Where Did ##(n−r+1)^{th}## Come From in Binomial Expansion?

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In the binomial expansion of (1+x)^n, the coefficients of terms equidistant from the beginning and end are equal, leading to the conclusion that the coefficient of the (r+1)th term from the beginning, given by ^nC_r, matches the coefficient of the (n-r+1)th term from the beginning. This relationship arises because the total number of terms in the expansion is n+1, making the (n-r+1)th term correspond to the (r+1)th term from the end. For example, in (1+x)^6, the third term from the beginning and the fifth term from the end both yield the same coefficient of 15. Understanding this symmetry can be further illustrated through Pascal's Triangle, which visually represents the coefficients and their relationships. The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing the underlying symmetry in binomial coefficients.
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Homework Statement
In the expansion of ##(1+x)^n##, the coefficients of terms equidistant from the beginning and the end are equal.
Relevant Equations
Binomial Theorem
I'm having trouble with this concept:

In the expansion of ##(1+x)^n##, the coefficients of terms equidistant from the beginning and the end are equal.
The coefficient of the ##(r+1)^{th}## term from the beginning is ##^nC_r##. The ##(r+1)^{th}## term from the end has ##n+1−(r+1)##, or ##n−r## terms before it; therefore counting from the beginning it is the ##(n−r+1)^{th}## term, and its coefficient is ##^nC_{n−r}##, which is equal to ##^nC_r##.

I understand this until "therefore counting from the beginning it is the ##(n−r+1)^{th}## term". Where did ##(n−r+1)^{th}## come from?

For example ##(1+x)^6= x^6+6x^5y+15x^4y^2+20x^3y^3+15x^2y^4+6xy^5+y^6##

Let ##r=2##, then the ##(r+1)##, or third term, has the coefficient ##^6C_2=15##. This is correct since the third term is ##15x^4y^2##.

From the end, the third term has ##6+1-(2+1)=4## terms before it, which is also correct (after the third term, it is these four terms: ##20x^3y^3+15x^2y^4+6xy^5+y^6##).

"therefore counting from the beginning it is the ##(n−r+1)^{th}## term". Plugging in values gives the correct answer, ##6-2+1=5##, but I cannot understand what ##(n-r+1)## actually means or where it is derived from. I have no intuition about this part. Thanks for the assistance.
 
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RChristenk said:
Homework Statement: In the expansion of ##(1+x)^n##, the coefficients of terms equidistant from the beginning and the end are equal.
Relevant Equations: Binomial Theorem

I'm having trouble with this concept:

In the expansion of ##(1+x)^n##, the coefficients of terms equidistant from the beginning and the end are equal.
The coefficient of the ##(r+1)^{th}## term from the beginning is ##^nC_r##. The ##(r+1)^{th}## term from the end has ##n+1−(r+1)##, or ##n−r## terms before it; therefore counting from the beginning it is the ##(n−r+1)^{th}## term, and its coefficient is ##^nC_{n−r}##, which is equal to ##^nC_r##.

I understand this until "therefore counting from the beginning it is the ##(n−r+1)^{th}## term". Where did ##(n−r+1)^{th}## come from?

For example ##(1+x)^6= x^6+6x^5y+15x^4y^2+20x^3y^3+15x^2y^4+6xy^5+y^6##

Let ##r=2##, then the ##(r+1)##, or third term, has the coefficient ##^6C_2=15##. This is correct since the third term is ##15x^4y^2##.

From the end, the third term has ##6+1-(2+1)=4## terms before it, which is also correct (after the third term, it is these four terms: ##20x^3y^3+15x^2y^4+6xy^5+y^6##).

"therefore counting from the beginning it is the ##(n−r+1)^{th}## term". Plugging in values gives the correct answer, ##6-2+1=5##, but I cannot understand what ##(n-r+1)## actually means or where it is derived from. I have no intuition about this part. Thanks for the assistance.
The expansion of ##(1 + x)^n## has n + 1 terms. If you look at the rth term from the beginning, then the rth term from the other end will have the same coefficient. That would be the (n+1)-r th term.

-Dan
 
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One can see the symmetry of the coefficients in Pascal's Triangle. Below are the coefficients of ##(1 + x)^n## for the first few values of n.
1 (n = 0)
1 1 (n = 1)
1 2 1 (n = 2)
1 3 3 1 (n = 3)
1 4 6 4 1 (n = 4)
and so on.
 
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Mark44 said:
One can see the symmetry of the coefficients in Pascal's Triangle. Below are the coefficients of ##(1 + x)^n## for the first few values of n.
1 (n = 0)
1 1 (n = 1)
1 2 1 (n = 2)
1 3 3 1 (n = 3)
1 4 6 4 1 (n = 4)
and so on.
And there's a recursion rule to Pascal 's Triangle that proves the symmetry.
 
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