Centered Hexagonal Number as Sum of Triangular Numbers

Theorem

Let $C_n$ be the $n$th centered hexagonal number.


Then:

$C_n = 6 T_{n - 1} + 1$

where $T_{n - 1}$ denotes the $n - 1$th triangular number.


Proof

\(\ds C_n\) \(=\) \(\ds 3 n \paren {n - 1} + 1\) Closed Form for Centered Hexagonal Numbers
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 6 \paren {\dfrac {\paren {n - 1} n} 2} + 1\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 6 T_{n - 1} + 1\) Closed Form for Triangular Numbers

$\blacksquare$


Visual Demonstration


Sources

  • 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $37$
  • 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $37$