Brackets indicated a combination

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a mathematical summation involving binomial coefficients, specifically the expression Σ(k=100 to 201) Σ(j=100 to k) (201 over k+1)(j over 100). Participants are exploring methods to evaluate or simplify this expression, focusing on combinatorial identities and the manipulation of binomial coefficients.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in approaching the summation problem and seeks guidance.
  • Another suggests first evaluating the inner sum as a function of k before summing over k.
  • A participant questions the starting index of j and asks whether the goal is to find an exact value or an approximation of the sum.
  • One participant clarifies that they are looking for an expression involving one or two binomial coefficients and confirms the starting index of j as 100.
  • A later reply proposes using the Hockey-Stick Identity to evaluate the inner sum, indicating that this will lead to a product of binomial coefficients.
  • Another participant presents an expression derived from the Hockey-Stick Identity and expresses uncertainty about rearranging the resulting combinations.
  • A subsequent post expands on the derived expression, breaking it down into factorials and suggesting a conversion back to binomial coefficients.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the best approach to simplify or evaluate the summation. There are multiple viewpoints on how to proceed with the calculations and the use of identities.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved steps in the mathematical manipulation of the expressions, and participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the application of combinatorial identities.

StellaLuna
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I'm quite stuck with how to approahc this type of question.

Σ(k=100 to 201) Σ(j=100 to k) (201 over k+1)(j over 100)

Sorr for the set up, it is tricky to type. The brackets indicated a combination.
 
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First, figure out what the inner sum is in function of k. Then see if you know how to sum up what you get over all values of k.
 


Thank you for responding, I still don't quite know how to even start what you suggested.
 


By the way, are you sure the index of j starts at 100? Also, do you want to find the exact value of the sum or simply an approximation?
 


I'm looking for an expression involving one or two binomial coefficients.
And yes j starts at 100
 


For the inner sum [tex]\sum_{j=100}^k \binom{j}{100}[/tex] you will want to make use of the http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki/index.php/Combinatorial_identity#Hockey-Stick_Identity . Once you evaluate the inner sum you'll have a sum over a product of binomial coefficients, if you expand the coefficients as factorials you'll be able to write the sum as a product of a binomial coefficient which doesn't depend on k, and a familiar binomial coefficient which does. The resulting sum will be easy to evaluate. :)
 
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[tex]\sum_{k=100}^{201} \binom{201}{k+1} \binom{k+1}{101}[/tex]

Is what I got after using the hockey stick identity. I then carried out both combinations but was not sure how to rearrange them after?
 


[tex]\sum_{k=100}^{201} \binom{201}{k+1} \binom{k+1}{101}[/tex]

[tex]= \sum_{k=100}^{200}\frac{201!}{(200-k)!(k+1)!} \cdot\frac{(k+1)!}{(k-100)!101!}[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{201!}{100!\cdot 101!} \sum_{k=0}^{100} \frac{100!}{(100-k)! k!}[/tex]

then convert back to binomial coefficients
 

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