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A176541
Numbers n such that there exist n consecutive triangular numbers which sum to a square.
9
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 13, 22, 23, 25, 27, 32, 37, 39, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 59, 66, 71, 73, 83, 94, 98, 100, 104, 107, 109, 111, 118, 121, 128, 143, 146, 147, 148, 157, 167, 176, 179, 181, 183, 191, 192, 193, 194, 200, 214, 219, 227, 239, 241, 242, 243, 244, 253, 263
OFFSET
1,3
COMMENTS
Numbers n such that there exists some x >= 0 such that A000292(x+n) - A000292(x) is a square. Terms of this sequence, for which only a finite number of solutions x exist, are given in A176542.
Integer n is in the sequence if there exist non-degenerate solutions to the Diophantine equation: 8x^2 - n*y^2 - A077415(n) = 0. A degenerate solution is one involving triangular numbers with negative indexes.
The sum of n consecutive triangular numbers starting at the j-th is Sum_{k=j..j+n-1} A000217(k) = n*(n^2 + 3*j*n + 3*j^2 - 1)/6, see A143037. - R. J. Mathar, May 06 2015
EXAMPLE
0 is in the sequence because the sum of 0 consecutive triangular numbers is 0 (a square).
1 is in the sequence because there exist triangular numbers which are squares (cf. A001110).
2 is in the sequence because ANY 2 consecutive triangular numbers sum to a square.
3 is in the sequence because there are infinitely many solutions (cf. A165517).
4 is in the sequence because there infinitely many solutions (cf. A202391).
5 is NOT in the sequence because no 5 consecutive triangular numbers sum to a square.
For n=8, solutions to the Diophantine equation exist, but start at A000217(-2) and A000217(-6): 1 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 = 36 and 15 + 10 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 1 = 36. There are no non-degenerate solutions for n=8. Hence, 8 is not included in the sequence.
For n=11, there exist infinitely many solutions (cf. A116476), so 11 is in the sequence.
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Andrew Weimholt, Apr 20 2010
EXTENSIONS
More terms from Max Alekseyev, May 10 2010
STATUS
approved