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Exercises 22.6 Exercises

Evaluating the combination formula.

In each of ExercisesΒ 1–6, compute the value of the combination or formula of combinations. To obtain exact answers, you should simplify the factorial expressions before computing.

Combination formula identities.

In each of ExercisesΒ 7–10, verify the equality of combination formulas. Remember to consider the left-hand and right-hand sides of each equality separately, manipulating/simplifying one or the other or both sides until they are the same expression.

7.

\(\displaystyle \combination{n}{k} = \frac{n}{k} \cdot \combination{n-1}{k-1} \)

8.

\(\displaystyle \combination{n}{k} = \frac{n}{n - k} \cdot \combination{n - 1}{k} \)

9.

\(\displaystyle \combination{n}{k} = \frac{n - k + 1}{k} \cdot \combination{n}{k - 1} \)

10.

\(\displaystyle \combination{n + k}{n} = \combination{n + k}{k} \)

12.

Prove the identity
\begin{equation*} \sum_{k = 0}^n \left( \combinationalt{n}{k} \cdot 2^k \right) = 3^n \end{equation*}
by arguing that each side (separately) represents the cardinality of the set
\begin{equation*} \setdef{ (A,B) \in \powset{X} \cartprod \powset{X} }{ A \intersection B = \emptyset } \end{equation*}
when \(\card{X} = n \text{.}\)