OFFSET
1,2
COMMENTS
The n-th greedy power of x, when 0.5 < x < 1, is the smallest integer exponent a(n) that does not cause the power series sum_{k=1..n} x^a(k) to exceed unity. A heuristic argument suggests that the limit of a(n)/n is m - sum_{n>=m} log(1 + x^n)/log(x) = 5.7114827587..., where x = log(2) and m = floor(log(1-x)/log(x))=3.
FORMULA
a(n) = sum_{k=1..n} floor(g_k) where g_1=1, g_{n+1} = log_x(x^frac(g_n) - x) (n>0) at x=log(2) and frac(y) = y - floor(y). See A077468 for Mathematica program by Robert G. Wilson v.
EXAMPLE
a(3)=8 since (log(2)) + (log(2))^4 + (log(2))^8 < 1 and (log(2)) + (log(2))^4 + (log(2))^k > 1 for 4 < k < 8.
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
easy,nonn
AUTHOR
Benoit Cloitre and Paul D. Hanna, Jan 23 2003
STATUS
approved