1,16

a(A078135(n))=0; a(A078136(n))=1; a(A078137(n))>0;

Conjecture (lower bound): for all k exists b(k) such that a(n)>k for n>b(k); see b(0)=A078135(12)=23 and b(1)=A078136(15)=39. This is true - see comments by Hieronymus Fischer.

Also first difference of A001156 (number of partitions of n into squares). - Wouter Meeussen (wouter.meeussen(AT)pandora.be), Oct 22 2005

Comments from Hieronymus Fischer (Hieronymus.Fischer(AT)gmx.de), Nov 11 2007 (Start): First statement of monotony: a(n+k^2)>=a(n) for all k>1. Proof: we restrict ourselves on a(n)>0 (the case a(n)=0 is trivial). Let T(i), 1<=i<=a(n), be the a(n) different sum expressions of squares >1 representing n. Then, adding k^2 to those expressions, we get a(n) sums of squares T(i)+k^2, obviously representing n+k^2, thus a(n+k^2) cannot be less than a(n).

Second statement of monotony: a(n+m)>=max(a(n),a(m)) for all m with a(m)>1. Proof: let T(i), 1<=i<=a(n), be the a(n) different sum expressions of squares >1 representing n; let S(i), 1<=i<=a(m), be the a(m) different sum expressions of squares >1 representing m. Then, adding those expressions, we get a(n) sums of squares T(i)+S(1), representing n+m, further we get a(m) sums T(1)+S(i), also representing n+m, thus a(n+m) cannot be less than the maximum of a(n) and a(m).

The author's conjecture holds true. Proof by induction: b(0) exists; if b(k) exists, then a(j)>k for all j>b(k). Setting m:=b(k)+1, we find that there are k+1 sums B(0,i) of squares >1, 1<=i<=k+1, with m=B(0,i). Further there are k+1 such sum expressions B(1,i), B(2,i) and B(3,i), 1<=i<=k+1, representing m+1, m+2 and m+3, respectively. For n>b(k) we have n=m+4*floor((n-m)/4)+(n-m) mod 4.

Thus n=m+r+s*2^2, where r=0,1,2 or 3. Hence n can be written B(r,i)+s*2^2 and there are k+1 such representations. Let q be the maximal number (to be squared) occurring as a term within those sum expressions B(r,i), 0<=r<=3,1<=i<=k+1. We select a number p>q and we set c:=b(k)+p^2. For n>c, we have the k+1 representations B(r(n),i)+s(n)*2^2.

Additionally, for n-p^2 (which is >b(k)) there are also k+1 representations B(r_p,i)+s_p*2^2, where r_p:=r(n-p^2), s_p:=s(n-p^2). Thus n can be written B(r(n),i)+s(n)*2^2, 1<=i<=k+1 and B(r_p,i)+s_p*2^2+p^2, 1<=i<=k+1.

By choice of p all these sum representations of n are different, which implies, that there are 2k+2 such representations. It follows a(n)>2k+2>k+1 for all n>c, which implies, that b(k+1) exists.

A more precise formulation of the author's conjecture is "b(k):=min( n | a(j)>k for all j>n) exists for all k>=0". (End)

A033183(n) <= a(n). [From Reinhard Zumkeller (reinhard.zumkeller(AT)gmail.com), Nov 07 2009]

R. Zumkeller, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..500 [From Reinhard Zumkeller (reinhard.zumkeller(AT)gmail.com), Nov 07 2009]

Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Square Number.

Index entries for sequences related to sums of squares

a(n) = 1/n*Sum_{k=1..n} (A035316(k)-1)*a(n-k), a(0) = 1. - Vladeta Jovovic (vladeta(AT)eunet.rs), Nov 20 2002

G.f. g(x)=product{k>1, 1/(1-x^(k^2))}-1 = 1/((1-x^4)*(1-x^9)*(1-x^16)*(1-x^25)*(1-x^36)*...)-1. - Hieronymus Fischer (Hieronymus.Fischer(AT)gmx.de), Nov 19 2007

a(42)=3: 2*3^2+6*2^2 = 4^2+2*3^2+2*2^2 = 5^2+3^2+2*2^2.

Cf. A000290, A001156, A078138, A078139, A078128.

See A134754 for the sequence representing b(k).

Cf. A090677, A078137, A134754, A134755.

Sequence in context: A065252 A115211 A060826 this_sequence A083661 A029369 A125072

Adjacent sequences: A078131 A078132 A078133 this_sequence A078135 A078136 A078137

nonn,new

Reinhard Zumkeller (reinhard.zumkeller(AT)gmail.com), Nov 19 2002