OFFSET
3,1
COMMENTS
Also, let j be the smallest integer for which 1+(1+1*n)+(1+2*n)+... +(1+j*n)=k^2=s. Then a(n)=s; 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.
See A100251 and A188898 for the corresponding indices of these terms. Note that a(n) is zero for n = 10, 20, 52 (numbers in A188896). Although the Mathematica program searches only the first 25000 square numbers for n-gonal numbers, the Reduce function can show that there are no square n-gonal numbers (other than 0 and 1) for these n. - T. D. Noe, Apr 19 2011
LINKS
Vincenzo Librandi, Table of n, a(n) for n = 3..100
Eric W. Weisstein, MathWorld: Polygonal Number
Eric W. Weisstein, MathWorld: Square Number
FORMULA
EXAMPLE
a(3)=9801 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]; sqr, {n, 3, 64}] (* T. D. Noe, Apr 19 2011 *)
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Charlie Marion, Nov 21 2004
STATUS
approved