Prove the identity $sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} = 3^n$












1












$begingroup$


Prove the identity $sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} = 3^n$. I believe I need to use the binomial theorem here, but I don't know how to deal with the double summations.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Use this question.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:19










  • $begingroup$
    You may be interested in the Multinomial theorem about multinomial coefficients.
    $endgroup$
    – Somos
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:33
















1












$begingroup$


Prove the identity $sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} = 3^n$. I believe I need to use the binomial theorem here, but I don't know how to deal with the double summations.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Use this question.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:19










  • $begingroup$
    You may be interested in the Multinomial theorem about multinomial coefficients.
    $endgroup$
    – Somos
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:33














1












1








1


0



$begingroup$


Prove the identity $sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} = 3^n$. I believe I need to use the binomial theorem here, but I don't know how to deal with the double summations.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




Prove the identity $sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} = 3^n$. I believe I need to use the binomial theorem here, but I don't know how to deal with the double summations.







combinatorics discrete-mathematics summation binomial-coefficients






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Dec 9 '18 at 15:48









Martin Sleziak

44.7k9117272




44.7k9117272










asked Dec 8 '18 at 19:13









cosmicbrowniecosmicbrownie

1016




1016












  • $begingroup$
    Use this question.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:19










  • $begingroup$
    You may be interested in the Multinomial theorem about multinomial coefficients.
    $endgroup$
    – Somos
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:33


















  • $begingroup$
    Use this question.
    $endgroup$
    – Dietrich Burde
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:19










  • $begingroup$
    You may be interested in the Multinomial theorem about multinomial coefficients.
    $endgroup$
    – Somos
    Dec 8 '18 at 19:33
















$begingroup$
Use this question.
$endgroup$
– Dietrich Burde
Dec 8 '18 at 19:19




$begingroup$
Use this question.
$endgroup$
– Dietrich Burde
Dec 8 '18 at 19:19












$begingroup$
You may be interested in the Multinomial theorem about multinomial coefficients.
$endgroup$
– Somos
Dec 8 '18 at 19:33




$begingroup$
You may be interested in the Multinomial theorem about multinomial coefficients.
$endgroup$
– Somos
Dec 8 '18 at 19:33










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$

We will use the identity
$$
binom{n}{k}binom{k}{r}=binom{n}{r}binom{n-r}{k-r}quad (ngeq kgeq rgeq 0).
$$

Interchange the order of summation and use the identity above to get that
$$
sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k}
=sum_{r=0}^{n}binom{n}{r}sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{r=0}^nbinom{n}{r}2^{n-r}=(1+2)^n=3^n
$$

where we used the fact that
$$
sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{u=0}^{n-r}binom{n-r}{u}=2^{n-r}.
$$






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
    $endgroup$
    – nafhgood
    Dec 8 '18 at 20:33






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
    $endgroup$
    – Ned
    Dec 8 '18 at 21:18










  • $begingroup$
    That's cool! Thanks!
    $endgroup$
    – nafhgood
    Dec 8 '18 at 21:22



















2












$begingroup$

Let $|X|=n$, so $3^n$ is the number of functions from $X$ to {$1,2,3$}.



Each such function corresponds uniquely to a pair of subsets $(A,B)$ with $A$ a subset of $B$ and $B$ a subset of $X$ by taking $B$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$ or $f(x)=3$} and $A$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$}.



The number of such pairs of nested subsets of $X$ is the double sum on the right hand side of the formula (where $k$ = $|B|$ and $r$ = $|A|$).






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    You know that $displaystyle(1+x)^n=sum_{k=0}^nbinom nkx^k$



    $displaystylesum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} =sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}=sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r$



    Since $displaystylesum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r=(1+1)^k=2^k$, we have



    $displaystyleimpliessum_{k=0}^{n} binom nk2^k=(1+2)^n=3^n$






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      0












      $begingroup$


      A convenient aspect is the index of the inner sum affects only one binomial coefficient. Setting parenthesis we might observe



      begin{align*}
      color{blue}{sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}binom{n}{k}}
      &=sum_{k=0}^{n}left(sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} right)binom{n}{k}\
      &=sum_{k=0}^{n}2^k binom{n}{k}\
      &,,color{blue}{=3^n}
      end{align*}







      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$













        Your Answer





        StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
        return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
        StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
        StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
        });
        });
        }, "mathjax-editing");

        StackExchange.ready(function() {
        var channelOptions = {
        tags: "".split(" "),
        id: "69"
        };
        initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

        StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
        // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
        if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
        StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
        createEditor();
        });
        }
        else {
        createEditor();
        }
        });

        function createEditor() {
        StackExchange.prepareEditor({
        heartbeatType: 'answer',
        autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
        convertImagesToLinks: true,
        noModals: true,
        showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
        reputationToPostImages: 10,
        bindNavPrevention: true,
        postfix: "",
        imageUploader: {
        brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
        contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
        allowUrls: true
        },
        noCode: true, onDemand: true,
        discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
        ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
        });


        }
        });














        draft saved

        draft discarded


















        StackExchange.ready(
        function () {
        StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3031500%2fprove-the-identity-sum-k-0n-sum-r-0k-binomkr-binomnk-3n%23new-answer', 'question_page');
        }
        );

        Post as a guest















        Required, but never shown

























        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        2












        $begingroup$

        We will use the identity
        $$
        binom{n}{k}binom{k}{r}=binom{n}{r}binom{n-r}{k-r}quad (ngeq kgeq rgeq 0).
        $$

        Interchange the order of summation and use the identity above to get that
        $$
        sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k}
        =sum_{r=0}^{n}binom{n}{r}sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{r=0}^nbinom{n}{r}2^{n-r}=(1+2)^n=3^n
        $$

        where we used the fact that
        $$
        sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{u=0}^{n-r}binom{n-r}{u}=2^{n-r}.
        $$






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$













        • $begingroup$
          Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 20:33






        • 1




          $begingroup$
          @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
          $endgroup$
          – Ned
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:18










        • $begingroup$
          That's cool! Thanks!
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:22
















        2












        $begingroup$

        We will use the identity
        $$
        binom{n}{k}binom{k}{r}=binom{n}{r}binom{n-r}{k-r}quad (ngeq kgeq rgeq 0).
        $$

        Interchange the order of summation and use the identity above to get that
        $$
        sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k}
        =sum_{r=0}^{n}binom{n}{r}sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{r=0}^nbinom{n}{r}2^{n-r}=(1+2)^n=3^n
        $$

        where we used the fact that
        $$
        sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{u=0}^{n-r}binom{n-r}{u}=2^{n-r}.
        $$






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$













        • $begingroup$
          Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 20:33






        • 1




          $begingroup$
          @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
          $endgroup$
          – Ned
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:18










        • $begingroup$
          That's cool! Thanks!
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:22














        2












        2








        2





        $begingroup$

        We will use the identity
        $$
        binom{n}{k}binom{k}{r}=binom{n}{r}binom{n-r}{k-r}quad (ngeq kgeq rgeq 0).
        $$

        Interchange the order of summation and use the identity above to get that
        $$
        sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k}
        =sum_{r=0}^{n}binom{n}{r}sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{r=0}^nbinom{n}{r}2^{n-r}=(1+2)^n=3^n
        $$

        where we used the fact that
        $$
        sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{u=0}^{n-r}binom{n-r}{u}=2^{n-r}.
        $$






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        We will use the identity
        $$
        binom{n}{k}binom{k}{r}=binom{n}{r}binom{n-r}{k-r}quad (ngeq kgeq rgeq 0).
        $$

        Interchange the order of summation and use the identity above to get that
        $$
        sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k}
        =sum_{r=0}^{n}binom{n}{r}sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{r=0}^nbinom{n}{r}2^{n-r}=(1+2)^n=3^n
        $$

        where we used the fact that
        $$
        sum_{k=r}^{n}binom{n-r}{k-r}=sum_{u=0}^{n-r}binom{n-r}{u}=2^{n-r}.
        $$







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Dec 8 '18 at 19:22









        Foobaz JohnFoobaz John

        21.8k41352




        21.8k41352












        • $begingroup$
          Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 20:33






        • 1




          $begingroup$
          @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
          $endgroup$
          – Ned
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:18










        • $begingroup$
          That's cool! Thanks!
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:22


















        • $begingroup$
          Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 20:33






        • 1




          $begingroup$
          @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
          $endgroup$
          – Ned
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:18










        • $begingroup$
          That's cool! Thanks!
          $endgroup$
          – nafhgood
          Dec 8 '18 at 21:22
















        $begingroup$
        Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
        $endgroup$
        – nafhgood
        Dec 8 '18 at 20:33




        $begingroup$
        Do you know a combinatorial proof of the statement?
        $endgroup$
        – nafhgood
        Dec 8 '18 at 20:33




        1




        1




        $begingroup$
        @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
        $endgroup$
        – Ned
        Dec 8 '18 at 21:18




        $begingroup$
        @mathnoob I think I have a combinatorial argument, see my answer below.
        $endgroup$
        – Ned
        Dec 8 '18 at 21:18












        $begingroup$
        That's cool! Thanks!
        $endgroup$
        – nafhgood
        Dec 8 '18 at 21:22




        $begingroup$
        That's cool! Thanks!
        $endgroup$
        – nafhgood
        Dec 8 '18 at 21:22











        2












        $begingroup$

        Let $|X|=n$, so $3^n$ is the number of functions from $X$ to {$1,2,3$}.



        Each such function corresponds uniquely to a pair of subsets $(A,B)$ with $A$ a subset of $B$ and $B$ a subset of $X$ by taking $B$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$ or $f(x)=3$} and $A$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$}.



        The number of such pairs of nested subsets of $X$ is the double sum on the right hand side of the formula (where $k$ = $|B|$ and $r$ = $|A|$).






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$


















          2












          $begingroup$

          Let $|X|=n$, so $3^n$ is the number of functions from $X$ to {$1,2,3$}.



          Each such function corresponds uniquely to a pair of subsets $(A,B)$ with $A$ a subset of $B$ and $B$ a subset of $X$ by taking $B$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$ or $f(x)=3$} and $A$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$}.



          The number of such pairs of nested subsets of $X$ is the double sum on the right hand side of the formula (where $k$ = $|B|$ and $r$ = $|A|$).






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$
















            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$

            Let $|X|=n$, so $3^n$ is the number of functions from $X$ to {$1,2,3$}.



            Each such function corresponds uniquely to a pair of subsets $(A,B)$ with $A$ a subset of $B$ and $B$ a subset of $X$ by taking $B$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$ or $f(x)=3$} and $A$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$}.



            The number of such pairs of nested subsets of $X$ is the double sum on the right hand side of the formula (where $k$ = $|B|$ and $r$ = $|A|$).






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Let $|X|=n$, so $3^n$ is the number of functions from $X$ to {$1,2,3$}.



            Each such function corresponds uniquely to a pair of subsets $(A,B)$ with $A$ a subset of $B$ and $B$ a subset of $X$ by taking $B$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$ or $f(x)=3$} and $A$ = {$x$ | $f(x)=2$}.



            The number of such pairs of nested subsets of $X$ is the double sum on the right hand side of the formula (where $k$ = $|B|$ and $r$ = $|A|$).







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered Dec 8 '18 at 21:11









            NedNed

            1,993910




            1,993910























                1












                $begingroup$

                You know that $displaystyle(1+x)^n=sum_{k=0}^nbinom nkx^k$



                $displaystylesum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} =sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}=sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r$



                Since $displaystylesum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r=(1+1)^k=2^k$, we have



                $displaystyleimpliessum_{k=0}^{n} binom nk2^k=(1+2)^n=3^n$






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$


















                  1












                  $begingroup$

                  You know that $displaystyle(1+x)^n=sum_{k=0}^nbinom nkx^k$



                  $displaystylesum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} =sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}=sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r$



                  Since $displaystylesum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r=(1+1)^k=2^k$, we have



                  $displaystyleimpliessum_{k=0}^{n} binom nk2^k=(1+2)^n=3^n$






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$
















                    1












                    1








                    1





                    $begingroup$

                    You know that $displaystyle(1+x)^n=sum_{k=0}^nbinom nkx^k$



                    $displaystylesum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} =sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}=sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r$



                    Since $displaystylesum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r=(1+1)^k=2^k$, we have



                    $displaystyleimpliessum_{k=0}^{n} binom nk2^k=(1+2)^n=3^n$






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    You know that $displaystyle(1+x)^n=sum_{k=0}^nbinom nkx^k$



                    $displaystylesum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} binom{n}{k} =sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}=sum_{k=0}^{n}binom{n}{k}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r$



                    Since $displaystylesum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}1^r=(1+1)^k=2^k$, we have



                    $displaystyleimpliessum_{k=0}^{n} binom nk2^k=(1+2)^n=3^n$







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 8 '18 at 19:31









                    Shubham JohriShubham Johri

                    4,992717




                    4,992717























                        0












                        $begingroup$


                        A convenient aspect is the index of the inner sum affects only one binomial coefficient. Setting parenthesis we might observe



                        begin{align*}
                        color{blue}{sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}binom{n}{k}}
                        &=sum_{k=0}^{n}left(sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} right)binom{n}{k}\
                        &=sum_{k=0}^{n}2^k binom{n}{k}\
                        &,,color{blue}{=3^n}
                        end{align*}







                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          0












                          $begingroup$


                          A convenient aspect is the index of the inner sum affects only one binomial coefficient. Setting parenthesis we might observe



                          begin{align*}
                          color{blue}{sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}binom{n}{k}}
                          &=sum_{k=0}^{n}left(sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} right)binom{n}{k}\
                          &=sum_{k=0}^{n}2^k binom{n}{k}\
                          &,,color{blue}{=3^n}
                          end{align*}







                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            0












                            0








                            0





                            $begingroup$


                            A convenient aspect is the index of the inner sum affects only one binomial coefficient. Setting parenthesis we might observe



                            begin{align*}
                            color{blue}{sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}binom{n}{k}}
                            &=sum_{k=0}^{n}left(sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} right)binom{n}{k}\
                            &=sum_{k=0}^{n}2^k binom{n}{k}\
                            &,,color{blue}{=3^n}
                            end{align*}







                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$




                            A convenient aspect is the index of the inner sum affects only one binomial coefficient. Setting parenthesis we might observe



                            begin{align*}
                            color{blue}{sum_{k=0}^{n}sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r}binom{n}{k}}
                            &=sum_{k=0}^{n}left(sum_{r=0}^{k} binom{k}{r} right)binom{n}{k}\
                            &=sum_{k=0}^{n}2^k binom{n}{k}\
                            &,,color{blue}{=3^n}
                            end{align*}








                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered Dec 9 '18 at 14:54









                            Markus ScheuerMarkus Scheuer

                            60.8k456145




                            60.8k456145






























                                draft saved

                                draft discarded




















































                                Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                                • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                                But avoid



                                • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                                • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                                Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                                To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                                draft saved


                                draft discarded














                                StackExchange.ready(
                                function () {
                                StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3031500%2fprove-the-identity-sum-k-0n-sum-r-0k-binomkr-binomnk-3n%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                                }
                                );

                                Post as a guest















                                Required, but never shown





















































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown

































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown







                                Popular posts from this blog

                                Tonle Sap (See)

                                I get strange results when I access the Sqlitedatabase with Unity C# via XAMPP

                                Guatemaltekische Davis-Cup-Mannschaft