OFFSET
1,2
COMMENTS
The splitting algorithm decomposes a rational p/q to distinct unit fractions by first creating the multiset with p copies of 1/q, then repeatedly replacing a duplicated element 1/q' with the pair 1/(q'+1), 1/q'(q'+1) until no duplicates remain.
LINKS
Hugo van der Sanden and others, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..14
L. Beeckmans, The Splitting Algorithm for Egyptian Fractions, J. Number Th. 43, 173-185, 1993.
Hugo van der Sanden and others, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..17 [Included as an "a-file", since the last three terms exceed the limit for terms in b-files.]
EXAMPLE
For n=2, the algorithm generates the multisets {1/1, 1/1}, {1/1, 1/2, 1/2}, {1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/6}. The final multiset has no duplicate elements, so the algorithm terminates, and has 4 elements, so a(2)=4.
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn,nice
AUTHOR
Hugo van der Sanden, Jun 10 2010, with contributions from Franklin T. Adams-Watters and Robert Gerbicz
STATUS
approved