Differential form of Binomial Coefficient

Differential form of Binomial Coefficient

Komal MiglaniUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 08:01 PM IST

An expression with two terms is called the binomial expansion. In the case of higher degree expression, it is difficult to calculate it manually. In these cases, Binomial theorem can be used to calculate it. Binomial theorem is used for the expansion of a binomial expression with a higher degree. Binomial coefficients are the coefficients of the terms in the Binomial expansion. Binomial theorem is proved using the concept of mathematical induction. Apart from Mathematics, Binomial theorem is also used in statistical and financial data analysis.

Differential form of Binomial Coefficient
Differential form of Binomial Coefficient

This article is about the differential form of the Binomial coefficients which falls under the broader category of Binomial Theorem and its applications. It is one of the important topics for competitive exams.

Binomial Theorem

If $n$ is any positive number, then $(a + b)^n = \binom{n}{0} a^n + \binom{n}{1} a^{n - 1} b + \binom{n}{2} a^{n - 2} b^2 + \dots + \binom{n}{n - 1} a b^{n - 1} + \binom{n}{n} b^n $

Binomial Coefficient

The combination $\binom{n}{r}$ or ${ }^{\mathrm{n}} \mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{r}}$ occuring in the Binomial theorem is called a Binomial coefficient, where $\binom{n}{r}=C(n, r)={ }^n C_r=\frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}$.

Differential Form of Binomial Coefficient

The differential form of binomial coefficient is $\frac{d}{d x}\binom{x}{k}=\binom{x}{k} \sum_{i=0}^{k-1} \frac{1}{x-i}$

Proof:

$\quad \frac{d}{d x}\left(\binom{x}{k}\right), \text { where }\binom{x}{k}=\frac{x!}{k!(x-k)!}=\frac{x(x-1)(x-2) \ldots 3.2 .1}{k!(x-k)(x-k-1)(x-k-2) \ldots 3.2 .1} $

$\text { Let y }=\frac{x(x-1)(x-2) \cdots(x-k+1)}{k!} $

$\ln (y)=\ln (x)+\ln (x-1)+\ln (x-2)+\cdots+\ln (x-k+1)-\ln (k!) $

$\frac{d y}{d x}\left(\ln (y)=\ln (x)+\ln (x-1)+\ln (x-2)+\cdots+\ln (x-k+1)-\ln (k!) \frac{1}{y} \cdot \frac{d y}{d x}=\right. $

$\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{x-1}+\frac{1}{x-2}+\cdots+\frac{1}{x-k+1}-0 $

$\frac{d y}{d x}=y \cdot\left(\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{x-1}+\frac{1}{x-2}+\cdots+\frac{1}{x-k+1}-0\right) $

$\frac{d y}{d x}=\binom{x}{k} \cdot \sum_{i=0}^{k-1} \frac{1}{x-i} $

$\frac{d}{d x}\binom{x}{k}=\binom{x}{k} \sum_{i=0}^{k-1} \frac{1}{x-i} $

Recommended Video Based on Differential Form of Binomial Coefficients:

Solved Examples based on Differential Form of Binomial Coefficients

Example 1: The value of $\sum_{r=0}^n(r+1)^n C_r$ equals

1) $(n+2) 2^{n-1}$

2) $(n+1) 2^{n-1}$

3) $(n+2) 2^n$

4) $(n+4) 2^{n-1}$

Solution:

$C_1+2 \cdot C_2+3 \cdot C_3+---+n \cdot C_n=\sum_{r=0}^n r \cdot{ }^n C_r=n \cdot 2^{n-1}$

And

$C_0+C_1+C_2+C_3+---+C_n=2^n $

Now,

$\sum_{r=0}^n(r+1)^n C_r $

$= \sum_{r=0}^n\left(r .{ }^n C_r\right)+\sum_{r=0}^n\left({ }^n C_r\right) $

$\left({ }^n C_1+2^n C_2+\ldots .+n^n C_n\right)+\left({ }^n C_0+{ }^n C_1+\ldots .+{ }^n C_n\right) $

$\quad= n(2) 2^{n-1}+2^n $

$=(n+2) 2^{n-1} $

Example 2: Evaluate $\binom{4}{0}+2\binom{4}{1}+3\binom{4}{2}+4\binom{4}{3}+5\binom{4}{4}$

1) $40$

2) $36 $

3) $48 $

4) $64 $

Solution:

$C_1+2 \cdot C_2+3 \cdot C_3+---+n \cdot C_n=\sum_{r=0}^n r \cdot{ }^n C_r=n \cdot 2^{n-1} $

and

$ C_0+C_1+C_2+C_3+----+C_n=\sum_{r=0}^n\left({ }^n C_r\right)=2^n $

Now,

Given expression can be written as

$\sum_{r=0}^4(r+1)^4 C_r $

$=\sum_{r=0}^4(r) \cdot{ }^4 C_r+\sum_{r=0}^4\left({ }^4 C_r\right) $

$=4.2^3+2^4=32+16=48$

Example 3: Find the value of $(1 \cdot 2) C_2+(2 \cdot 3) C_3+\ldots \ldots+\{(n-1) \cdot n\} C_n$.

If $\mathrm{C}_0, \mathrm{C}_1, \mathrm{C}_2, \ldots, \mathrm{C}_n$ be binomial coefficients in the expansion of $(1+x)^n$

1) $n(n+1) 2^{n-1}$

2) $n(n+1) 2^{n-2}$

3) $n(n-1) 2^{n-1}$

4) $n(n-1) 2^{n-2}$

Solution:

$ 1^2 \cdot C_1+2^2 \cdot C_2+3^2 \cdot C_3+---+n^2 \cdot C_n=\sum_{r=0}^n r^{2 \cdot n} C_r=n \cdot 2^{n-1}+n(n-1) 2^{n-2} $

Now,

Given expression can be written as

$\sum_{r=0}^n(r-1) r \cdot{ }^n C_r $

$= \sum_{r=0}^n r^2 \cdot{ }^n C_r-\sum_{r=0}^n r \cdot{ }^n C_r $

$= n \cdot 2^{n-1}+n(n-1) \cdot 2^{n-2}-n \cdot 2^{n-1} $

$= n(n-1) \cdot 2^{n-2} $

Hence, the answer is the option (4).

Example 4: The sum $\sum_{r=1}^{10}\left(r^2+1\right) \times(r!)$ is equal to:

1) (11)!

2) $10 \times(11!)$

3) $101 \times(10!)$

4) $11 \times(11!)$

Solution:

$\sum_{r=1}^{10}\left(r^2+1\right) \times(r!) $

$\Rightarrow \sum_{r=1}^{10}\left\{(r+1)^2-2 r\right\} r!$

$ \Rightarrow \sum_{r=1}^{10}\left\{(r+1)^2\right\} r!-2 \sum_{r=1}^{10} r \cdot r! $

$\Rightarrow \sum_{r=1}^{10}(r+1)(r+1) r!-2 \sum_{r=1}^{10} r \cdot r! $

$\Rightarrow \sum_{r=1}^{10}((r+1)(r+1)!-r \cdot r!)-\sum_{r=1}^{10} r \cdot r! $

$\Rightarrow(11.11!-1)-\sum_{r=1}^{10}((r+1)!-r!) $ \Rightarrow(11.11!-1-(11!-1!) $

$\Rightarrow 10.11!$

Example 5: Let $\mathrm{m}, \mathrm{n} \in N$ and n is odd and $30\binom{30}{0}+29\binom{30}{1}+\ldots \ldots+2\binom{30}{28}+1\binom{30}{29}=n .2^m$, then $n+m$ is equal to

1) $20 $

2) $65 $

3) $45 $

4) $75 $

Solution:

As we have learnt

$ \sum_{r=1}^n r\left({ }^n C_r\right)=n \cdot 2^{n-1} $

Now, given,

$ 30\binom{30}{0}+29\binom{30}{1}+\ldots+2\binom{30}{28}+1\binom{30}{29} $

this can be written as

$30\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_0\right)+29\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_1\right)+\ldots+2\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_{28}\right)+1\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_{29}\right) $

$=30\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_{30}\right)+29\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_{29}\right)+\ldots \ldots+2\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_2\right)+1\left({ }^{30} \mathrm{C}_1\right) $

$=\sum_{r=1}^{30} r\left({ }^{30} C_r\right) $

$=30\left(2^{29}\right)=15(2)^{30}=\mathrm{n}(2)^{\mathrm{m}} $

$\therefore \mathrm{n}=15, \mathrm{~m}=30 $

$\mathrm{n}+\mathrm{m}=45 $


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How does the differential form relate to the concept of Faa di Bruno's formula?
A:
Faa di Bruno's formula, which gives the nth derivative of a composition of functions, can be expressed using the differential form of binomial coefficients. This connection provides insights into the structure of higher-order derivatives and has applications in combinatorics and analysis.
Q: What's the connection between the differential form and the theory of symmetric polynomials?
A:
The differential form plays a role in the theory of symmetric polynomials, particularly in relation to power sum symmetric functions. It provides a way to express and manipulate these functions using differential operators.
Q: Can you use the differential form to derive identities involving sums of products of binomial coefficients?
A:
Yes, the differential form is a powerful tool for proving identities involving sums of products of binomial coefficients. By expressing these sums in terms of higher-order derivatives, many complex identities can be simplified and proved elegantly.
Q: How does the differential form help in understanding the properties of Bernoulli polynomials?
A:
Bernoulli polynomials, which have numerous applications in number theory and analysis, can be expressed using the differential form of binomial coefficients. This connection provides insights into the properties and identities satisfied by these polynomials.
Q: Can you use the differential form to understand the properties of multinomial expansions?
A:
Yes, the differential form can be extended to multinomial coefficients, providing insights into multinomial expansions. This extension involves partial derivatives and leads to a deeper understanding of multivariate generating functions.
Q: What's the significance of the differential form in the study of partition functions?
A:
The differential form provides a connection between binomial coefficients and certain partition functions. It can be used to derive properties of these functions and to prove identities involving partitions.
Q: How does the differential form help in understanding the properties of Bell polynomials?
A:
Bell polynomials, which are important in combinatorics and analysis, can be expressed using the differential form of binomial coefficients. This connection provides insights into the properties and applications of these polynomials.
Q: Can you use the differential form to derive identities involving products of binomial coefficients?
A:
Yes, the differential form is particularly useful for proving identities involving products of binomial coefficients. By expressing these products in terms of higher-order derivatives, many complex identities can be simplified and proved.
Q: How does the differential form relate to the concept of Sheffer sequences?
A:
Sheffer sequences, which are important in umbral calculus, can be characterized using the differential form of binomial coefficients. This connection provides a powerful tool for analyzing and manipulating these sequences.
Q: Can you use the differential form to understand the properties of hypergeometric series?
A:
Yes, the differential form provides insights into hypergeometric series. Many identities involving these series can be proved and understood by expressing the coefficients in terms of derivatives and applying calculus techniques.