login

Reminder: The OEIS is hiring a new managing editor, and the application deadline is January 26.

Solution to stepping stone puzzle on a hexagonal board (See Comments).
2

%I #19 Dec 15 2022 14:09:53

%S 1,9,17,26,37,47

%N Solution to stepping stone puzzle on a hexagonal board (See Comments).

%C This is a variant of the stepping stone sequence (A337663), where now the board is a hexagonal grid.

%C Start with an infinite hexagonal grid. Each cell has six neighbors. Place n 1's anywhere. Now place the numbers 2, 3, ..., m in order, subject to the rule that when you place k, the sum of its neighbors must equal k. Then a(n) is the maximum m that can be achieved.

%H Jeremy Rebenstock, <a href="/A342434/a342434.png">Illustration for a(2)</a>

%H Jeremy Rebenstock, <a href="/A342434/a342434_3.png">Illustration for a(5)</a> [Corrected by _Al Zimmermann_, Nov 27 2022]

%H Jeremy Rebenstock, <a href="/A342434/a342434_2.png">Illustration for lower bound</a>

%F a(n) >= 5n - 4. This is seen by constructing the pattern linked above, titled "Illustration for lower bound".

%e Found by code compiled by Hugo van der Sanden and Thomas Ladouceur, see links titled: "Illustration for a(2)" and "Illustration for a(5)".

%Y Cf. A337663.

%K nonn,more,hard

%O 1,2

%A _Jeremy Rebenstock_ and _Thomas Ladouceur_, Mar 12 2021