- #1
- 2,567
- 4
Which number can be expressed as the sum of two triangular numbers? I don't even know how to start with this one. Here is some data:
If you don't count 0 as a triangular number, then the following can:
2
4
6
7
9
11
12
13
16
18
20
21
22
24
25
27
29
30
31
34
36
37
And these can't:
3
5
8
10
14
15
17
19
23
26
28
32
33
35
If you do count 0 as one, then the following can:
2
3
4
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
18
20
21
22
24
25
27
28
29
30
31
34
36
37
And these can't:
5
8
14
17
19
23
26
32
33
35
Unlike the sum of two squares problem, you don't get anything so nice like if a and b are the sum of two triangles, then so is ab. Also, with sums of two squares, there's the fact if p is an odd prime, then p is a sum of two squares iff p = 1 (mod 4). Again, nothing as nice appears to be true for triangle numbers (even if you replace mod 4 with mod 3 or other small primes, or so it seems).
If you don't count 0 as a triangular number, then the following can:
2
4
6
7
9
11
12
13
16
18
20
21
22
24
25
27
29
30
31
34
36
37
And these can't:
3
5
8
10
14
15
17
19
23
26
28
32
33
35
If you do count 0 as one, then the following can:
2
3
4
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
18
20
21
22
24
25
27
28
29
30
31
34
36
37
And these can't:
5
8
14
17
19
23
26
32
33
35
Unlike the sum of two squares problem, you don't get anything so nice like if a and b are the sum of two triangles, then so is ab. Also, with sums of two squares, there's the fact if p is an odd prime, then p is a sum of two squares iff p = 1 (mod 4). Again, nothing as nice appears to be true for triangle numbers (even if you replace mod 4 with mod 3 or other small primes, or so it seems).