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%I #11 Dec 08 2019 07:39:01
%S 2,1,2,3,1,2,3,4,5,3,1,2,3,1,2,3,4,5,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,5,1,2,1,2,1,2,3,
%T 4,5,1,2,3,5,1,2,3,4,5,1,2,3,4,4,5,6,7,8,1,2,3,4,5,3,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,5,
%U 6,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,1,2,1,2,3,4,5,6
%N a(n) = smallest positive k such that scan_diff(k,n) is a square, where scan_diff is defined in the Comments.
%C Write i, j in base 10 aligned to right, say
%C i = bcd...ef
%C j = .gh...pq
%C Then scan_diff(i,j) = |b-0| + |c-g| + |d-h| + ... + |e-p| + |f-q|.
%C Example: scan_diff(12345,909) = 1+2+6+4+4 = 17.
%C Suggested by the definition of "box" in A329794.
%H Rémy Sigrist, <a href="/A329795/b329795.txt">Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..25000</a>
%e For n = 1 the smallest k producing a square is 2 (as scan_diff(1,2) = 1);
%e For n = 2 the smallest k producing a square is 1 (as scan_diff(2,1) = 1);
%e For n = 3 the smallest k producing a square is 2 (as scan_diff(3,2) = 1);
%e For n = 5 the smallest k producing a square is 1 (as scan_diff(5,1) = 4);
%e For n = 16 the smallest k producing a square is 3 (as scan_diff(16,3) = 1+3 = 4).
%o (PARI) scan_diff(n,k) = if (n*k, scan_diff(n\10,k\10)+abs((n%10)-(k%10)), n+k)
%o a(n) = for (k=1, oo, my (t=scan_diff(n,k)); if (t && issquare(t), return (k))) \\ _Rémy Sigrist_, Dec 08 2019
%Y Cf. A329794.
%K nonn,base
%O 1,1
%A _N. J. A. Sloane_, Dec 07 2019
%E More terms from _Rémy Sigrist_, Dec 08 2019