Finding a formula for a sequence with recurring digits

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a formula for a sequence characterized by recurring digits, specifically the sequence: 1,1,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,... Participants explore various patterns and potential formulas related to the frequency of each integer in the sequence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the presence of subsequences of equal entries, but express uncertainty about the regularity of the sequence.
  • There is a correction regarding the count of repeated numbers, with one participant stating that the sequence should have two 1s, four 2s, six 3s, and eight 4s.
  • One participant proposes a formula involving the ceiling function and square roots, suggesting that the total number of elements no smaller than n can be expressed through a summation.
  • Another participant suggests that a(n) = round(√n) seems to work for the sequence, although they admit they cannot prove it.
  • Further discussion includes the definitions of ceiling and round functions, exploring the conditions under which they yield the same output.
  • Some participants reference the OEIS sequence A000194, noting its relation to the problem at hand.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the patterns and potential formulas for the sequence, with no consensus reached on a definitive formula. Multiple competing models and interpretations are presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations are noted, including the potential ambiguity in the definitions of mathematical functions and the correctness of the initial sequence representation.

spiritzavior
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how do i determine the formula for the sequence below?

1,1,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,...,n,n,n,n,n,...,n,...

need some instructions. thanks in advance
 
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Ok, there are subsequences of equal entries (increasing by one) in a row, and the numbers of equal entries in each of them form the following sequence:

2, 4, 5, 8, ...

I can't see any regularity. Sorry.
 
I can't see a pattern here: you have two 1s, four 2s, five 3s and eight 4s. Can you confirm that you've written it out correctly?
 
spiritzavior said:
how do i determine the formula for the sequence below?

1,1,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,...,n,n,n,n,n,...,n,...

need some instructions. thanks in advance
Seems like one too many 2's with n-1 repeated F(n+1) times for n = 2,3,4,5,... .
 
Last edited:
haruspex said:
I can't see a pattern here: you have two 1s, four 2s, five 3s and eight 4s. Can you confirm that you've written it out correctly?

sorry, I've typed it incorrectly, it should be:

1,1,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,...

two 1s, four 2s, six 3s, eight 4s,...
 
If you don't mind the use of [] (integer part of) it's [1/2 +√(n-3/4)]
 
So, there are [itex]2 n[/itex] n's. The total number of elements no smaller than n is:
[tex] \sum_{k = 1}^{n}{2 k} = n(n + 1)[/tex]

Thus, all the elements with an index k that satisfies:
[tex] (n - 1) n < k \le n (n + 1)[/tex]
are equal to [itex]x_k = n[/itex] (why?). Can you find n, given k from the above inequalities?
[tex] n^2 + n - k \ge 0 \Rightarrow n \ge -\frac{1}{2} + \sqrt{k + \frac{1}{4}}[/tex]
[tex] n^2 - n - k < 0 \Rightarrow n < \frac{1}{2} + \sqrt{k + \frac{1}{4}}[/tex]

If you know the [STRIKE]floor[/STRIKE] floor function, which is the same as integer part for positive integers, you should be able to deduce:
[tex] x_k = \mathrm{Ceiling} \left[ \sqrt{k + \frac{1}{4}} - \frac{1}{2}\right][/tex]
 
Last edited:
[itex]a(n) = round(\sqrt{n})[/itex] seems to work, not that I could prove it.

This is where a(1) is the first entry in the sequence.
 
acabus said:
[itex]a(n) = round(\sqrt{n})[/itex] seems to work, not that I could prove it.

This is where a(1) is the first entry in the sequence.

Good intuition abacus...

A000194 n appears 2n times; also nearest integer to square root of n
http://oeis.org/A000194

If one desires that digits are repeated 2n - 1 times, that's an easy one: floor [sqrt n]
 
  • #10
The definition of ceiling and round functions is:
[tex] \mathrm{Ceiling}(x) \equiv n, \ n \le x < n + 1[/tex]
[tex] \mathrm{Round}(x) \equiv m, \ \vert x - m \vert < 1/2[/tex]
(the last definition is ambiguous if the argument is half-integer, but there can never happen for acabus's argument)

We want to know for what x, and y, [itex]\mathrm{Ceiling}(x) \stackrel{?}{=} \mathrm{Round}(y) = n[/itex]. From the above definitions, this happens when:
[tex] n \le x < n + 1, \ n - 1/2 < y < n + 1/2[/tex]
or, if we rewrite these inequalities for n, we get:
[tex] x - 1 < n \le x, \ y - 1/2 < n < y + 1/2[/tex]
Then, a necessary and sufficient (why?) condition is:
[tex] x - 1 < y + 1/2, \ y - 1/2 < x[/tex]

In our case, [itex]x = \sqrt{k + 1/4} - 1/2[/itex], and [itex]y= \sqrt{k}[/itex], so we have:
[tex] \sqrt{k + 1/4} - 1/2 - 1 < \sqrt{k} + 1/2 \Leftrightarrow \sqrt{k + 1/4} - \sqrt{k} < 2[/tex]
[tex] \sqrt{k} - 1/2 < \sqrt{k + 1/4} - 1/2 \Leftrightarrow \sqrt{k + 1/4} - \sqrt{k} > 0[/tex]
The second inequality is surely true, but the first is proven as follows:
[tex] \begin{array}{l}<br /> \sqrt{k + 1/4} - \sqrt{k} \stackrel{?}{<} 2 \\<br /> <br /> 0 < \sqrt{k + 1/4} \stackrel{?}{<} \sqrt{k} + 2 \\<br /> <br /> k + 1/4 \stackrel{?}{<} k + 4 \sqrt{k} + 4 \\<br /> <br /> 0 \stackrel{\surd}{<} \sqrt{k} + 15/16<br /> \end{array}[/tex]
This is surely true. Therefore, both the formulas give the same output for all positive integers.
 
  • #11
Thanks all for your responses.
 

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