Erdős Problems

Tags Prizes

OPEN

With $a_1=1$ and $a_2=2$ let $a_{n+1}$ for $n\geq 2$ be the least integer $>a_n$ which can be expressed uniquely as $a_i+a_j$ for $i<j\leq n$.

What can be said about this sequence? Do infinitely many pairs $a,a+2$ occur? Does this sequence eventually have periodic differences? Is the density $0$?

#342: [ErGr80,p.53]

number theory

A problem of Ulam. The sequence is \[1,2,3,4,6,8,11,13,16,18,26,28,\ldots\] at OEIS A002858.

See also Problem 7 of Green's open problems list.

Additional thanks to: Desmond Weisenberg