Combinatorial proof of a Fibonacci identity: n_F1+(n−1)F_2+⋯+F_n=F_n+4−n−3. Does anyone know a combinatorial proof of the following identity, where Fn is the nth Fibonacci number?

sdentatoiz

sdentatoiz

Answered question

2022-09-11

Combinatorial proof of a Fibonacci identity: n F 1 + ( n 1 ) F 2 + + F n = F n + 4 n 3.
Does anyone know a combinatorial proof of the following identity, where F n is the nth Fibonacci number?

Answer & Explanation

Peugeota2p

Peugeota2p

Beginner2022-09-12Added 14 answers

Recall that F n + 1 is the number of ways to tile a board of length 𝑛 with tiles of length 1 and 2. So F n + 4 is the number of ways to tile a board of length n + 3 with tiles of length 1 and 2. Note that n + 3 such tilings use at most one tile of length 2, so F n + 4 ( n + 3 ) such tilings use at least two tiles of length 2.
Given such a tiling, look at where the second-to-last tile of length 2 is used. The part after this tile is a tiling of some section of length k + 1 where exactly one tile of length 2 is used (which can be done in k ways), and the part before this tile is a tiling of the remaining portion of length n k (which can be done in F n k + 1 ways). Sum over k.

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