login
The OEIS is supported by the many generous donors to the OEIS Foundation.

 

Logo
Hints
(Greetings from The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences!)
A108622 Number of numerals to represent n in a base b multiplicative grouping numeral system where b=10. 0
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 (list; graph; refs; listen; history; text; internal format)
OFFSET
1,11
COMMENTS
This sequence assumes that there are unique numerals for all powers of b, namely, 1,b,b^2,b^3,... and there are other unique numerals for 2,3,...,b-1, where b=10 is the base here. There is no symbol for zero.
As an artificial example, suppose that 1,2,3,...,9 have their normal meanings and that A,B,C represent 10,10^2=100,10^3=1000, respectively. Then 3407 (normal base 10) = 3C4B7, using five "numerals". Note that at most one numeral is necessary for the units (because the absence of any following A,B,C,..., implies units) whereas the other numerals often occur in pairs.
However, I infer from the Britannica article (since no relevant examples are given) that CBA, using only three numerals, rather than 1C1B1A represents 1110 (normal base 10) -- as the absence of paired numerals can imply 1's. At any rate, that's how this sequence is calculated.
One historical example, "the principal example" of a multiplicative grouping system, is the Chinese traditional notational system, where the Britannica source shows the symbols for 1 through 9 and corresponding to A,B,C above but does not suggest the existence of symbols for powers of 10 larger than 1000. (This Chinese system is customarily written vertically downward.) In contrast, the Chinese modern national and mercantile systems are both positional number systems having a zero (a circle).
REFERENCES
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1981 ed., Vol. 11, "Mathematics, History of", p. 648.
LINKS
EXAMPLE
a(121) = 4 as 121 (normal base 10) = B2A1 with A and B as discussed above and B2A1 has four numerals.
a(A002275(n)) = n for n >= 1.
a(m*A002275(n)) = 2*n - 1 for 2 <= m <= 9 and n >= 1.
CROSSREFS
Cf. A055640 (similar for ciphered base 10 numeral system), A002275 (repunits).
Sequence in context: A238418 A085576 A140438 * A112348 A348460 A329199
KEYWORD
base,nonn
AUTHOR
Rick L. Shepherd, Jun 12 2005
STATUS
approved

Lookup | Welcome | Wiki | Register | Music | Plot 2 | Demos | Index | Browse | More | WebCam
Contribute new seq. or comment | Format | Style Sheet | Transforms | Superseeker | Recents
The OEIS Community | Maintained by The OEIS Foundation Inc.

License Agreements, Terms of Use, Privacy Policy. .

Last modified April 27 14:49 EDT 2024. Contains 372019 sequences. (Running on oeis4.)