[Math] Show that $ \sum_{n=2}^m \binom{n}{2} = \binom{m+1}{3}$

Question

I need a hand in showing that $$ \sum_{n=2}^m \binom{n}{2} = \binom{m+1}{3}$$

Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer 1

Heres a nice combinatorial proof: Lets say you have $n+1$ kids, and want to form a committee of three. Order the kids $a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_{n+1}$. There are $\dbinom{n+1}{3}$ ways to form the committee. On the other hand, if $a_1$ is the first person on the committee, we need to choose two more, in $\dbinom{n}{2}$ ways. If $a_2$ is the first person on the committee, we can choose two more in $\dbinom{n-1}{2}$ ways. In general, if $a_n$ is the first person on the committee, we can choosse two more in $\dbinom{n-k+1}{2}$ ways. Therefore, we have $$ \dbinom{n+1}{3} = \sum_{i=1}^{n+1} \dbinom{n-k+1}{2} = \dbinom{n}{2} + \dbinom{n-1}{2} + \cdots + \dbinom22$$