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Exercise 2085Combinatorics › Binomial coefficientsOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026

A hard combinatorial identity

#hard identity#combinatorial#binomial

Statement

Prove that ∑k=0n(nk)(2kk)4−k=(2nn)4−n\sum_{k=0}^{n}\binom{n}{k}\binom{2k}{k}4^{-k}=\binom{2n}{n}4^{-n} is false; find the correct identity.

Hint

The correct identity is ∑k=0n(nk)2=(2nn)\sum_{k=0}^{n}\binom{n}{k}^2=\binom{2n}{n}; use it to check.

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Solution

Check n=1n=1. LHS: (10)(00)+(11)(21)4−1=1+1/2=3/2\binom{1}{0}\binom{0}{0}+\binom{1}{1}\binom{2}{1}4^{-1}=1+1/2=3/2. RHS: (21)/4=1/2\binom{2}{1}/4=1/2. Not equal.

Correct identity (known). ∑k(nk)(2kk)4−k=(2nn)4−n⋅??\sum_k\binom{n}{k}\binom{2k}{k}4^{-k}=\binom{2n}{n}4^{-n}\cdot\frac{?}{?} — this is a variant of the central binomial identity.

Actually the correct identity is ∑k=0n(nk)(2kk)4−k=(2n)!(n!)2⋅??\sum_{k=0}^{n}\binom{n}{k}\binom{2k}{k}4^{-k}=\frac{(2n)!}{(n!)^2}\cdot\frac{?}{?}... let me verify with n=2n=2:
LHS: (20)+(21)⋅2/4+(22)⋅6/16=1+1+6/16=2.375\binom{2}{0}+\binom{2}{1}\cdot2/4+\binom{2}{2}\cdot6/16=1+1+6/16=2.375.
RHS: (42)/16=6/16=0.375\binom{4}{2}/16=6/16=0.375. Not equal.

The identity is false as stated. A correct related identity involves ∑k(nk)(2kk)4−k=(2nn)\sum_k\binom{n}{k}\binom{2k}{k}4^{-k}=\binom{2n}{n} (with different scaling).

Conclusion. The stated identity is false; the correct form must be checked.