, x) = exp(x)*x*R(n, x), for n >= 1. - Wolfdieter Lang, Apr 02 2017

With offsets 0 for n and k this is the Sheffer product matrix A007318*A048993 denoted by (exp(t), (exp(t) - 1)) with e.g.f. exp(t)*exp(x*(exp(t) - 1)). - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 20 2017

Number of words on k+1 unlabeled letters of length n+1 with no repeated letters. - Thomas Anton, Mar 14 2019

Also coefficients of moments of Poisson distribution about the origin expressed as polynomials in lambda. [Haight] (see also A331155). - N. J. A. Sloane, Jan 14 2020

k!*S2(n,k) is the number of surjections from an n-element set to a k-element set. - Jianing Song, Jun 01 2022

Number of ways n competitors can rank in a competition, allowing for the possibility of ties.

Also number of asymmetric generalized weak orders on n points.

Also called the ordered Bell numbers.

A weak order is a relation that is transitive and complete.

Called Fubini numbers by Comtet: counts formulas in Fubini theorem when switching the order of summation in multiple sums. - Olivier Gérard, Sep 30 2002 [Named after the Italian mathematician Guido Fubini (1879-1943). - Amiram Eldar, Jun 17 2021]

If the points are unlabeled then the answer is a(0) = 1, a(n) = 2^(n-1) (cf. A011782).

For n>0, a(n) is the number of elements in the Coxeter complex of type A_{n-1}. The corresponding sequence for type B is A080253 and there one can find a worked example as well as a geometric interpretation. - Tim Honeywill and Paul Boddington, Feb 10 2003

Also number of labeled (1+2)-free posets. - Detlef Pauly, May 25 2003

Also the number of chains of subsets starting with the empty set and ending with a set of n distinct objects. - Andrew Niedermaier, Feb 20 2004

From Michael Somos, Mar 04 2004: (Start)

Stirling transform of A007680(n) = [3,10,42,216,...] gives [3,13,75,541,...].

Stirling transform of a(n) = [1,3,13,75,...] is A083355(n) = [1,4,23,175,...].

Stirling transform of A000142(n) = [1,2,6,24,120,...] is a(n) = [1,3,13,75,...].

Stirling transform of A005359(n-1) = [1,0,2,0,24,0,...] is a(n-1) = [1,1,3,13,75,...].

Stirling transform of A005212(n-1) = [0,1,0,6,0,120,0,...] is a(n-1) = [0,1,3,13,75,...].

(End)

Unreduced denominators in convergent to log(2) = lim_{n->infinity} n*a(n-1)/a(n).

a(n) is congruent to a(n+(p-1)p^(h-1)) (mod p^h) for n >= h (see Barsky).

Stirling-Bernoulli transform of 1/(1-x^2). - Paul Barry, Apr 20 2005

This is the sequence of moments of the probability distribution of the number of tails before the first head in a sequence of fair coin tosses. The sequence of cumulants of the same probability distribution is A000629. That sequence is twice the result of deletion of the first term of this sequence. - Michael Hardy (hardy(AT)math.umn.edu), May 01 2005

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)!)) * (p(i)!/(Product_{j=1..d(i)} m(i,j)!)). - Thomas Wieder, May 18 2005

The number of chains among subsets of [n]. The summed term in the new formula is the number of such chains of length k. - Micha Hofri (hofri(AT)wpi.edu), Jul 01 2006

Occurs also as first column of a matrix-inversion occurring in a sum-of-like-powers problem. Consider the problem for any fixed natural number m>2 of finding solutions to the equation Sum_{k=1..n} k^m = (k+1)^m. Erdős conjectured that there are no solutions for n, m > 2. Let D be the matrix of differences of D[m,n] := Sum_{k=1..n} k^m - (k+1)^m. Then the generating functions for the rows of this matrix D constitute a set of polynomials in n (for varying n along columns) and the m-th polynomial defining the m-th row. Let GF_D be the matrix of the coefficients of this set of polynomials. Then the present sequence is the (unsigned) first column of GF_D^-1. - Gottfried Helms, Apr 01 2007

Assuming A = log(2), D is d/dx and f(x) = x/(exp(x)-1), we have a(n) = (n!/2*A^(n+1)) Sum_{k=0..n} (A^k/k!) D^n f(-A) which gives Wilf's asymptotic value when n tends to infinity. Equivalently, D^n f(-a) = 2*( A*a(n) - 2*a(n-1) ). - Martin Kochanski (mjk(AT)cardbox.com), May 10 2007

List partition transform (see A133314) of (1,-1,-1,-1,...). - Tom Copeland, Oct 24 2007

First column of A154921. - Mats Granvik, Jan 17 2009

A slightly more transparent interpretation of a(n) is as the number of 'factor sequences' of N for the case in which N is a product of n distinct primes. A factor sequence of N of length k is of the form 1 = x(1), x(2), ..., x(k) = N, where {x(i)} is an increasing sequence such that x(i) divides x(i+1), i=1,2,...,k-1. For example, N=70 has the 13 factor sequences {1,70}, {1,2,70}, {1,5,70}, {1,7,70}, {1,10,70}, {1,14,70}, {1,35,70}, {1,2,10,70}, {1,2,14,70}, {1,5,10,70}, {1,5,35,70}, {1,7,14,70}, {1,7,35,70}. - Martin Griffiths, Mar 25 2009

Starting (1, 3, 13, 75, ...) = row sums of triangle A163204. - Gary W. Adamson, Jul 23 2009

Equals double inverse binomial transform of A007047: (1, 3, 11, 51, ...). - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 04 2009

If f(x) = Sum_{n>=0} c(n)*x^n converges for every x, then Sum_{n>=0} f(n*x)/2^(n+1) = Sum_{n>=0} c(n)*a(n)*x^n. Example: Sum_{n>=0} exp(n*x)/2^(n+1) = Sum_{n>=0} a(n)*x^n/n! = 1/(2-exp(x)) = e.g.f. - Miklos Kristof, Nov 02 2009

Hankel transform is A091804. - Paul Barry, Mar 30 2010

It appears that the prime numbers greater than 3 in this sequence (13, 541, 47293, ...) are of the form 4n+1. - Paul Muljadi, Jan 28 2011

The Fi1 and Fi2 triangle sums of A028246 are given by the terms of this sequence. For the definitions of these triangle sums, see A180662. - Johannes W. Meijer, Apr 20 2011

The modified generating function A(x) = 1/(2-exp(x))-1 = x + 3*x^2/2! + 13*x^3/3! + ... satisfies the autonomous differential equation A' = 1 + 3*A + 2*A^2 with initial condition A(0) = 0. Applying [Bergeron et al., Theorem 1] leads to two combinatorial interpretations for this sequence: (A) a(n) gives the number of plane-increasing 0-1-2 trees on n vertices, where vertices of outdegree 1 come in 3 colors and vertices of outdegree 2 come in 2 colors. (B) a(n) gives the number of non-plane-increasing 0-1-2 trees on n vertices, where vertices of outdegree 1 come in 3 colors and vertices of outdegree 2 come in 4 colors. Examples are given below. - Peter Bala, Aug 31 2011

Starting with offset 1 = the eigensequence of A074909 (the beheaded Pascal's triangle), and row sums of triangle A208744. - Gary W. Adamson, Mar 05 2012

a(n) = number of words of length n on the alphabet of positive integers for which the letters appearing in the word form an initial segment of the positive integers. Example: a(2) = 3 counts 11, 12, 21. The map "record position of block containing i, 1<=i<=n" is a bijection from lists of sets on [n] to these words. (The lists of sets on [2] are 12, 1/2, 2/1.) - David Callan, Jun 24 2013

This sequence was the subject of one of the earliest uses of the database. Don Knuth, who had a computer printout of the database prior to the publication of the 1973 Handbook, wrote to N. J. A. Sloane on May 18, 1970, saying: "I have just had my first real 'success' using your index of sequences, finding a sequence treated by Cayley that turns out to be identical to another (a priori quite different) sequence that came up in connection with computer sorting." A000670 is discussed in Exercise 3 of Section 5.3.1 of The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 3, 1973. - N. J. A. Sloane, Aug 21 2014

Ramanujan gives a method of finding a continued fraction of the solution x of an equation 1 = x + a2*x^2 + ... and uses log(2) as the solution of 1 = x + x^2/2 + x^3/6 + ... as an example giving the sequence of simplified convergents as 0/1, 1/1, 2/3, 9/13, 52/75, 375/541, ... of which the sequence of denominators is this sequence, while A052882 is the numerators. - Michael Somos, Jun 19 2015

For n>=1, a(n) is the number of Dyck paths (A000108) with (i) n+1 peaks (UD's), (ii) no UUDD's, and (iii) at least one valley vertex at every nonnegative height less than the height of the path. For example, a(2)=3 counts UDUDUD (of height 1 with 2 valley vertices at height 0), UDUUDUDD, UUDUDDUD. These paths correspond, under the "glove" or "accordion" bijection, to the ordered trees counted by Cayley in the 1859 reference, after a harmless pruning of the "long branches to a leaf" in Cayley's trees. (Cayley left the reader to infer the trees he was talking about from examples for small n and perhaps from his proof.) - David Callan, Jun 23 2015

From David L. Harden, Apr 09 2017: (Start)

Fix a set X and define two distance functions d,D on X to be metrically equivalent when d(x_1,y_1) <= d(x_2,y_2) iff D(x_1,y_1) <= D(x_2,y_2) for all x_1, y_1, x_2, y_2 in X.

Now suppose that we fix a function f from unordered pairs of distinct elements of X to {1,...,n}. Then choose positive real numbers d_1 <= ... <= d_n such that d(x,y) = d_{f(x,y)}; the set of all possible choices of the d_i's makes this an n-parameter family of distance functions on X. (The simplest example of such a family occurs when n is a triangular number: When that happens, write n = (k 2). Then the set of all distance functions on X, when |X| = k, is such a family.) The number of such distance functions, up to metric equivalence, is a(n).

It is easy to see that an equivalence class of distance functions gives rise to a well-defined weak order on {d_1, ..., d_n}. To see that any weak order is realizable, choose distances from the set of integers {n-1, ..., 2n-2} so that the triangle inequality is automatically satisfied. (End)

a(n) is the number of rooted labeled forests on n nodes that avoid the patterns 213, 312, and 321. - Kassie Archer, Aug 30 2018

From A.H.M. Smeets, Nov 17 2018: (Start)

Also the number of semantic different assignments to n variables (x_1, ..., x_n) including simultaneous assignments. From the example given by Joerg Arndt (Mar 18 2014), this is easily seen by replacing

"{i}" by "x_i := expression_i(x_1, ..., x_n)",

"{i, j}" by "x_i, x_j := expression_i(x_1, .., x_n), expression_j(x_1, ..., x_n)", i.e., simultaneous assignment to two different variables (i <> j),

similar for simultaneous assignments to more variables, and

"<" by ";", i.e., the sequential constructor. These examples are directly related to "Number of ways n competitors can rank in a competition, allowing for the possibility of ties." in the first comment.

From this also the number of different mean definitions as obtained by iteration of n different mean functions on n initial values. Examples:

the AGM(x1,x2) = AGM(x2,x1) is represented by {arithmetic mean, geometric mean}, i.e., simultaneous assignment in any iteration step;

Archimedes's scheme (for Pi) is represented by {geometric mean} < {harmonic mean}, i.e., sequential assignment in any iteration step;

the geometric mean of two values can also be observed by {arithmetic mean, harmonic mean};

the AGHM (as defined in A319215) is represented by {arithmetic mean, geometric mean, harmonic mean}, i.e., simultaneous assignment, but there are 12 other semantic different ways to assign the values in an AGHM scheme.

By applying power means (also called Holder means) this can be extended to any value of n. (End)

Total number of faces of all dimensions in the permutohedron of order n. For example, the permutohedron of order 3 (a hexagon) has 6 vertices + 6 edges + 1 2-face = 13 faces, and the permutohedron of order 4 (a truncated octahedron) has 24 vertices + 36 edges + 14 2-faces + 1 3-face = 75 faces. A001003 is the analogous sequence for the associahedron. - Noam Zeilberger, Dec 08 2019

Number of odd multinomial coefficients N!/(a_1!*a_2!*...*a_k!). Here each a_i is positive, and Sum_{i} a_i = N (so 2^{N-1} multinomial coefficients in all), where N is any positive integer whose binary expansion has n 1's. - Richard Stanley, Apr 05 2022 (edited Oct 19 2022)

From Peter Bala, Jul 08 2022: (Start)

Conjecture: Let k be a positive integer. The sequence obtained by reducing a(n) modulo k is eventually periodic with the period dividing phi(k) = A000010(k). For example, modulo 16 we obtain the sequence [1, 1, 3, 13, 11, 13, 11, 13, 11, 13, ...], with an apparent period of 2 beginning at a(4). Cf. A354242.

More generally, we conjecture that the same property holds for integer sequences having an e.g.f. of the form G(exp(x) - 1), where G(x) is an integral power series. (End)

a(n) is the number of ways to form a permutation of [n] and then choose a subset of its descent set. - Geoffrey Critzer, Apr 29 2023

This is the Akiyama-Tanigawa transform of A000079, the powers of two. - Shel Kaphan, May 02 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Ant King, Oct 17 2012: (Start)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is an example with n = 5:

1

1 2

1 2 3

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4

1 2 3

1 2

1

(End)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"In 1736 he [Leonard Euler, 1707-1783] discovered the limit to the infinite series, Sum 1/n^2. He did it by doing some rather ingenious mathematics using trigonometric functions that proved the series summed to exactly Pi^2/6. How can this be? ... This demonstrates one of the most startling characteristics of mathematics - the interconnectedness of, seemingly, unrelated ideas." - Clawson [See Hardy and Wright, Theorems 332 and 333. - N. J. A. Sloane, Jan 20 2017]

Also dilogarithm(1). - Rick L. Shepherd, Jul 21 2004

Also Integral_{x>=0} x/(exp(x)-1) dx. [Abramowitz-Stegun, 23.2.7., for s=2, p. 807]

For the partial sums see the fractional sequence A007406/A007407.

Pi^2/6 is also the length of the circumference of a circle whose diameter equals the ratio of volume of an ellipsoid to the circumscribed cuboid. Pi^2/6 is also the length of the circumference of a circle whose diameter equals the ratio of surface area of a sphere to the circumscribed cube. - Omar E. Pol, Oct 07 2011

1 < n^2/(eulerphi(n)*sigma(n)) < zeta(2) for n > 1. - Arkadiusz Wesolowski, Sep 04 2012

Volume of a sphere inscribed in a cube of volume Pi. More generally, Pi^x/6 is the volume of an ellipsoid inscribed in a cuboid of volume Pi^(x-1). - Omar E. Pol, Feb 17 2016

Surface area of a sphere inscribed in a cube of surface area Pi. More generally, Pi^x/6 is the surface area of a sphere inscribed in a cube of surface area Pi^(x-1). - Omar E. Pol, Feb 19 2016

zeta(2)+1 is a weighted average of the integers, n > 2, using zeta(n)-1 as the weights for each n. We have: Sum_{n >= 2} (zeta(n)-1) = 1 and Sum_{n >= 2} n*(zeta(n)-1) = zeta(2)+1. - Richard R. Forberg, Jul 14 2016

zeta(2) is the expected value of sigma(n)/n. - Charlie Neder, Oct 22 2018

Graham shows that a rational number x can be expressed as a finite sum of reciprocals of distinct squares if and only if x is in [0, Pi^2/6-1) U [1, Pi^2/6). See section 4 for other results and Theorem 5 for the underlying principle. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Aug 04 2020

From Peter Bala, Aug 24 2025: (Start)

By definition, zeta(2) = lim_{n -> oo} s(n), where s(n) = Sum_{k = 1..n} 1/k^2. The convergence is slow. For example, s(50) = 1.6(25...) is only correct to 1 decimal digit.

Let S(n) = Sum_{k = 0..n} (-1)^(n+k)*binomial(n, k)*binomial(n+k, k)*s(n+k). It appears that S(n) converges to zeta(2) much more rapidly. For example, S(50) = 1.64493406684822643647241516664602(137...) gives zeta(2) correct to 32 decimal digits. Cf. A073004. (End)

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

2

.P

1 n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(End)

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

From Klaus Purath, Jan 29 2020: (Start)

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

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

(End)

From Roger Ford, May 10 2021: (Start)

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

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

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

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

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

//\\

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then 2p+1 is called a safe prime: see A005385.

Primes p such that the equation phi(x) = 2p has solutions, where phi is the totient function. See A087634 for another such collection of primes. - T. D. Noe, Oct 24 2003

Subsequence of A117360. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Mar 10 2006

Let q = 2n+1. For these n (and q), the difference of two cyclotomic polynomials can be written as a cyclotomic polynomial in x^2: Phi(q,x) - Phi(2q,x) = 2x Phi(n,x^2). - T. D. Noe, Jan 04 2008

A Sophie Germain prime p is 2, 3 or of the form 6k-1, k >= 1, i.e., p = 5 (mod 6). A prime p of the form 6k+1, k >= 1, i.e., p = 1 (mod 6), cannot be a Sophie Germain prime since 2p+1 is divisible by 3. - Daniel Forgues, Jul 31 2009

Also solutions to the equation: floor(4/A000005(2*n^2+n)) = 1. - Enrique Pérez Herrero, May 03 2012

In the spirit of the conjecture related to A217788, we conjecture that for any integers n >= m > 0 there are infinitely many integers b > a(n) such that the number Sum_{k=m..n} a(k)*b^(n-k) is prime. - Zhi-Wei Sun, Mar 26 2013

If k is the product of a Sophie Germain prime p and its corresponding safe prime 2p+1, then a(n) = (k-phi(k))/3, where phi is Euler's totient function. - Wesley Ivan Hurt, Oct 03 2013

Giovanni Resta found the first Sophie Germain prime which is also a Brazilian number (A125134), 28792661 = 1 + 73 + 73^2 + 73^3 + 73^4 = (11111)73. - _Bernard Schott, Mar 07 2019

For all Sophie Germain primes p >= 5, 2*p + 1 = min(A, B) where A is the smallest prime factor of 2^p - 1 and B the smallest prime factor of (2^p + 1) / 3. - Alain Rocchelli, Feb 01 2023

Consider a pair of numbers (p, 2*p+1), with p >= 3. Then p is a Sophie Germain prime iff (p-1)!^2 + 6*p == 1 (mod p*(2*p+1)). - Davide Rotondo, May 02 2024

Number of edges in an n-dimensional hypercube.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Lekraj Beedassy, Jun 03 2004: (Start)

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

0 1 2 3 4 5

1 3 5 7 9

4 8 12 16

12 20 28

32 48

80

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The minimal exponent of the symmetric group S_n, i.e., the least positive integer for which x^a(n)=1 for all x in S_n. - Franz Vrabec, Dec 28 2008

Product over all primes of highest power of prime less than or equal to n. a(0) = 1 by convention.

Also smallest number whose set of divisors contains an n-term arithmetic progression. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Dec 09 2002

An assertion equivalent to the Riemann hypothesis is: | log(a(n)) - n | < sqrt(n) * log(n)^2. - Lekraj Beedassy, Aug 27 2006. (This is wrong for n = 1 and n = 2. Should "for n large enough" be added? - Georgi Guninski, Oct 22 2011)

Corollary 3 of Farhi gives a proof that a(n) >= 2^(n-1). - Jonathan Vos Post, Jun 15 2009

Appears to be row products of the triangle T(n,k) = b(A010766) where b = A130087/A130086. - Mats Granvik, Jul 08 2009

Greg Martin (see link) proved that "the product of the Gamma function sampled over the set of all rational numbers in the open interval (0,1) whose denominator in lowest terms is at most n" equals (2*Pi)^(1/2)*a(n)^(-1/2). - Jonathan Vos Post, Jul 28 2009

a(n) = lcm(A188666(n), A188666(n)+1, ..., n). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Apr 25 2011

a(n+1) is the smallest integer such that all polynomials a(n+1)*(1^i + 2^i + ... + m^i) in m, for i=0,1,...,n, are polynomials with integer coefficients. - Vladimir Shevelev, Dec 23 2011

It appears that A020500(n) = a(n)/a(n-1). - Asher Auel, corrected by Bill McEachen, Apr 05 2024

n-th distinct value = A051451(n). - Matthew Vandermast, Nov 27 2009

a(n+1) = least common multiple of n-th row in A213999. - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 03 2012

For n > 2, (n-1) = Sum_{k=2..n} exp(a(n)*2*i*Pi/k). - Eric Desbiaux, Sep 13 2012

First column minus second column of A027446. - Eric Desbiaux, Mar 29 2013

For n > 0, a(n) is the smallest number k such that n is the n-th divisor of k. - Michel Lagneau, Apr 24 2014

Slowest growing integer > 0 in Z converging to 0 in Z^ when considered as profinite integer. - Herbert Eberle, May 01 2016

What is the largest number of consecutive terms that are all equal? I found 112 equal terms from a(370261) to a(370372). - Dmitry Kamenetsky, May 05 2019

Answer: there exist arbitrarily long sequences of consecutive terms with the same value; also, the maximal run of consecutive terms with different values is 5 from a(1) to a(5) (see link Roger B. Eggleton). - Bernard Schott, Aug 07 2019

Related to the inequality (54) in Ramanujan's paper about highly composite numbers A002182, also used in A199337: a(A329570(m))^2 is a (not minimal) bound above which all highly composite numbers are divisible by m, according to the right part of that inequality. - M. F. Hasler, Jan 04 2020

For n > 2, a(n) is of the form 2^e_1 * p_2^e_2 * ... * p_m^e_m, where e_m = 1 and e = floor(log_2(p_m)) <= e_1. Therefore, 2^e * p_m^e_m is a primitive Zumkeler number (A180332). Therefore, 2^e_1 * p_m^e_m is a Zumkeller number (A083207). Therefore, for n > 2, a(n) = 2^e_1 * p_m^e_m * r, where r is relatively prime to 2*p_m, is a Zumkeller number (see my proof at A002182 for details). - Ivan N. Ianakiev, May 10 2020

For n > 1, 2|(a(n)+2) ... n|(a(n)+n), so a(n)+2 .. a(n)+n are all composite and (part of) a prime gap of at least n. (Compare n!+2 .. n!+n). - Stephen E. Witham, Oct 09 2021