OFFSET
0,2
COMMENTS
Lines of length zero (a single point) and one (two points) can cover the entire square spiral without missing any numbers.
For lines with even numbered length the pattern of lines is very regular, with all lines along the spiral lines of the square spiral, and regular triangles of uncovered numbers along the four diagonals of the spiral. See the linked images with even n.
For odd length lines the pattern formed is more random, with some quadrants have regions, or the entire quadrant, with lines that are orthogonal to the spiral lines, and the triangles of uncovered values becomes more random along the spiral diagonals. See the linked images with odd n.
For n>=2 the smallest spiral number that is not covered by any line is n^2+4n+4.
LINKS
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=1, k=1..4000. The image can be zoomed in to see the numbers of the square spiral. In this and other images the colors are graduated around the spectrum to show the lines relative placement order.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=2, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=3, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=4, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=9, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=10, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=17, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=20, k=1..2000.
Scott R. Shannon, Image for n=21, k=1..2000.
FORMULA
T(0,k) = k.
T(1,k) = 3 + 4(k-1).
EXAMPLE
The square spiral used is:
.
17--16--15--14--13 .
| | .
18 5---4---3 12 29
| | | | |
19 6 1---2 11 28
| | | |
20 7---8---9--10 27
| |
21--22--23--24--25--26
.
The table begins:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, ...
3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, ...
9, 12, 24, 33, 42, 54, 66, 75, 84, 96, 105, 114, ...
20, 24, 34, 58, 74, 90, 110, 130, 154, 178, 194, 210, ...
39, 42, 54, 75, 115, 140, 165, 195, 225, 260, 295, 335, ...
67, 71, 81, 105, 141, 201, 237, 273, 315, 357, 405, 453, ...
107, 110, 122, 143, 183, 238, 322, 371, 420, 476, 532, 595, ...
160, 164, 174, 198, 234, 294, 372, 484, 548, 612, 684, 756, ...
229, 232, 244, 265, 305, 360, 444, 549, 693, 774, 855, 945, ...
315, 319, 329, 353, 389, 449, 527, 639, 775, 955, 1055, 1155, ...
421, 424, 436, 457, 497, 552, 636, 741, 885, 1056, 1276, 1397, ...
548, 552, 562, 586, 622, 682, 760, 872, 1008, 1188, 1398, 1662, ...
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn,tabl
AUTHOR
Scott R. Shannon, Apr 03 2021
STATUS
approved