Binomial coefficients Definition and 43 Threads

This answer shows an extended version of Pascal's Triangle that works for negative numbers too. In This video, Sal shows how to interpret the members of Pascal's Triangle as the sum of all the possible paths to get to that member. Is there any way we can use this same 'sum of all the possible...

Please see attached image. I'm not sure why I'm getting this error because this is the format I have used to write programs in Maple before. Any ideas? I'm new to this so not sure how to independently trouble shoot or problem solve this, Thanks!

Hello, I am working through Spivak for self study and sharpening my math skills. I have become stuck on an exercise. What I need to show is the following: $$ (a + b) \sum_{j = 0}^{n} \binom nj a^{n-j}b^{j} = \sum_{j = 0}^{n + 1} \binom{n+1}{j} a^{n-j + 1}b^{j} $$ My attempt, starting from...

I am learning binomial theorem now on my long journey to calculus. I noticed that in older textbooks, the binomial coefficient looks like C(n on top,k on bottom) I don’t think that I can display it here and in newer ones,they look like ##\binom{n}{k}## is the old notation outdated?or this is...

Homework Statement >Find the sum of the roots, real and non-real, of the equation x^{2001}+\left(\frac 12-x\right)^{2001}=0, given that there are no multiple roots. While trying to solve the above problem (AIME 2001, Problem 3), I came across three solutions on...

Homework Statement a) I have to find and expression for sequence of $b_n$ in terms of generating functions of the sequence of $a_n$ $$b_n = (-1)^{n}(n+1)a_0 +(-1)^{n-1}n a_1+...+(-1)2a_{n-1}+a_n$$ with $$a_n = a_{n-1} +8a_{n-2} -12a_{n-3} +25(-3)^{n-2} + 32n^2 -64$$ b) I have to use the...

Prove, that $\sum_{j=1}^{2n-1}\frac{(-1)^{j-1}j}{{2n \choose j }} = \frac{n}{n+1}$ i have tried with proof by induction, but it is very difficult to use this technique. I should be very glad to see any approach, that can crack this nut.

Hello I was solving a problem in probability. Here is the statement. Seven terminals in an on-line system are attached to a communications line to the central computer. Exactly four of these terminals are ready to transmit a message. Assume that each terminal is equally likely to be in the ready...

< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown > Hello. I'm currently working my way through Lang's Basic Mathematics and cannot make sense of this question: Show that if n is a positive integer at most equal to m, then {m \choose n}+{m\choose...

Is there a way of writing summation(s) to obtain the extended binomial coefficients? i.e., Considering the expansion of (1+x+x^2+x^3+...+x^N)^M can we write expressions (presumably involving summation and/or product notation) for the coefficients (on x^j in the expansion of the above, for each...

I've been working on a problem for a couple of days now and I wanted to see if anyone here had an idea whether this was already proven or where I could find some guidance. I feel this problem is connected to the multinomial theorem but the multinomial theorem is not really what I need . Perhaps...

Is there a way to find the following sum in closed form: ∑K(N,n) , where K(N,n) is the binomial coefficient and the sum can extend over any interval from n=0..N. I.e. not necessarily n=0 to N in which case on can just use the binomial theorem.

Evaluate \sum\limits_{k=1}^{12} {12\choose{k}}k^2 The answer is 159744.

So I new to probability and need someone to help me out if you could. I wanted to look into the probability of a process being complete if each operation of the process has its own likely hood of success or failure. I know that I should be using a binomial distribution to study the process...

Homework Statement How to use binomial theorem for finding sums with binomial coefficients? Example: S={n\choose 1}-3{n\choose 3}+9{n\choose 5}-... How to represent this sum using \sum\limits notation (with binomial theorem)? Homework Equations (a+b)^n=\sum\limits_{k=0}^{n}{n\choose...

Homework Statement Show that the binomial coefficients ## \binom {-1}{n}=(-1)^n## Homework Equations ##\binom{n}{k}=\frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!} \\ ## The Attempt at a Solution ##-1!=(-1)\cdot 1! \\ -1!=-1 \\ -2!=(-1)^2 \cdot 2! \\ -n!=(-1)^n \cdot n!\\ \mbox{for n=0} \\...

Homework Statement ##\sum\limits_{r=0}^n\frac{1}{^nC_r}=a##. Then find the value of $$\sum\sum\limits_{0\le i<j\le n}(\frac{i}{^nC_i}+\frac{j}{^nC_j})$$ Homework Equations I have used two equations which I derived myself. This is the first one. The second one is: 3. The Attempt at a...

Hi all, I have an apparently simple equation. I copy here its Mathematica code: Sum[(p/(1 - p))^s*(q/(1 - q))^s*Binomial[n, s]*(Binomial[m - 1, s]*(p*q*(m + n) + (2*m - 1)*(-p - q + 1))), {s, 0, n}] == Sum[(p/(1 - p))^s*(q/(1 - q))^s*Binomial[n, s]*((-(-p - q + 1))*Binomial[m - 2, s] +...

Problem: Evaluate $$\mathop{\sum \sum}_{0\leq i<j\leq n} (-1)^{i-j+1}{n\choose i}{n\choose j}$$ Attempt: I wrote the sum as: $$\sum_{j=1}^{n} \sum_{i=0}^{j-1} (-1)^{i-j+1}{n\choose i}{n\choose j}$$ I am not sure how to proceed from here. I tried writing down a few terms but that doesn't seem...

Evaluate $\displaystyle\lower0.5ex{\mathop{\large \sum}_{n=2009}^{\infty}} \dfrac{1}{n \choose 2009}$.

Homework Statement The value of ((^n C_0+^nC_3+...) - \frac{1}{2} (^nC_1+^nC_2+^nC_4+^nC_5+...))^2 + \frac{3}{4} (^nC_1-^nC_2+^nC_4-^nC_5...)^2 The Attempt at a Solution I can see that in the left parenthesis, the first bracket contains terms which are multiples of 3 and in the second...

Homework Statement Prove by induction that for any positive integers a, b, and n, (a choose 0)(b choose n) + (a choose 1)(b choose n-1) + ... + (a choose n)(b choose 0) = (a+b choose n) Homework Equations (x choose y) = (x!)/((x-y)!y!) The Attempt at a Solution I am able to do the...

Hi all, I am trying to figure out if there is a pre-existing theorem and proof of whether or not each of the binomial coefficients in a binomial expansion of (a +b)^n are divisible by n, particularly in the case where n is a prime number. Has this already been asked and answered somewhere in...

Evaluate sum: $\displaystyle S=\sum_{k=0}^{2n}(-1)^k{2n\choose k}{4n\choose 2k}$

Wolfram MathWorld states that $$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{3} \binom{2n}{n}} = \frac{ \pi \sqrt{3}}{18} \Big[ \psi_{1} \left(\frac{1}{3} \right) - \psi_{1} \left(\frac{2}{3} \right) \Big]- \frac{4}{3} \zeta(3) $$ where $\psi_{1}(x)$ is the trigamma function. But I can't get my answer in...

I am looking for a counting interpretation to make the following identity evident: \sum_{k=0}^{n-j}(-1)^k\binom{j-1+k}{j-1}\binom{n}{j+k} = 1 The form of it looks like inclusion-exclusion. The sum is 1, more or less independent of j. So that makes me think it would be something like "how...

Homework Statement Expressing the binomial coefficients in terms of factorials and simplifying algebraically, show that (n over r) = (n-r+1)/r (n over r-1);Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I honestly don't even know how to come about this problem...I really need help in this...

I'm having trouble proving the following identity (I don't even know if it's true): $$\sum_{r=1}^k \binom{k}{r} \binom{n-k-1}{r-1}=\binom{n-1}{k-1}$$ $$\forall n,k \in \mathbb{N} : n>k$$ Thank you in advance for any help! Vincent

Homework Statement Prove that \sum\limits_{k=o}^l {n \choose k}{m \choose l-k} = {n+m \choose l} Hint: Apply binomial theorem to (1+x)^n * (1+x)^m Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Using the hint, I started by saying that (1+x)^n * (1+x)^m = (1+x)^(n+m) =...

Homework Statement Show that the generating function A(x) = \sum_n a_n x^n of a_n = \sum_{k=0}^n {n+k \choose 2k} 2^{n-k} satisfies A(x) = \frac{1-2x}{4x^2-5x+1}Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution A hint was given to "interchange the sums". After doing that, I don't see how to...

Homework Statement Calculate the following sum: (click to expand)The Attempt at a Solution I tried something with Moivre formula and Newton binomial theorem but no result :redface:, should i continue with these or is there any simpler approach? I just need some hints. Thanks.

Homework Statement I need to sum the binomial coefficients that are divisible by a positive integer t, i.e. \sum_{i=0}^{s}\binom{ts}{ti} Is there any way to get rid of the sum sign? Homework Equations Let t be fixed and s go to (positive) infinity (both t and s are positive...

Fix some constant 0<\alpha \leq 1, and denote the floor function by x\mapsto [x]. The conjecture is that there exists a constant \beta > 1 such that \beta^{-n} \sum_{k=0}^{[\alpha\cdot n]} \binom{n}{k} \underset{n\to\infty}{\nrightarrow} 0 Consider this conjecture as a challenge. I don't...

Homework Statement Find and prove a formula for sum{ (m1 choose r)(m2 choose s)(m3 choose t) } where the sum is over all nonnegative integers r, s, ant t with fixed sum r + s + t = n. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I first attempted to find the number of combinations of r...

Homework Statement Prove that for an integer n greater than or equal to 2, nC1 - 2nC2 + 3nC3 - + ... = 0. (nCm means n choose m) Also, 2x1 nC2 + 3x2 nC3 + 4x3 nC4 +... = n(n-1)2^(n-2) Homework Equations (1+t)^a = 1 + aC1(t) + aC2(t^2) + ... The Attempt at a Solution I don't know...

How to calculate 1) binomial coefficients and 2) binomial distribution on a Casio fx-9860G calculator?

I understand permutations, combinations and such, but I can't seem to make sense of binomial coefficients, or at least the notation. As an example, could someone walk me through the notation for a generic problem.. something like 100 people eligible for an award and the winner can choose 1...

Suppose n is even, prove: \sumk=0->n/2, C(n,2k)=2^(n-1)=\sumk=1->n/2, C(n,2k-1) Give a combinatorial argument to prove that: (I've figured out this one...) \sumk=1->n, C(n,k)^2=C(2n,n) For the first problem, I tried to break C(n, 2k) into C(n+1,2k)-C(n, 2k-1), but they didnt seem to work very...

Hey guys, I've been reading up on binomial coefficients and I have found a brief section on n choose r. I understand vaguely what it actually is, however in my textbook there is a step by step proof of how we show that: ( \stackrel{n}{r} ) = \frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!} I can follow where...

Here is the problem i am having trouble: Expressing the binomial coefficients in terms of factorials and simplifying algebraically show that (n over r) = (n-2+1)/r (n over r-1) i got that equals ((n-r+1)/r) ((n!)/((r-1)!(n-(r-1))!)) but i am trying to get that to equal n!/r!(n-r)! which...

Homework Statement If \sum^{n}_{r=0} \frac{1}{^{n}C_{r}} = a, then find the value of \sum^{n}_{r=0} \frac{r}{^{n}C_{r}} in terms of a and n.[/tex] The Attempt at a Solution I tried to write down the terms of both the series, but to no avail. i can't think of...

k, maybe wrong forum... whatever... Anyway, so i was hoping someone could maybe derive or at least explain binomial coefficients. Like, i know that binomial(n,r)= n!/(n-r)!r! but why? in class the guy was explaining something like, if you're counting, and you're trying to arrange 3 balls into...

I am working through a mathematics olympiad problem book, and I am asked to prove that n choose r, where n is the row number and r is the term number in the row is equal to that term. Can someone please give me a hint? I have not been able to find ANY proofs on the internet through a basic...