NAME

Math::NumSeq::Tetrahedral -- tetrahedral numbers i*(i+1)*(i+2)/6

SYNOPSIS

 use Math::NumSeq::Tetrahedral;
 my $seq = Math::NumSeq::Tetrahedral->new;
 my ($i, $value) = $seq->next;

DESCRIPTION

The tetrahedral numbers, i*(i+1)*(i+2)/6.

    0, 1, 4, 10, 20, 35, 56, 84, 120, ...

FUNCTIONS

See "FUNCTIONS" in Math::NumSeq for behaviour common to all sequence classes.

$seq = Math::NumSeq::Tetrahedral->new ()

Create and return a new sequence object.

Random Access

$value = $seq->ith($i)

Return $i*($i+1)*($i+2)/6.

$bool = $seq->pred($value)

Return true if $value has the form i*(i+1)*(i+2)/6 for some positive integer i.

$i = $seq->value_to_i_floor($value)

Return the index i of $value or of the next tetrahedral number below $value.

$i = $seq->value_to_i_estimate($value)

Return an estimate of the i corresponding to $value.

In the current code this $i gives the tetrahedral above or below $value, so is out by no more than 1.

FORMULAS

Value to i Estimate

i*(i+1)*(i+2) always fall in between cubes, so

    T(i) = i*(i+1)*(i+2)/6
         = (i^3 + 3*i^2 + 2*i)/6

    i^3 < 6*T(i) < (i+1)^3

For value_to_i_estimate() it's enough to apply a cube root,

    i_estimate = floor(cbrt(6*value))

Value to i Floor

For value_to_i_floor() the cube root can be 1 too big when the given value is in between successive T() tetrahedrals. For example if value=57 floor(cbrt(6*57))=6 is correct, but value=58 floor(cbrt(6*58))=7 is 1 too big.

    i = floor(cbrt(6*value))
    if i*(i+1)*(i+2) <= 6*value
    then i_floor = i
    else i_floor = i-1    # cbrt was 1 too big

SEE ALSO

Math::NumSeq, Math::NumSeq::Cubes

HOME PAGE

http://user42.tuxfamily.org/math-numseq/index.html

LICENSE

Copyright 2010, 2011, 2012 Kevin Ryde

Math-NumSeq is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3, or (at your option) any later version.

Math-NumSeq is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Math-NumSeq. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.