OFFSET
1,6
COMMENTS
We define a divisor d|n to be strictly superior if d > n/d. Strictly superior divisors are counted by A056924 and listed by A341673.
These chains have first-quotients (in analogy with first-differences) that are term-wise < their decapitation (maximum element removed). Equivalently, x < y^2 for all adjacent x, y. For example, the divisor chain q = 30/6/3 has first-quotients (5,2), which are < (6,3), so q is counted under a(30).
Also the number of ordered factorizations of n where each factor is less than the product of all previous factors.
LINKS
Amiram Eldar, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..10000
FORMULA
a(2^n) = A045690(n).
EXAMPLE
The a(n) chains for n = 2, 6, 12, 16, 24, 30, 32, 36:
2 6 12 16 24 30 32 36
6/3 12/4 16/8 24/6 30/6 32/8 36/9
12/6 16/8/4 24/8 30/10 32/16 36/12
12/6/3 24/12 30/15 32/8/4 36/18
24/6/3 30/6/3 32/16/8 36/12/4
24/8/4 30/10/5 32/16/8/4 36/12/6
24/12/4 30/15/5 36/18/6
24/12/6 36/18/9
24/12/6/3 36/12/6/3
36/18/6/3
The a(n) ordered factorizations for n = 2, 6, 12, 16, 24, 30, 32, 36:
2 6 12 16 24 30 32 36
3*2 4*3 8*2 6*4 6*5 8*4 9*4
6*2 4*2*2 8*3 10*3 16*2 12*3
3*2*2 12*2 15*2 4*2*4 18*2
3*2*4 3*2*5 8*2*2 4*3*3
4*2*3 5*2*3 4*2*2*2 6*2*3
4*3*2 5*3*2 6*3*2
6*2*2 9*2*2
3*2*2*2 3*2*2*3
3*2*3*2
MATHEMATICA
ceo[n_]:=Prepend[Prepend[#, n]&/@Join@@ceo/@Select[Most[Divisors[n]], #>n/#&], {n}];
Table[Length[ceo[n]], {n, 100}]
CROSSREFS
The inferior version is A337135.
The strictly inferior version is A342083.
The superior version is A342085.
A000005 counts divisors.
A001055 counts factorizations.
A038548 counts inferior (or superior) divisors.
A056924 counts strictly inferior (or strictly superior) divisors.
A067824 counts strict chains of divisors starting with n.
A074206 counts strict chains of divisors from n to 1 (also ordered factorizations).
A167865 counts strict chains of divisors > 1 summing to n.
A207375 lists central divisors.
A253249 counts strict chains of divisors.
A334996 counts ordered factorizations by product and length.
A334997 counts chains of divisors of n by length.
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Gus Wiseman, Feb 28 2021
STATUS
approved