Sequences

Let Fm be the m-th Fibonacci number given by F1 = F2=1 and Fm+2 = Fm+1 + Fm for all m≥1

Show that summation of C(n,k) = Fm+1

Here the above sum is over all pairs of integers n≥k≥0 with n+ k = m

7 Answers

66
kaymant ·

Let us define a sequence of numbers {fm} by f0 = 0, f1 = 1 and
fm+2 = fm+1 + fm , m≥0.
Its quite obvious that fm is the the m-th Fibonacci number for m≥1.
Consider the power series
A(x) = f0 + f1 x + f2 x2 + . . . + fm xm + . . .
Its quite obvious that
A(x) - x A(x) - x2 A(x) = f0 + (f1 - f0) x = x
Hence, we get
A(x) = x1-x-x2
This, therefore, is the generating function for the sequence {fm}.
Hence,
fm+1 = coefficient of xm+1 in the expansion of A(x)
= coefficient of xm in the expansion of 11-x-x2
On the other hand, we have
\dfrac{1}{1-x-x^2} = \dfrac{1}{1-x(1+x)} = \sum_{n\ge 0}(x(1+x))^n
(that's just the GP formula)
That's further
\sum_{n\ge 0} x^n (1+x)^n =\sum_{n\ge 0}x^n \sum_{k\ge 0}~^nC_k x^k = \sum_{n\ge 0}\sum_{k\ge 0}~^nC_k x^{n+k}
In these notations
^nC_k = 0 if k > n.
Hence,
f_{m+1} = \sum_{\substack{n\ge k\ge0\\n+k=m}}~^nC_k

21
Shubhodip ·

Wow!Thank you sir

341
Hari Shankar ·

There was one problem based on the two identities in kaymant sir's post:

http://www.targetiit.com/iit-jee-forum/posts/determinant-14121.html

1
mkagenius ·

I want to share an Induction method to do the same:

First Step of induction is left.

Inductive Step:

\Sigma C(n+1,k) = \Sigma (C(n , k)) + \Sigma C(n , k-1) ;

since , C(n+1,k) = C(n , k) + C(n , k-1) ;

Which is equal to fm + fm-1;
so fm+1 = fm + fm-1 .

-------------------------------------------------
Please confirm it from teachers before using it, I am not completely sure about, just came in mind. Seemed Good , So Shared.

21
Shubhodip ·

That's the solution i also had(by induction), but after seeing kaymant sir's method i was trying to use Exponential Generating Function and i got

E"(x) = E'(x) + E(x) , where E is the exp gf of fibonacci numbers

From the above relation is it possible to find E(x) ?

i dont know differential equations

66
kaymant ·

@Shubhodip,
Its definitely possible to solve the above differential equation. Its basically a second order differential equation with constant coefficients. The usual way is to find the eigenvalues of the given equation. The eigenvalues are the roots of characteristic equation which is obtained by replacing the n-th order derivative with λn. To be more specific, in this case, the characteristic equation is
λ2 - λ -1 =0
with roots λ1,2 = 1±√52
(no surprise at that[1])
The general solution then is
E(x) = A eλ1x + B eλ2x
with A and B are constants.

21
Shubhodip ·

Which leads to Binets Formula ;)

Thank you

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