[Math] Proving identities using combinatorial interpretation of binomial coefficients

binomial-coefficientscombinatoricsdiscrete mathematics

Let $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Prove the identities $$\binom{n}{k} = \binom{n-1}{k-1} + \binom{n-1}{k}$$ and $$\sum^{n}_{k=0}\binom{n}{k}^2 = \binom{2n}{n}$$ by using only the combinatorial interpretation of the binomial coefficient.

I don't exactly get what it means with "combinatorial interpretation of binomial coefficient". I can solve the first identity simply using binomial coefficient like this:

$$\binom{n-1}{k-1} + \binom{n-1}{k} = \frac{(n-1)!}{(n-k)!(k-1)!} + \frac{(n-1)!}{(n-k-1)!k!} = \frac{(n-1)!k}{(n-k)!k!} + \frac{(n-1)!(n-k)}{(n-k)!k!} = \frac{(n-1)![k+(n-k)]}{(n-k)!k!} = \frac{(n-1)!n}{(n-k)!k!} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!} = \binom{n}{k}$$

And for the second identity, I can apply symmetry, then Vandermonde to get:

$$\sum^{n}_{k=0}\binom{n}{k}^2 = \sum^{n}_{k=0}\binom{n}{k}\binom{n}{n-k} = \binom{2n}{n}$$

Though, I don't exactly understand whether the problem asks for this kind of solution, if not, I would like to see a proof to the identities using combinatorial interpretation of binomial coefficient.

Best Answer

"Using a combinatorial interpretation" means using what the symbol $\dbinom{n}{k}$ means; namely, the number of ways of choosing $k$ things from $n$ things. In each case, you want to count the things in two different ways.

Hints:

  1. $\dbinom{n}{k}$ is the number of ways choosing $k$ things from $n$. Divide the $n$ things into a group of $n-1$ and a group of $1$. If you choose $k$ things from the $n$, how many might you have chosen from the first group? From the second?
  2. Similarly, consider $2n$ things, and divide them into two groups of $n$ things. If you choose $n$ things from those $2n$, then how many will you have chosen from the first group? From the second?
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