[Math] New binomial coefficient identity

binomial-coefficientsreference-requestsequences-and-series

Is the following identity known?

$$\sum\limits_{k=0}^n\frac{(-1)^k}{2k+1}\binom{n+k}{n-k}\binom{2k}{k}=
\frac{1}{2n+1}$$

I have not found it in the following book:

Best Answer

In terms of hypergeometric series, the sum is $_3F_2(-n, 1+n, 1/2;1,3/2;1)$ and the identity is a special case of Saalschütz's theorem (also called the Pfaff-Saalschütz theorem), one of the standard hypergeometric series identities.

A more general identity, also a special case of Saalschütz's theorem, is $$\sum_{k=0}^n (-1)^k\frac{a}{a+k}\binom{n+k+b}{n-k}\binom{2k+b}{k} = \binom{n+b-a}{n}\biggm/\binom{n+a}{n}.$$ The O.P.'s identity is the case $a=1/2, b=0$.

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