[seqfan] Re: Strong Law of Small Numbers and the "Sequence in Context".

[bradklee at gmail.com]

Hi Antti and Jean-Paul,

Thanks for bringing up this article, especially the tone of it, very timely; though, maybe the title should be "Strong arm of small numbers." 

A few comments on relevancy to OEIS:

1. Though contrived, the natural number solutions of 

x+y+m*z = n

Will only diverge from solutions of 

x+y = n

After n >= m. Guy's Ex. 29 ( https://oeis.org/A180445 ) is similar, and there are many examples in the OEIS of these sequences, which are also noteworthy in physics, with applications dating back to H.A. Bethe himself.

I also think that Guy's examples 24,25, and 26 are worth a review. It's not always clear that functions involving division will turn out to be integer sequences. This is one reason that Pascal's triangle fits so nicely into the OEIS, because it just involves more and more multiplication or addition as you go through the rows.

So over here the strong arm of numbers is saying something along the lines "double check your assumptions before making a submission". 

Since I am already being attacked for "muddy" writing and low standards, I am pretty horrified that someday I will make a mistake in my calculations, have a sequence defamed, and then end up in so-and-so's gulag. Happened to Landau, read about it on the former KGB freedom of information. It's out there.

Thanks,

Brad

> On Oct 15, 2016, at 7:27 AM, jean-paul allouche <jean-paul.allouche at imj-prg.fr> wrote:
> 
> Hi; is this link useful then?
> http://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/upload_library/22/Ford/Guy697-712.pdf
> 
> best
> jean-paul
> 
>> Le 15/10/16 à 10:49, Antti Karttunen a écrit :
>> Regarding Guy's Strong Law of Small Numbers
>> (see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_Law_of_Small_Numbers
>> for a brief summary. I also had the paper printed/photocopied once,
>> but I cannot find them now to check how much Wikipedia abridges or
>> distorts its message)
> 
> 
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