Pascal's identity

E27128

Pascal's identity is a fundamental combinatorial formula that relates adjacent binomial coefficients and underlies many proofs and properties of binomial expansions.

Aliases (1)

Statements (42)
Predicate Object
instanceOf binomial coefficient identity
combinatorial identity
appliesTo combinations without order
constraintOnVariables k ≤ n in the form C(n,k) = C(n-1,k-1) + C(n-1,k)
k ≥ 1 in the form C(n,k) = C(n-1,k-1) + C(n-1,k)
domain discrete mathematics
probability theory
equivalentTo definition of Pascal's triangle by row recursion
expresses recursive definition of binomial coefficients
hasAlternativeForm (n choose k) = (n-1 choose k-1) + (n-1 choose k)
(n+1 choose k) = (n choose k-1) + (n choose k)
C(n+1,k) = C(n,k-1) + C(n,k)
hasBoundaryCondition C(n,0) = 1
C(n,n) = 1
hasFormula C(n,k) = C(n-1,k-1) + C(n-1,k)
hasGeneralization multinomial identities
q-binomial identities
hasProofMethod algebraic manipulation of binomial coefficients
combinatorial argument
generating functions
hasRole fundamental identity in combinatorics
hasType linear recurrence
holdsFor integers k with 0 ≤ k ≤ n
integers n ≥ 1
impliesProperty each entry of Pascal's triangle equals the sum of the two entries above it
symmetry of Pascal's triangle along its vertical axis (together with boundary conditions)
involvesConcept Pascal's triangle
binomial coefficient
binomial theorem
combinatorics
namedAfter Blaise Pascal
relatedTo Pascal's rule
Vandermonde's identity
binomial recurrence relation
relatesObject adjacent binomial coefficients
usedIn analysis of binomial distributions
combinatorial counting arguments
computational derivation of binomial coefficients
construction of Pascal's triangle
dynamic programming algorithms for binomial coefficients
inductive proofs involving binomial coefficients
proof of the binomial theorem

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
binomial theorem
canBeProvedBy
binomial theorem ("Pascal's rule")
relatedConcept
Pascal's identity ("Pascal's rule")
relatedTo

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