OFFSET
1,2
COMMENTS
As far as I know, no term, (except trivial cases) has been proved optimal. Repeated dissection, as in the above example, shows that if the side is a composite number mn, a(mn) <= a(m) + a(n) - 1. It is an open problem to find a number mn for which a(mn) < a(m) + a(n) - 1. Dissecting a cube with side n into a cube with side n - 1 and several unit cubes gives a trivial bound: a(n) <= 3n^2 - 3n + 2. Dissecting a cube with side n = 2k + 1 into a cube with side k + 1, 7 with side k and several unit cubes gives another trivial bound: a(n) <= (9n^2 - 12n + 31) / 4.
REFERENCES
Ainley, Stephen, Mathematical Puzzles, Prentice Hall, New York, 1983. p. 81.
EXAMPLE
a(4)=15 because a 4 X 4 X 4 cube can be dissected into 8 2 X 2 X 2, one of which can be dissected into 8 1 X 1 X 1.
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
hard,more,nonn
AUTHOR
Mauro Fiorentini, Apr 23 2007
STATUS
approved