Simplifying Factorials: How to Simplify the Expression (2n-1)! / (2n+1)!

vanceEE
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Homework Statement



$$ \frac{(2n-1)!}{(2n+1)!} $$

How do you simplify this factorial?
 
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Just write out the factorials. Then you'll see immediately how to simplify the expression.
 
vanhees71 said:
Just write out the factorials. Then you'll see immediately how to simplify the expression.

I cannot tell from writing them out.
$$\frac{1*3*5*7*9...(2n-1)!}{3*5*7*9*11...(2n+1)!} $$
Please explain.Edit:
Nvm, I understand. Thank you!

$$\frac{(2n-1)!}{(2n+1)!} = \frac{(2n-1)*(2n-2)*(2n-3)*(2n-4)...2*1}{(2n+1)*(2n)*(2n-1)*(2n-2)...2*1} $$
$$ = \frac{1}{(2n)*(2n+1)} $$

or

$$\frac{(2n-1)!}{(2n+1)!} = \frac{(2n-1)!}{(2n+1)*(2n)*(2n-1)!} $$
$$ = \frac{1}{(2n+1)*(2n)} $$
 
Last edited:
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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