Something I can't seem to prove

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Skynt
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 2K views
Skynt
Messages
39
Reaction score
1
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:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
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.