Questions tagged [binomial-coefficients]
For questions that explicitly reference the binomial coefficients, Pascal's Triangle, and Binomial identities.
407
questions
20
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3
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Analogue of Fermat's "little" theorem
Let $p$ be a prime, and consider $$S_p(a)=\sum_{\substack{1\le j\le a-1\\(p-1)\mid j}}\binom{a}{j}\;.$$
I have a rather complicated (15 lines) proof that $S_p(a)\equiv0\pmod{p}$. This must be
...
0
votes
1
answer
169
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upper bound on sum of product of binomial coefficients
For positive integers $\ell < m < n$, consider a partition of $[2n]$ into two $n$-element sets $(X,Y)$. How many ways are there to choose an $m$-subset $A \subset [2n]$ such that the size of the ...
3
votes
0
answers
267
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Inequalities for Motzkin polynomials
Let us denote by $M_{n}(t)$ the $n$-th Motzkin polynomial. It is defined by $M_1(t) = M_2(t) = 1$ and
$$ M_{n}(t) = \sum_{i=0}^{\lfloor n/2\rfloor } \frac{1}{n-1-i} \binom{n-1-i}{i} \binom{n-1}{i+1} t^...
-1
votes
1
answer
336
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Could you please confirm or deny two identities involving weighted Stirling numbers of the second kind?
In the paper [1] below, among other things, Carlitz introduced weighted Stirling numbers of the second kind $R(n,k,r)$. He also proved that the numbers $R(n,k,r)$ can be generated by
\begin{equation*}%...
3
votes
0
answers
211
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Counting permutations with a fixed number of descents and an extra condition
I am computing the volumes of certain polytopes and it turns out that knowing a "closed formula" for the following number would help a lot.
Determine the number of permutations $\sigma\in \...
2
votes
0
answers
108
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Divisibility based on central binomial coefficients
For some prime $p$, it is a standard approach based on Kummer's criterion to bound the number of positive integers $n<X$ for some parameter $X$, such that $p\nmid \binom{2n}{n}$. However, if we ...
2
votes
1
answer
375
views
Lower bound and limit of a sum with binomial coefficients
Let
$$A_k = \sum_{i=1}^k i {3k-2i-1 \choose i-1} {2i-2 \choose k-i}$$
$$B_k = \sum_{i=1}^k i {3k-2i-2 \choose i-1} {2i-1 \choose k-i}$$
$$C_k = \sum_{i=1}^k (3k-2i-2) {3k-2i-3 \choose i-1} {2i\...
5
votes
4
answers
816
views
Limit of a sum with binomial coefficients
Let $$A_k = \frac{\sum_{i=1}^ki{2k-i-1 \choose i-1}{i-1 \choose k-i}}{k{2k-1\choose k}}$$
$$B_k = \frac{\sum_{i=1}^ki{2k-i-2 \choose i-1}{i \choose k-i}}{k{2k-1\choose k}}$$
$$C_k = \frac{\sum_{i=1}^k(...
0
votes
1
answer
159
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Restrictions on exponents in multinomial formula
From the multinomial formula we have
$$(x_1 + x_2 + \dotsb + x_m)^n
= \sum_{k_1+k_2+\dotsb+k_m=n, \ k_1, k_2, \dotsc, k_m \geq 0} {n \choose k_1, k_2, \dotsc, k_m}
\prod_{t=1}^m x_t^{k_t}\,.$$
I ...
1
vote
1
answer
267
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Inequalities between sums of products of certain binomial coefficients
I am a PhD student. During my researches, I often have to deal with inequalities involving sums of binomial coefficients, where the sums are indexed by some set of integer compositions. For example, ...
4
votes
2
answers
260
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An inequality involving binomial coefficients and the powers of two
I came across the following inequality, which should hold for any integer $k\geq 1$:
$$\sum_{j=0}^{k-1}\frac{(-1)^{j}2^{k-1-j}\binom{k}{j}(k-j)}{2k+1-j}\leq
\frac{1}{3}.$$
I have been struggling with ...
0
votes
1
answer
234
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Proof for alternating binomial sum over even powers
I have numerical evidence that
$$ \sum_{k=1}^n (-1)^k\frac{k^{p}}{n+k}\binom{2n-1}{n-k}=0 $$
For $p=2,4,6...2n-2$.
How could this be proved?
5
votes
2
answers
349
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Extended binomial coefficients and the gamma function
For which $(a,b,n) \in \mathbb{Z}^3$ satisfying $a+b=n$ does $\frac{\Gamma(z+1)}{\Gamma(x+1)\Gamma(y+1)}$ approach a limit as $(x,y,z) \rightarrow (a,b,n)$ in $\mathbb{C}^3$, and what is that limit? (...
3
votes
0
answers
142
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Flat polynomials with factors of big height
Let $p(x)$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ with all coefficients in $\{-1,0,1\}$ (such polynomials are sometimes called flat). I am wondering how big the coefficients of a factor of $p$ can be. Call ...
1
vote
1
answer
197
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A binomial product sum that turns out to be 1
The binomial product sum
\begin{align*}
\sum\limits_{\substack{i_1> i_2> \cdots > i_k\\i_1, i_2, \cdots, i_k \in \{1, 2, \cdots, n-1\}}}\binom{n}{i_1}\binom{i_1}{i_2}\binom{i_2}{i_3}\cdots\...
0
votes
1
answer
298
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Sum of the first m terms of the expansion $(x+y)^n$
Let $S(x, y, m, n) = \sum\limits_{i=0}^m \binom{n}{i}x^i y^{n-i}$, where $0 < m < n$. I want to derive the relation between $S(x, y, m, n)$ and $S(x, y, m, n-1)$.
Is there any formulas I can use?...
2
votes
3
answers
731
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Asking for a proof for a sum of products of binomials: an "interesting" identity?
The following identity must have received alternative proofs, including a combinatorial argument by David Callan as found at Bijections for the Identity $4^n = \sum_{k = 0}^n \binom{2k}k\binom{2(n - k)...
3
votes
0
answers
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Function maximized by $\left\{\left\lfloor\frac np\right\rfloor,\dots,\left\lfloor\frac{n+p-j}p\right\rfloor\right\}$
Since this MSE question didn't find any suitable answers, I decided to post it here.
I was trying to maximize the function
$$f(r)=\binom nr\cdot 2^{n-r}$$
This can be done by the standard technique of ...
54
votes
4
answers
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When do binomial coefficients sum to a power of 2?
Define the function $$S(N, n) = \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{N}{k}.$$
For what values of $N$ and $n$ does this function equal a power of 2?
There are three classes of solutions:
$n = 0$ or $n = N$,
$N$ is odd ...
4
votes
1
answer
222
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Does anyone have ideas about how to simplify this combinatorial expression (mod 2)?
Fix $k > 0$ for $\lceil \frac{2k+1}{3} \rceil \le j \le k$,
$$ \sum_{i = 0}^{2j-k-1} \binom{j}{i} + \sum_{b = \lceil \frac{k+1}{2} \rceil}^{\lfloor \frac{2k-j}{2} \rfloor} \left( \sum_{l = 0}^{2b-k-...
0
votes
2
answers
219
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Closed form expression for power of binomial expression with radical
When performing binomial expansion of $(a+b\sqrt c)^n$ I get $x+y\sqrt c$ where
$x$ is $\sum_{k=0}^{\lfloor n/2\rfloor} \binom{n}{2k} a^{n-2k} b^{2k} c^k$
$y$ is $\sum_{k=0}^{\lfloor (n-1)/2\rfloor} ...
4
votes
1
answer
278
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Approximating binomial coefficient sum
I have the following exact sum for the expectation of an event
$$\sum_{m=0}^{nk} \sum_{j=1}^n (-1)^{j-1}\binom{n}{j} \binom{(n-j)k}{m} / \binom{nk}{m}$$
which is exactly correct but I want to give an ...
2
votes
0
answers
213
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Two conjectures about generalised A329369
Let $m \geqslant 2$ be a fixed integer.
Let
$$\operatorname{wt}(n,m)=\operatorname{wt}\left(\left\lfloor\frac{n}{m}\right\rfloor,m\right)+n\bmod m, \operatorname{wt}(0,m)=0$$
Then we have an integer ...
2
votes
1
answer
110
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Modulo $2$ binomial transform of A243499 applied $k$ times
Let $m \geqslant 1$ be a fixed integer.
Let $f(n)$ be A007814, exponent of highest power of $2$ dividing $n$, a.k.a. the binary carry sequence, the ruler sequence, or the $2$-adic valuation of $n$.
...
0
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1
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149
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Modulo $2$ binomial transform of A124758
Let $f(n)$ be A153733, remove all trailing ones in binary representation of $n$. Here
\begin{align}
f(2n)& = 2n\\
f(2n+1)& = f(n)\\
\end{align}
Then we have an integer sequence given by
\begin{...
1
vote
0
answers
56
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Inverse modulo $2$ binomial transform of generalised A284005
Let $m \geqslant 1$ be a fixed integer.
Let $\operatorname{wt}(n)$ be A000120, $1$'s-counting sequence: number of $1$'s in binary expansion of $n$ (or the binary weight of $n$).
Let $f(n)$ be A007814, ...
1
vote
0
answers
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Open tours by a biased rook (proof verification)
Related questions:
Number of open tours by a biased rook on a specific $f(n)\times 1$ board which end on a $k$-th cell from the right
Sum with products turned into subsequences
Combinatorial ...
2
votes
2
answers
171
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Modulo $2$ binomial transform of $m^n$
Let $m \in \mathbb{R}$.
Let $f(n)$ be A007814, exponent of highest power of $2$ dividing $n$, a.k.a. the binary carry sequence, the ruler sequence, or the $2$-adic valuation of $n$.
Let $g(n)$ be ...
3
votes
0
answers
145
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Combinatorial interpretation of inverse modulo $2$ binomial transform of A284005
My question is related to the following:
Sum with products turned into subsequences
We have an identity
$$a(n, -1) = \sum\limits_{j=0}^{2^{\operatorname{wt}(n)}-1}(-1)^{\operatorname{wt}(n)-\...
0
votes
2
answers
309
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Closed form for a binomial product sum
Is there any closed formula for the binomial product sum
\begin{align*}
\sum\limits_{\substack{i_1> i_2> \cdots > i_k\\i_1, i_2, \cdots, i_k \in \{n-j+1, n-j+2, \cdots, n-1\}}}\binom{n}{i_1}\...
3
votes
1
answer
314
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Prove the identity $2(n-1)n^{n-2} = \sum^{n-1}_{i=1}\binom nii^{i-1}(n-i)^{n-i-1}$ [closed]
The given identity:
$$2(n-1)n^{n-2} = \sum^{n-1}_{i=1}\binom nii^{i-1}(n-i)^{n-i-1}$$
It seems to be a binomial coefficient problem, but I have tried many ways. There are no more ideas how to prove it....
3
votes
3
answers
366
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Chebyshev polynomials and ballot numbers
I have asked this question a short time ago on mathstackexchange, but it has already fallen into the abyss of answered and uncommented questions. So I take the risk to ask it on mathoverflow.
Playing ...
0
votes
0
answers
137
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A p adic limit of a binomial coefficient
Let $0 \leq a \leq p^n$ be a number coprime to p. Consider the following sequence of binomial coefficients:
$$B_k = \binom{p^{n+k}}{p^ka} $$
as $k\to \infty$. If I did the computation right, the p-...
1
vote
1
answer
215
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Worpitzky-like identities?
Let $$r_k(x)=\prod_{j=1}^k {(\frac{x+j}{j}})^{\min(j,k-j)}.$$
Computations suggest that $$r_{2k}(x)=\sum_{j=0}^{(k-1)^2}a(2k,j)\binom{k^2+x-j}{k^2}$$ and $$r_{2k+1}(x)=\sum_{j=0}^{k^2-k}a(2k+1,j)\...
5
votes
3
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668
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How to prove the combinatorial identity $\sum_{k=\ell}^{n}\binom{2n-k-1}{n-1}k2^k=2^\ell n\binom{2n-\ell}{n}$ for $n\ge\ell\ge0$?
With the aid of the simple identity
\begin{equation*}
\sum_{k=0}^{n}\binom{n+k}{k}\frac{1}{2^{k}}=2^n
\end{equation*}
in Item (1.79) on page 35 of the monograph
R. Sprugnoli, Riordan Array Proofs of ...
2
votes
0
answers
99
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Terminology: Central binomial coefficients?
Is there a special terminology for the binomial coefficients $\binom{n}{\lfloor\frac{n}{2}\rfloor}$ which distinguishes them from the central binomial coefficients $\binom{2n}{n}?$
4
votes
2
answers
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Asymptotics of an alternating sum involving the prefix sum of binomial coefficients
Let $c>1$.
Question.
What is the asymptotic behaviour of the sum
\begin{align}
S_n = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \left(-\frac{1}{2} \right)^k \binom{n}{k} \sum_{j=0}^{k} \binom{cn+k}{j}
\end{align}
as $n$ ...
-3
votes
1
answer
823
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combinatoric proof $\sum_{i=0}^{n}(-1)^i\binom{n}{i}\binom{n-i+k-1}{k}=\binom{k-1}{k-n}$ [closed]
I would like help with combinatorial proof ,
not algebraic proof . Thank you for your time
$\sum_{i=0}^{n}(-1)^i\binom{n}{i}\binom{n-i+k-1}{k}=\binom{k-1}{k-n}$
1
vote
1
answer
268
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There seem to be only few primes of the form ${n\choose k}+1$ if $k\geq 3$ is odd
We consider the sequence $n\longmapsto {n\choose k}+1$
for $k\geq 1$ a fixed integer. For $k\geq 3$ odd,
this sequence seems to contain surprisingly few prime numbers
while there are many primes (...
0
votes
1
answer
362
views
Prove for all $k \in \mathbb{N}$, that $\sum_{j=0}^{2k+1} {n+j-1\choose j} + \sum_{j=0}^{2k+1}(-1)^j{n+2k+2\choose j} = 0$
Prove that this sum holds for all positive integers $k$. I'm quite sure this is right but I can't see immediately how to go about proving it. This will help resolve a problem regarding sums of ...
10
votes
2
answers
477
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In search of a $q$-analogue of a Catalan identity
Let $C_n=\frac1{n+1}\binom{2n}n$ be the all-familiar Catalan numbers. Then, the following identity has received enough attention in the literature (for example, Lagrange Inversion: When and How):
\...
3
votes
4
answers
1k
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Proving a binomial sum identity
QUESTION. Let $x>0$ be a real number or an indeterminate. Is this true?
$$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{\binom{2n+1}{n+1}}{2^{2n+1}\,(n+x+1)}=\frac{2^{2x}}{x\,\binom{2x}x}-\frac1x.$$
POSTSCRIPT. I like ...
3
votes
0
answers
132
views
A recursion involving binomial coefficients: looking for a q-analog
Let $a_n := \frac{1}{2n+1}\binom{3n}{n}$.
Then it is known that (one can find references in the OEIS for this.)
$$
a_n = \sum_{\substack{i,j,k \geq 0 \\ i+j+k=n-1} } a_i a_j a_k.
$$
Is there a natural ...
2
votes
1
answer
673
views
Prove that $ \sum_{i=0}^{2k}( {n+R-1\choose R+i} + (-1)^{i+1}{ n+R+i\choose R+i } )\sum_{j=0}^i {i\choose j}(-1)^j(i+1-j)^{2k}=0 $
For all $k,R \in \mathbb{N}$ fixed, prove that $ \sum_{i=0}^{2k}( {n+R-1\choose R+i} + (-1)^{i+1}{ n+R+i\choose R+i } )\sum_{j=0}^i {i\choose j}(-1)^j(i+1-j)^{2k}=0 $. I'm quite sure this is true but ...
2
votes
1
answer
328
views
Show that $\sum_{i=0}^{2k} [ {n\choose i+1} + (-1)^{i+1}{n+i+1\choose i+1} ] \sum_{j=0}^i {i\choose j}(-1)^j (i+1-j)^{2k} =0.$
Let $u(k,j) = 1$ if $j=0$, $0$ if $j > k$, or else it is $j*u(k-1,j-1) +(j+1)*u(k-1,j) $. Prove that $ \sum_{i=0}^{2k} {n \choose i+1} u(2k,i) +\sum_{i=0}^{2k} {-n-1 \choose i+1} u(2k,i)=0. $ ...
10
votes
1
answer
615
views
A conjecture on binomial coefficients and roots of unity
Is the following true?
Let $p$ be a prime and let $w$ be a $(p-1)$st root of unity (not necessarily primitive). Then
$$\binom{w}{n}=\frac{w(w-1)\cdots(w-n+1)}{n!}$$ is $p$-integral; i.e., it can be ...
1
vote
2
answers
344
views
Closed form of $ \sum_{i=1}^{n-k} {n-1-i\choose k-1}i^a + \sum_{i=1}^k {n-1-i\choose n-1-k}$
For all natural numbers $a$, is there a known closed form of $ \sum_{i=1}^{n-k} {n-1-i\choose k-1}i^a + \sum_{i=1}^k {n-1-i\choose n-1-k}$, where $k$ is fixed?
For example, letting $k=1$ gives the ...
7
votes
1
answer
315
views
For which pairs $k$ and $n$, $n\mid{{n-2} \choose {k}}$
The question
This question that arose in a discussion with Ron Adin is quite simple:
For which pairs $k$ and $n$ does $n$ divide ${{n-2} \choose {k}}$?
Simple observations
It is easy to see that ...
3
votes
1
answer
484
views
Conjecture on bernoulli numbers and binomial coefficients
Crossposted from
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4116414/conjecture-on-bernoulli-numbers-and-binomial-coefficients
In playing around with some formulas, I have come up with the following ...
1
vote
2
answers
275
views
In search of a combinatorial proof for a multinomial sum
There is this sequence listed on OEIS - named Domb numbers. I'm curious about
QUESTION. Is there a direct combinatorial proof for the identity
$$\sum_{k=0}^n\binom{n}k^2\binom{2k}k\binom{2n-2k}{n-k}
=...