a(n) = (D(n) - sod(n))/9, for n >= 1, with sod(n) the sum of digits of n, and with D(n) any of the 10 numbers given in base 10 representation by d_(nod(n)-1) d_(nod(n)-2) ... d_0 b_0, where nod(n) is the number of digits of n = d_(nod(n)-1) d_(nod(n)-2) ... d_0 in base 10, and b_0 from {0, 1, ..., 9}. E.g., D(1234) stands for any number from {12340, 12341, ..., 12349}. This corresponds the well known (and easy to prove) rule that any number after subtraction of its sum of digits is divisible by 9. In this subtraction any of the last digit b_0 leads to the same result. Some mathematical tricks are based on this rule. See the Gardner reference. - Wolfdieter Lang, May 04 2010
REFERENCES
M. Gardner, Mathematische Zaubereien, Dumont, 2004, p. 39. German translation of: Mathematics, Magic and Mystery, Dover, 1956. [From Wolfdieter Lang, May 04 2010]
a(n)=10/9*n+O(log(n)), a(n+1)-a(n)=O(log(n)); this follows from the inequalities below.
a(n)<=(10*n-1)/9; equality holds for powers of 10.
a(n)>=(10*n-9)/9-floor(log_10(n)); equality holds for n=10^m-1, m>0.
lim inf (10*n/9-a(n))=1/9, for n-->oo.
lim sup (10*n/9-log_10(n)-a(n))=0, for n-->oo.
lim sup (a(n+1)-a(n)-log_10(n))=1, for n-->oo.
G.f.: sum{k>=0, x^(10^k)/(1-x^(10^k))}/(1-x).
(End)
a(n) = sum(d_(k)*RU(k+1),k=0..nod(n)-1), with the notation nod(n)and d_k given in a comment above, and RU(k)is the repunit (10^k-1)/9 (k times 1). - Wolfdieter Lang, May 04 2010
EXAMPLE
a(1234)=1370 because 1+12+123+1234=1370.
With repunits: a(1234) = 4*1 + 3*11 + 2*111 + 1*1111 = 1370. - Wolfdieter Lang, May 04 2010