OFFSET
1,1
COMMENTS
From Pontus von Brömssen, Jan 10 2022: (Start)
Proof of the empirical observations in the Formula section:
For k = 1, 2, 3, let N_k be the number of triples (x, y, z) with x, y, and z in 0..n, that satisfy x+y = n (if k=1), x+y = y+z = n (if k=2), or x+y = y+z = z+x = n (if k=3).
By inclusion-exclusion (and symmetry between x, y, and z), a(n) = (n+1)^3 - 3*N_1 + 3*N_2 - N_3. The unique solution to x+y = y+z = z+x = n is x = y = z = n/2, so N_3 = 1 if n is even, otherwise N_3 = 0. We write this as N_3 = [n even]. It is easily seen that N_1 = (n+1)^2 (x and z can be chosen freely and y = n-x) and that N_2 = n+1 (y can be chosen freely and x = z = n-y), so a(n) = (n+1)^3 - 3*(n+1)^2 + 3*(n+1) - [n even] = n^3 + [n odd] = 2*ceiling(n^3/2) = 2*A036486(n).
The recurrence and the generating function follow from this. (End)
LINKS
R. H. Hardin, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..210
Index entries for linear recurrences with constant coefficients, signature (3,-2,-2,3,-1).
FORMULA
Empirical: a(n) = 3*a(n-1) - 2*a(n-2) - 2*a(n-3) + 3*a(n-4) - a(n-5).
From R. J. Mathar, Aug 10 2014: (Start)
Empirical: a(n) = 2*A036486(n).
G.f.: 2*x*(1+x+4*x^2) / ( (1+x)*(x-1)^4 ). (End)
EXAMPLE
Some solutions for n=10:
6 9 5 8 0 5 8 6 9 8 5 0 4 8 5 2
3 8 3 0 0 7 9 5 0 4 7 5 2 4 7 6
6 9 6 9 5 9 7 3 7 4 1 7 10 0 2 6
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
R. H. Hardin, Aug 09 2014
STATUS
approved