Something I can't seem to prove

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Skynt
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a mathematical expression involving factorials and combinatorial identities. Participants are exploring the equality of two expressions related to binomial coefficients and seeking a proof for this relationship.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an equation involving factorials and requests assistance in proving its validity.
  • Another participant points out a relationship involving factorials that may assist in simplifying the expressions.
  • A later reply expresses a moment of realization or frustration regarding the algebra involved in the proof.
  • One participant notes that the formula discussed is related to the generation of Pascal's triangle.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion does not reach a consensus on the proof, as participants are still working through the algebraic manipulation and understanding of the expressions involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the algebraic steps necessary to prove the equality, and there may be assumptions about the manipulation of factorials that are not explicitly stated.

Skynt
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It should be really simple, but I think the algebra is bogging me down:

[tex]\frac{n!}{(n-i)! i!} + \frac{n!}{[n-(i+1)]! (i+1)!} = \frac{(n+1)!}{(n-i)! (i+1)!}[/tex]

Can anyone show me the process of proving this? I don't see how the two expressions are equal...

essentially I can't get rid of the [n - (i + 1)]! term when I try to combine the two fractions and expand things.
 
Last edited:
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Notice that [n - i] * [n - (i + 1)]! = [n - i]!.
 
obviously *bangs head* thanks!
 
That is, by the way, the formula used for producing Pascal's triangle.
 

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