An octagonal number is a figurate number that gives the number of points in a certain octagonal arrangement. The octagonal number for n is given by the formula 3n2 − 2n, with n > 0. The first few octagonal numbers are The octagonal number for n can also be calculated by adding the square of n to twice the (n − 1)th pronic number. Octagonal numbers consistently alternate parity. Octagonal numbers are occasionally referred to as "star numbers," though that term is more commonly used to refer to centered dodecagonal numbers.

Applications in combinatorics

The nth octagonal number is the number of partitions of 6n-5 into 1, 2, or 3s. For example, there are x_2=8 such partitions for, namely

Sum of reciprocals

A formula for the sum of the reciprocals of the octagonal numbers is given by

Test for octagonal numbers

Solving the formula for the n-th octagonal number, x_n, for n gives An arbitrary number x can be checked for octagonality by putting it in this equation. If n is an integer, then x is the n-th octagonal number. If n is not an integer, then x is not octagonal.