Proving an identity relating to binomial coefficients. Show that if n is a positive integers 2C(2n,n+1)+2C(2n,n)=C(2n+2,n+1)

bamakhosimz

bamakhosimz

Answered question

2022-09-04

Proving an identity relating to binomial coefficients
Show that if n is a positive integers 2 C ( 2 n , n + 1 ) + 2 C ( 2 n , n ) = C ( 2 n + 2 , n + 1 )
I know how to prove this algebraically, applying the formula and this is how it is also given in hints. Since I want to understand counting arguments I am thinking to give a proof of this using combinatorial arguments (double counting).
The right side is the number of ways to select n + 1 elements from 2 n + 2 elements. But I am not able to get an argument for the left side. I'm not getting how can I argue that I need to choose n or n + 1 elements from 2n elements twice.

Answer & Explanation

Karma Estes

Karma Estes

Beginner2022-09-05Added 11 answers

Step 1
Right Hand Side
Alex, Mary, and 2n other children attend a class. The teacher want to choose n + 1 children to join a competition. The number of possible teams are given by the right hand side:
( 2 n + 2 n + 1 )
Step 2
Left Hand Side
There are four possibilities: both Alex and Mary not in the team, both Alex and Mary in the team, Alex in the team but not Mary, Mary in the team but not Alex. The number of such team, respectively, are given by the following:
( 2 n n + 1 ) + ( 2 n n 1 ) + ( 2 n n ) + ( 2 n n )
Step 3
Conclusion
Since both left and right hand side counts the same objects they must be equal
( 2 n n 1 ) + ( 2 n n + 1 ) + 2 ( 2 n n ) = ( 2 n + 2 n + 1 )
Additional Remarks
The left hand side is Vandermonde’s identity:
j = 0 2 ( 2 j ) ( 2 n n + 1 j )
allelog5

allelog5

Beginner2022-09-06Added 19 answers

Step 1
First use a counting argument to prove:
( m r ) = ( m 1 r ) + ( m 1 r 1 ) ( m > r 1 ) .
Apply this identity twice, first taking m = 2 n + 2 and r = n + 1:
( 2 n + 2 n + 1 ) = ( 2 n + 1 n + 1 ) + ( 2 n + 1 n ) = 2 ( 2 n + 1 n + 1 ) ,
and then taking m = 2 n + 1 and r = n + 1:
( 2 n + 1 n + 1 ) = ( 2 n n + 1 ) + ( 2 n n ) .
Step 2
We used the result that
( 2 n + 1 n ) = ( 2 n + 1 n + 1 ) .
This is a special case of
( m r ) = ( m m r ) ( m r 0 ) ,
which can also be proved by a counting argument.

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