Language
Country/Area
No result found
From 1964 to Today: How Neil Sloane Created the World's Greatest Sequence Database?
Sequences are an important cornerstone of mathematics, and in this digital age, it is particularly important to be able to easily query and obtain databases of these sequences. Since 1964, Neil Sloane has relied on his passion and pursuit of mathematics to create the "Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences" (OEIS), which is not only a treasure trove of mathematical research, but also a source of inspiration for many mathematics enthusiasts.
OEIS is a large online database that records more than 370,000 integer series, and about 30 new series are added every day. Each entry contains the first few terms of the sequence, keywords, mathematical motivations, links to relevant literature, and much other information, and can even generate graphical or musical representations of the sequence.
"Sequences are not just numbers, they are actors in the mathematical world. There are profound stories and connections hidden behind each sequence."
History of OEIS
Neil Sloane began collecting integer sequences in 1964 while studying combinatorics. Originally, these sequences were stored on punched cards. In 1973, he published "Handbook of Integer Sequences", the first monograph on integer sequence, which included 2,372 sequence in lexicographic order. As the data grew, he collaborated with Simon Plouffe in 1995 to write the "Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences", which included even larger sequence data.
Due to the surge in demand, the number of these series continued to rise. When Sloane found that the early series organized in books could no longer meet the demand, he made an important decision to put OEIS online. In 1994, OEIS was first launched as an email service, and in 1996 it was transformed into a complete website, achieving wider access and use.
"Creating a sequence database that could be accessed by everyone was at the core of my idea at the time."
Characteristics and extensions of sequence
OEIS not only contains integer sequences, but also includes fractions, transcendental numbers, complex numbers, etc. These sequences can be converted into integer sequences for registration. For example, a sequence of fractions would be split into two sequences to represent its numerator and denominator. In addition, some important irrational numbers (such as π) can also find corresponding sequence identifiers in OEIS through their decimal expansion, binary expansion or continued fraction expansion.
The operation of OEIS and its entry management of arrays have become more and more mature over time. In 2004, OEIS reached the milestone of 100,000 series, and by the end of 2023, the total number of series in the database exceeded 360,000. This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of a group of editors and volunteers who have supported Sloane's work since 2002.
Using and querying OEIS
OEIS users can search by keyword, subsequence or 16 other fields. The system also provides an advanced query function called "SuperSeeker", which can run a variety of algorithms to quickly identify sequence related to user input. Users only need to enter relevant information, and the system will provide the corresponding sequence.
"OEIS is not only a tool for query and retrieval, but also a collection of mathematical emotions."
As OEIS continues to expand, many mathematicians and enthusiasts have begun to submit their own sequence. The addition of these new sequence has promoted overall progress and innovation. Especially in the mathematics community, OEIS is cited more and more frequently and has become an important source of information for many mathematical studies.
Self-referencing sequences and paradoxes
Early in the history of OEIS, Sloane was faced with the dilemma of whether self-referenced sequences should be included. The definition of some sequences relies on the OEIS's own sequence number. He thought about it for some time and decided to go with the sequences. For example, the initial definition of sequence A031135 is "the nth sequence item of OEIS", which makes the creation of the entire sequence exhibit a special self-reference.
To date, OEIS is not only an encyclopedia of integer sequences, it also provides fertile soil for creativity in the mathematical community. With the continuous increase of number sequences, the formation of OEIS also demonstrates the vitality and infinite potential of mathematical research. We cannot predict how many new sequences will be added one day in the future, however, it will undoubtedly continue to be a major aid to mathematical inquiry.
What impact will the development of OEIS have on the future of mathematics?
