A100251 The square root of A100252; the index of the least square number greater than 1 that is also an n-gonal number, or 0 if none exists.

6, 2, 99, 35, 9, 15, 3, 0, 14, 8, 6, 21, 55, 4, 133, 10, 22, 0, 51, 27, 261, 15, 5, 85, 161, 9, 35, 451, 21, 33, 69, 14, 124, 6, 44, 715, 28, 24, 7421, 217, 34, 16, 23001, 54, 1065, 36, 7, 76, 156, 0, 245

Offset

3,1

Comments

Let j be the smallest integer for which 1 + (1+1*n) + (1+2*n) + ... + (1+j*n) = k^2 = s. Then a(n)=k; if no such j exists, then a(n)=0. Basis for sequence is shortest arithmetic series with initial term 1 and difference n that sums to a perfect square.

Links

Table of n, a(n) for n=3..53.

Formula

a(n)^2 = 1 + (1+1*n) + (1+2*n) + ... + (1+A100254(n)*n) = 1 + (1+1*n) +(1+2*n) + ... + A100253(n).

a(n)^2 = A100252(n).

Example

a(3)=99 since 1 + 4 + 7 + ... + (1+80*3) = 99^2 = 9801 and no other arithmetic series with initial term 1, difference 3 and fewer terms sums to a perfect square.

Mathematica

NgonIndex[n_, v_] := (-4 + n + Sqrt[16 - 8*n + n^2 - 16*v + 8*n*v])/(n - 2)/2; Table[k = 2; While[sqr = k^2; i = NgonIndex[n, sqr]; k < 25000 && ! IntegerQ[i], k++]; If[k == 25000, k = sqr = i = 0]; k, {n, 3, 64}] (* T. D. Noe, Apr 19 2011 *)

Crossrefs

Cf. A100252, A100253.

Sequence in context: A263088 A266231 A192355 * A266607 A290051 A020339

Adjacent sequences: A100248 A100249 A100250 * A100252 A100253 A100254

Keyword

nonn

Author

Charlie Marion, Nov 21 2004

Status

approved