In mathematics, the Mian–Chowla sequence is an integer sequence defined recursively in the following way. The sequence starts with

${\displaystyle a_{1}=1.}$

Then for ${\displaystyle n>1}$, ${\displaystyle a_{n}}$ is the smallest integer such that every pairwise sum

${\displaystyle a_{i}+a_{j}}$

is distinct, for all ${\displaystyle i}$ and ${\displaystyle j}$ less than or equal to ${\displaystyle n}$.

Initially, with ${\displaystyle a_{1}}$, there is only one pairwise sum, 1 + 1 = 2. The next term in the sequence, ${\displaystyle a_{2}}$, is 2 since the pairwise sums then are 2, 3 and 4, i.e., they are distinct. Then, ${\displaystyle a_{3}}$ can't be 3 because there would be the non-distinct pairwise sums 1 + 3 = 2 + 2 = 4. We find then that ${\displaystyle a_{3}=4}$, with the pairwise sums being 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. The sequence thus begins

1, 2, 4, 8, 13, 21, 31, 45, 66, 81, 97, 123, 148, 182, 204, 252, 290, 361, 401, 475, ... (sequence A005282 in the OEIS).

If we define ${\displaystyle a_{1}=0}$, the resulting sequence is the same except each term is one less (that is, 0, 1, 3, 7, 12, 20, 30, 44, 65, 80, 96, ... OEIS: A025582).

The sequence was invented by Abdul Majid Mian and Sarvadaman Chowla.

• S. R. Finch, Mathematical Constants, Cambridge (2003): Section 2.20.2
• R. K. Guy Unsolved Problems in Number Theory, New York: Springer (2003)