Proof of Equations using Combinatorics

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dragonfall
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Proof
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving a combinatorial equation involving binomial coefficients. The original poster seeks guidance on how to approach this proof using combinatorial methods such as double counting or bijective mapping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the interpretation of the left-hand side of the equation as counting bitstrings and discuss the implications of choosing elements from a set. There are hints provided regarding the summation and the order of selection.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants offering hints and questioning the approach taken. Some guidance has been provided regarding the interpretation of the summation and the selection process, but there is no explicit consensus on the method to be used.

Contextual Notes

There is a suggestion that the original poster may be struggling with the concept of summation versus multiplication in the context of combinatorial proofs. The nature of the problem implies a need for clarity on combinatorial principles.

Dragonfall
Messages
1,023
Reaction score
5
I have a bunch of equations that I must prove 'using combinatorics', which means double counting or some sort of bijective mapping. I haven't done this before, and I'd like to know, as an example, how the following can be proved 'combinatorially':

[tex]\left(\begin{array}{cc}{n+1}\\{m+1}\end{array}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-m}\left(\begin{array}{cc}{m+i}\\m\end{array}\right)[/tex]
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Notice the left hand side counts the number of bitstrings of length n + 1 containing m + 1 ones.
 
look at ways of choosing m+1 elements from n+1 objects.

the series tells you that you sum up the ways of choosing m objects from m+i objects. but you want to choose m+1 objects; so what happens to the m+1th element?

hint1: read the sum backward
[tex]\sum_{i=n-m}^{0}\binom{m+i}{m}[/tex]
(i keeps decreasing, not increasing)
hint2: choose 1 element first, then choose the other m elements.

if that isn't enough,
hint3: look at the position of the first element when choosing...
 
Last edited:
Shouldn't it be multiplied instead of summed?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
0
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
10K