This challenge is about the number of orderings which contain at most \$n\$ classes and at most \$k\$ of the \$k^{\text{th}}\$ class.
One way to represent such an ordering is as a sequence of positive integers with these three restrictions:
- A number may only appear after all lower numbers have appeared
- All numbers which appear must be less than or equal to \$n\$
- Any number may only appear up to as many times as its own value
As such the number of such sequences is itself a sequence, \$a(n)\$ where:
\$a(0) = 1\$, since only the empty sequence, []
, works;
\$a(1) = 2\$, since [1]
now also works;
\$a(2) = 4\$, since both [1, 2]
and [1, 2, 2]
also work*;
\$a(3) = 16\$:
[], [1], [1, 2], [1, 2, 2], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2]
\$a(4) = 409\$:
[], [1], [1, 2], [1, 2, 2], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2]
\$a(5) = 128458\$;
\$a(6) = 612887198\$;
...and so on.
* Note, for example, that [2, 1, 2]
violates (1) while [1, 1, 2]
violates (3).
(Other interpretations of the underlying objects being counted no doubt exist too, feel free to comment regarding these, or, even better, explain them as part of an answer.)
The Challenge
Write a program or function which does any of the following:
- Takes a non-negative integer, \$n\$ and outputs either:
- \$a(n)\$
- \$[a(0),\cdots ,a(n)]\$
- Takes a positive integer, \$n\$ and outputs either:
- \$a(n-1)\$
- \$[a(0),\cdots ,a(n-1)]\$
- Takes no input and outputs the sequence \$a\$ forever
This is code-golf so try to achieve the shortest solution in your chosen language.
Also insightful answers that are not necessarily the shortest, so long as they are still well golfed, will probably be received well!
This sequence is not currently in the OEIS, and as far as I can tell neither is any trivially related sequence (e.g. [1,1,2,11,393,12442,...]
) - if you spot any do comment.
a(5)
. \$\endgroup\$0
gives[]
, while 3 gives[1,2,4]
... is there better notation I could employ? Thanks! \$\endgroup\$0
to give[]
, but so does the second) - I can just remove it, thanks! \$\endgroup\$