Prove the equation using Newton's binom

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lilia
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the equation involving binomial coefficients: the sum of k times the binomial coefficient C(2n, k) from k=0 to n equals n times 2 raised to the power of (2n-1). The subject area is combinatorics, specifically focusing on properties of binomial coefficients and their summations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various approaches to manipulate the given equation and the properties of binomial coefficients. Some attempt to derive relationships using derivatives and summation properties, while others question the validity of certain steps and assumptions made in the process.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and questioning each other's reasoning. There is an exploration of numerical examples to illustrate points, and some participants express confusion regarding the relationships between different sums and coefficients. No consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies in the ranges of summation and the implications of symmetry in binomial coefficients. There is also mention of specific values for n and the resulting sequences, which are used to analyze the problem further.

Lilia
Messages
47
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


prove that sum C(2n,k)*k = n*2^(2n-1); k=0,n

Homework Equations


(x+y)^n = sum [C(n,k)*x^k*y^(n-k)]; k=0,n. // 1
in // 1, when y=1: (1+x)^n = sum [C(n,k)*x^k]; k=0,n // 2
in // 2, when x=1: 2^n = sum [C(n,k)]; k=0,n // 3

derivatives of both sides of (1+x)^n = sum [C(n,k)*x^k]; k=0,n:
n(1+x)^(n-1) = sum [k * C(n,k) * x^(k-1)]; k=0,n // 4
in // 4, when x=1: n*2^(n-1) = sum [k * C(n,k)]; k=0,n // 5

The Attempt at a Solution


from // 5, i'll have
sum [C(2n,k)] = 2^(2n); k=0,2n

then i tried to divide this by 2:
sum [C(2n,k)] = 2^(2n)/2 = 2^(2n-1); k=0,n

but then i realized this can't be correct because there are
n+1 numbers in the range 0-n,
2n+1 numbers in the range 0-2n
so i can't really divide 2n+1 by two and get n+1
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Lilia said:

Homework Statement


prove that sum C(2n,k)*k = n*2^(2n-1); k=0,n

Homework Equations


(x+y)^n = sum [C(n,k)*x^k*y^(n-k)]; k=0,n. // 1
in // 1, when y=1: (1+x)^n = sum [C(n,k)*x^k]; k=0,n // 2
in // 2, when x=1: 2^n = sum [C(n,k)]; k=0,n // 3

derivatives of both sides of (1+x)^n = sum [C(n,k)*x^k]; k=0,n:
n(1+x)^(n-1) = sum [k * C(n,k) * x^(k-1)]; k=0,n // 4
in // 4, when x=1: n*2^(n-1) = sum [k * C(n,k)]; k=0,n // 5

The Attempt at a Solution


from // 5, i'll have
sum [C(2n,k)] = 2^(2n); k=0,2n

then i tried to divide this by 2:
sum [C(2n,k)] = 2^(2n)/2 = 2^(2n-1); k=0,n

but then i realized this can't be correct because there are
n+1 numbers in the range 0-n,
2n+1 numbers in the range 0-2n
so i can't really divide 2n+1 by two and get n+1

Hint: C(2n,n+k) = C(2n,n-k) and (n+k) = 2n - (n-k), so you can relate sum_{k=n..2n} k C(2n,k) = sum_{k=1..n} (n+k)C(2n,n+k) to sum_{k=1..n} k C(2n,k).
 
sum_{k=0..2n} k C(2n,k) = n*2^(2n)
if it was sum_{k=1..2n} k C(2n,k) = n*2^(2n), i'd just divide both sides by 2 and prove the equation
 
^it is
$$\sum_{k=0}^n k\,\mathrm{C}(2n,k)=\sum_{k=1}^n k\,\mathrm{C}(2n,k)$$
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lilia
yes...

but i don't understand why these are equal:
sum_{k=n..2n} k C(2n,k) = sum_{k=1..n} (n+k)C(2n,n+k)
 
Lilia said:
yes...

but i don't understand why these are equal:
sum_{k=n..2n} k C(2n,k) = sum_{k=1..n} (n+k)C(2n,n+k)

Who says they are equal?
 
the 1st reply?
 
Lilia said:
the 1st reply?

No, absolutely not. Saying that two things are related is not the same as saying they are equal.
 
is this correct?

sum {k=1,2n} c(2n,k) * x^k = (1+x)^(2n)
sum {k=1,2n} k * c(2n,k) * x^(k-1) = 2n * (1+x)^(2n-1)
sum {k=1,2n} c(2n,k) = 2^(2n-1), when x=1
n * 2^(2n-1) = [sum {k=1,2n} c(2n,k)] / 2 = sum {k=1,n} c(2n,k)
 
  • #10
anyone?
 
  • #11
^^only the second is correct though the sum should start at 0 to fit the others
in all k should start at 0
in the third and forth even though you had k * c(2n,k) in the second the k disappeared

sum {k=0,2n} c(2n,k) * x^k = (1+x)^(2n)
sum {k=0,2n} k * c(2n,k) * x^(k-1) = 2n * (1+x)^(2n-1)
sum {k=0,2n} k*c(2n,k) = 2^(2n-1), when x=1
n * 2^(2n-1) = [sum {k=0,2n} k*c(2n,k)] / 2 = sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k)
 
  • #12
oh yes, that's true

but i don't get how these two are equal - [sum {k=0,2n} k*c(2n,k)] / 2 = sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k)

for the left part we have
c(2n,0)*0 + c(2n,1)*1 + ... + c(2n,n-1)*(n-1) + c(2n,n)*n + c(2n,n+1)*(n+1) + ... + c(2n,2n)*2n

having c(2n,k) = c(2n,2n-k), by summing all the coefficients of these c(2n,k) = c(2n,2n-k) i'll have that every term's coefficient is 2n, except for c(2n,n)*n.

after this, i don't think i can divide sum {k=0,2n} k*c(2n,k) by 2 and say it's equal to sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k)
 
  • #13
Lilia said:
oh yes, that's true

but i don't get how these two are equal - [sum {k=0,2n} k*c(2n,k)] / 2 = sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k)

for the left part we have
c(2n,0)*0 + c(2n,1)*1 + ... + c(2n,n-1)*(n-1) + c(2n,n)*n + c(2n,n+1)*(n+1) + ... + c(2n,2n)*2n

having c(2n,k) = c(2n,2n-k), by summing all the coefficients of these c(2n,k) = c(2n,2n-k) i'll have that every term's coefficient is 2n, except for c(2n,n)*n.

after this, i don't think i can divide sum {k=0,2n} k*c(2n,k) by 2 and say it's equal to sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k)

For ##n=6## the sequence of values ##k \,C(12,k)## for ##k=1 \ldots 12## is
12, 132, 660, 1980, 3960, 5544, 5544, 3960, 1980, 660, 132, 12 .
We do, indeed, have ##\sum_{k=1}^6 k\, C(12,k) = \sum_{k=7}^{12} k \,C(12,k)= (1/2)\sum_{k=1}^{12} k\, C(12,k)##.

However, you need to prove that in general, for any ##n##.
 
Last edited:
  • #14
but why are there two 5544's? we have only one c(12,6). for others there are equals, for example c(12,8) = c(12,4) etc.
 
  • #15
Lilia said:
but why are there two 5544's? we have only one c(12,6). for others there are equals, for example c(12,8) = c(12,4) etc.

Do the calculation yourself: (1) compute C(12,k) for k = 1, 2, ..., 12; (2) multiply the entries by k = 1,2,..., 12, to get the sequence k*C(12,k) for k from 1 to 12.

It seems odd that the C's go up and then down again as k increases, while the entries k themselves continue to go up, but nevertheless their product goes up, then down and in a symmetric way. Until you have seen it happen you might not believe it; that is why a numerical example is helpful.
 
  • #16
okay, i need to prove that sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k) = 1/2 * sum {k=0,2n} k*c(n/k)

for n=3,
for on left side i have ##\text{0*c(6,0) + 1*c(6,1) + 2*c(6,2) + 3*c(6,3) = 0 + 6 + 15 + 60 = 81}##
and on the right side ##\text{0*c(6,0) + 1*c(6,1) + 2*c(6,2) + 3*c(6,3) + 4*c(6,4) + 5*c(6,5) + 6*c(6,6)] = 81 + 60 + 30 + 6 = 177}##

since ##\text{c(n,k) = c(n,n-k)}##, here we can notice that the sum of the coefficients of c(2n,k) and c(2n,2n-k) is 2n but this isn't true for c(2n,n)
for example, ##\text{c(6,1) = c(6,5)}##, the sum of their coefficients: 1 + 5 = 6 = 2n, the same holds for the others but c(6,3) is unique

and also ##\frac {177} 2 ≠ 81##
 
  • #17
Lilia said:
okay, i need to prove that sum {k=0,n} k*c(2n,k) = 1/2 * sum {k=0,2n} k*c(n/k)

for n=3,
for on left side i have ##\text{0*c(6,0) + 1*c(6,1) + 2*c(6,2) + 3*c(6,3) = 0 + 6 + 15 + 60 = 81}##
and on the right side ##\text{0*c(6,0) + 1*c(6,1) + 2*c(6,2) + 3*c(6,3) + 4*c(6,4) + 5*c(6,5) + 6*c(6,6)] = 81 + 60 + 30 + 6 = 177}##

since ##\text{c(n,k) = c(n,n-k)}##, here we can notice that the sum of the coefficients of c(2n,k) and c(2n,2n-k) is 2n but this isn't true for c(2n,n)
for example, ##\text{c(6,1) = c(6,5)}##, the sum of their coefficients: 1 + 5 = 6 = 2n, the same holds for the others but c(6,3) is unique

and also ##\frac {177} 2 ≠ 81##

Of course, ##\sum_{k=0}^n k C(2n,k) = \sum_{k=1}^n k C(2n,k)##, etc., and that is why I wrote the sums starting from 1 instead of 0. You get the required symmetry when you start at 1.

Beyond that, I don't know what else I can say without solving the problem for you. You need to actually evaluate numerically the terms ##k C(12,k)## to see what you get. But, I would suggest you do another case instead, so maybe look at ##n = 5## and thus look at the sequence ##k C(10,k)## for ##k = 1,2, \ldots, 10##. Do not leave the terms in symbolic form such as ##7 C(10,7)## for example; evaluate them numerically, so that you write ##840## instead of ##7 C(10,7).##
 
  • #18
i calculated the second term wrong, so for n=3 the sequence of terms is
##\text{0 6 30 60 60 30 6}##
so it turns out that ##\text{n*c(2n,n) = (n+1)*c(2n,n+1)}## and i really wonder why and how

##\text{(n+1)*c(2n,n+1) = n*c(2n,n+1) + c(2n,n+1)}## but this doesn't get me anywhere
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K