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Sum of Binomial Coefficients

Sum of Binomial Coefficients

Edited By Komal Miglani | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 08:06 PM IST

The Sum of Binomial Coefficient is an important concept of algebra that helps to expand the expressions. A Binomial is an expression with two terms. It is difficult to solve the powers manually therefore this expression makes it simpler to solve. This theorem is widely used in real-life applications in mathematics including calculus etc.

Sum of Binomial Coefficients
Sum of Binomial Coefficients

Binomial Expression:

An algebraic expression consisting of only two terms is called a Binomial Expression

$
e g \cdot(a+b)^2,\left(\sqrt{x}+\frac{k}{x^2}\right)^5,(x+9 y)^{-2 / 3}
$


If we wanted to expand $(x+y)^{52}$, we might multiply $(x+y)$ by itself fifty-two times. This could take hours!
But if we examine some simple expansions, we can find patterns that will lead us to a shortcut for finding more complicated binomial expansions.

$
\begin{aligned}
& (x+y)^2=x^2+2 x y+y^2 \\
& (x+y)^3=x^3+3 x^2 y+3 x y^2+y^3 \\
& (x+y)^4=x^4+4 x^3 y+6 x^2 y^2+4 x y^3+y^4
\end{aligned}
$


On examining the exponents, we find that with each successive term, the exponent for x decreases by 1 and the exponent for y increases by $1$ . The sum of the two exponents is $n$ for each term.
Also the coefficients for $(x+y)^n$ are equal to $\binom{n}{0},\binom{n}{1},\binom{n}{2}, \ldots,\binom{n}{n}$ where, $\binom{n}{r}=C(n, r)={ }^n C_r=\frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}$


These patterns lead us to the Binomial Theorem, which can be used to expand any binomial expression.

Binomial Theorem

If $n$ is any positive integer, 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 $\binom{n}{r}=C(n, r)={ }^n C_r=\frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}$.


Some Standard Expansions on Sum of Binomial Coefficients:

1. Sum of Binomial Coefficients

$
\begin{aligned}
& C_0+\mathrm{C}_1+C_2+C_3+\ldots \ldots+C_n=2^n \\
& \text { or } \sum_{r=0}^n{ }^n C_r=2^n
\end{aligned}
$

2. Sum of Binomial coefficients with alternate sign

The sim of Binomial coefficeints with alternate sign are zero as the terms $T_k$ and $T_{n-k}$ are equal.

$
\begin{aligned}
& C_0-\mathrm{C}_1+C_2-C_3+\ldots \ldots+(-1)^n C_n=0 \\
& \text { or } \quad \sum_{r=0}^n(-1)^r{ }^n C_r=0
\end{aligned}
$

3. Sum of the Binomial coefficients of the odd terms / Sum of the Binomial coefficients of the even terms

The sum of the binomial coefficients of the odd terms = Sum of the binomial coefficients of the even terms

$
\text { I.e. } C_1+C_3+C_5 \ldots \ldots=C_0+C_2+C_4+\ldots \ldots=2^{n-1}
$
solve and analyze real-life complex problems.

Recommended Video Based on Sum of Binomial Coefficients:

Solved Examples Based on Sum of Binomial Coefficients

Example 1: Let $S_n=1+q+q^2+\ldots \ldots \ldots+q^n$ and $T_n=1+\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)+\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)^2+\ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots+\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)^n$ where q is a real numer and $q \neq 1$ ${ }_{\text {If }}{ }^{101} C_1+{ }^{101} C_2 \cdot S_1+\ldots \ldots . .+{ }^{101} C_{101} \cdot S_{100}=\alpha T_{100}$ then $\alpha$ is equal to :
1) 200
2) $2^{100}$
3) 2021
4) $2^{99}$

Solution
Sum of Binomial Coefficients

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

$\begin{aligned}
&T_n=1+\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)+\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)^2+\cdots+\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)^n=\frac{\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)^{n+1}-1}{\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)-1}\\
&\text { Also, given, }\\
& { }^{101} \mathrm{C}_1+{ }^{101} \mathrm{C}_2 S_1+\ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots+{ }^{101} \mathrm{C}_{101} S_{100}=\alpha T_{100} \\
& \alpha T_{100}=\sum_{r=1}^{101}{ }^{101} C_r \cdot S_{r-1} \\
& \alpha T_{100}=\sum_{r=1}^{101}{ }^{101} C_r\left[\frac{q^r-1}{q-1}\right] \\
& \alpha T_{100}=\frac{1}{q-1}\left(\sum_{r=1}^{101}{ }^{101} C_r\left(q^r-1\right)\right) \\
& \alpha T_{100}=\frac{1}{q-1}\left((1+q)^{101}-1-\left(2^{101}-1\right)\right) \\
& \alpha T_{100}=\frac{1}{q-1}\left((1+q)^{101}-2^{101}\right)
\end{aligned}$


$\begin{aligned}
& \alpha\left(\frac{\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)^{101}-1}{\left(\frac{q+1}{2}\right)-1}\right)=\frac{(1+q)^{101}-2^{101}}{q-1} \\
& \frac{2}{2^{101}} \alpha\left(\frac{(q+1)^{101}-2^{101}}{(q+1)-2}\right)=\frac{(1+q)^{101}-2^{101}}{q-1} \\
& \alpha\left(\frac{1}{2^{100}}\right)=1 \\
& \alpha=2^{100}
\end{aligned}$

Example 2: If the number of terms in the expansion of $\left(1-\frac{2}{x}+\frac{4}{y}\right)^n, x, y \neq 0$ is 28 , then the sum of the coefficients of all the terms in this expansion is
1) $64$
2) $2187$
3) $243$
4) $729$

Solution:

$
\left(1-\frac{2}{x}+\frac{4}{y}\right)^n
$
Using multinomial theorem, number of terms ${ }^{n+2} C_2=28$

$
\begin{aligned}
& \frac{(n+2)!}{2!((n+2)-2)!}=28 \\
& \frac{(n+2)(n+1) n!}{2!n!}=28 \\
& (n+2)(n+1)=56
\end{aligned}
$


Thus $n=6$
So, in $\left(1-\frac{2}{x}+\frac{4}{y}\right)^6$
Put $x=1, y=1$
We get sum of coefficients $=3^6=729$

Example 3: If the fractional part of the number $\frac{2^{403}}{15}$ is $\frac{k}{15}$, then k is equal to:
1) $6$
2) $ 8$
3) $4$
4) $14$

Solution
Sum of Binomial Coefficients

$
C_0+C_1+C_2+C_3+----+C_n=2^n
$
Now,
$2^{403}$ can be written as

$
2^{403}=2^3 \cdot 2^{400}=8\left(2^4\right)^{100}=8(15+1)^{100}
$


So,

$
\begin{aligned}
\Rightarrow \frac{8}{15}(15+1)^{100} & =\frac{8}{15}(15 \lambda+1) \\
& =8 \lambda+\frac{8}{15}
\end{aligned}
$

$\because 8 \lambda$ is integer and $\frac{8}{15}$ is fractional part
So, $k=8$

Example 4: What is the sum of the coefficient of the term $(\sqrt{2}-\sqrt[3]{3}+\sqrt[6]{5})^{10}$ ?
1) $3^{10}$
2) $2^{10}$
3) 1
4) None of the above

Solution
Series Involving Binomial Coefficients -
In the expansion of $(x+y+z)^n$ if we put $x=y=z=1$, then we get the sum of coefficients. In this case, $(1+1+1)^n=\underline{3^n}$.
Sum of the coefficient $\left(x_1+x_2+x_3\right)^n=(1+1+1)^n=3^n$
To determine the coefficient
Put $x_1=1, x_2=-1, x_3=1$ and $n=10$
$(1-1+1)^n=1^n=1$
option C is correct.

Example 5: If $C_r={ }^{25} \mathrm{C}_r$ and $C_0+5 \cdot C_1+9 \cdot C_2+\cdots \cdots+(101) \cdot C_{25}=2^{25} \cdot k$, then k is equal to $\qquad$
1) 15
2) 30
3) 51
4) 27

Solution
The general term for the given series is: $(4 \mathrm{r}+1) .{ }^{25} \mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{r}}$
Applying summation

$=4 \sum_{r=1}^{25} r \times{ }^{25} C_r+2^{25}$
$=4 \times 25 \cdot 2^{24}+2^{25}=50 \cdot 2^{25}+2^{25}=(50+1) 2^{25}=51 \cdot 2^{25}$
$k=51$
Hence, the answer is the option 3.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the sum of binomial coefficients in a given row of Pascal's triangle?
The sum of binomial coefficients in any row of Pascal's triangle is always 2^n, where n is the row number (starting from 0). This is because each element in a row represents the number of ways to choose items from a set of n elements, and the total number of possible subsets of an n-element set is 2^n.
2. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the expansion of (1+x)^n?
The sum of binomial coefficients in the nth row of Pascal's triangle is equal to (1+1)^n = 2^n. This is because when we expand (1+x)^n using the binomial theorem and then set x=1, we get the sum of all the binomial coefficients for that row.
3. Why is the sum of binomial coefficients always a power of 2?
The sum is always a power of 2 because it represents the total number of subsets of a set with n elements. Each element can either be in a subset or not, giving two choices for each element. With n elements, there are 2^n possible combinations.
4. How can we prove that the sum of binomial coefficients is 2^n using mathematical induction?
We can prove this using induction:
5. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and probability?
The sum of binomial coefficients, 2^n, represents the total number of possible outcomes when flipping a coin n times. Each coefficient represents the number of ways to get a specific number of heads (or tails) in n flips.
6. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the binomial probability distribution?
The sum of binomial coefficients ensures that the probabilities in a binomial distribution sum to 1. Each coefficient, when divided by 2^n, gives the probability of a specific number of successes in n trials for a fair coin flip (p=0.5).
7. Can the sum of binomial coefficients ever be odd?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) is odd when n is 0. For all other values of n, the sum is even because any power of 2 greater than 2^0 is always even.
8. How does the sum of binomial coefficients change as n increases?
As n increases, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) grows exponentially. Each time n increases by 1, the sum doubles. This rapid growth reflects the quick increase in the number of possible subsets as set size grows.
9. What's the relationship between the sum of binomial coefficients and the number of subsets of a set?
The sum of binomial coefficients for a given n is equal to the total number of subsets of a set with n elements. This is because each subset can be represented by a unique combination of choosing or not choosing each element.
10. How can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve combinatorial problems?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can be used to quickly calculate the total number of ways to select any number of items from n items. This is useful in problems involving subsets, combinations, or when we need to consider all possible selections.
11. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and binary numbers?
The sum of binomial coefficients, 2^n, represents the number of different binary numbers of length n. Each binary number corresponds to a unique subset of n elements, where 1 indicates inclusion and 0 indicates exclusion.
12. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of a power set?
The sum of binomial coefficients for a given n (2^n) is equal to the number of elements in the power set of a set with n elements. The power set is the set of all possible subsets, including the empty set and the set itself.
13. Can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve problems in computer science?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) is often used in computer science, particularly in algorithm analysis. It represents the worst-case time complexity for algorithms that consider all subsets of n items, such as in certain brute-force approaches.
14. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of information theory?
In information theory, 2^n (the sum of binomial coefficients) represents the number of possible messages that can be encoded with n bits. This connects to the concept of information entropy and the maximum amount of information that can be conveyed with n binary digits.
15. What's the significance of the sum of binomial coefficients in cryptography?
In cryptography, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the size of the key space for an n-bit key. This is important for understanding the strength of encryption systems and the difficulty of brute-force attacks.
16. How can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to understand the growth of decision trees?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the maximum number of leaf nodes in a binary decision tree of depth n. This helps in understanding the complexity and potential outcomes of decision-making processes with n binary choices.
17. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and Boolean algebra?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the number of possible Boolean functions of n variables. Each subset of the n variables corresponds to a minterm in the Boolean function, and there are 2^n possible combinations of these minterms.
18. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of degrees of freedom in statistics?
While not directly related, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can be thought of as the total number of possible states in a system with n binary variables. This concept is similar to degrees of freedom, which represent the number of independent variables in a statistical model.
19. Can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve problems in game theory?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can represent the number of possible strategies in certain game theory scenarios. For example, in a game where each player has n binary choices, 2^n represents the total number of possible strategy combinations.
20. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of entropy in thermodynamics?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) is analogous to the number of microstates in a system with n particles, each of which can be in one of two states. This connects to the concept of entropy, which is related to the number of possible arrangements of a system.
21. What's the significance of the sum of binomial coefficients in coding theory?
In coding theory, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the total number of possible codewords of length n in a binary code. This is important for understanding the capacity and error-correction capabilities of communication systems.
22. How can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to understand the complexity of certain algorithms?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) often appears as the time complexity of algorithms that exhaustively search through all subsets of n elements. This helps in analyzing and comparing the efficiency of different algorithmic approaches.
23. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and the concept of state space in artificial intelligence?
In AI, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can represent the size of the state space for problems with n binary features. This is crucial for understanding the complexity of search problems and the scalability of AI algorithms.
24. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of permutations with repetition?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) is equal to the number of permutations with repetition of n objects, where each object can be in one of two states. This connects the concepts of combinations and permutations in a interesting way.
25. Can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve problems in network theory?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the maximum number of possible connections in a network with n nodes, where each pair of nodes is either connected or not. This is useful in analyzing network complexity and potential configurations.
26. What's the significance of the sum of binomial coefficients in quantum computing?
In quantum computing, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the dimension of the Hilbert space for n qubits. This is fundamental to understanding the potential power and complexity of quantum algorithms.
27. How can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to understand the growth of fractals?
Some fractals, like the Sierpinski triangle, have a structure related to Pascal's triangle. The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can help in understanding the number of elements at each iteration of such fractals, providing insight into their growth and complexity.
28. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and the concept of exponential growth?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) is a perfect example of exponential growth. As n increases linearly, the sum grows exponentially, doubling with each increment of n. This illustrates the power and challenges of exponential processes.
29. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of information capacity?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the maximum number of distinct messages that can be encoded with n bits. This is directly related to the information capacity of a channel that can transmit n binary digits.
30. Can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve problems in financial mathematics?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can be used in financial models, particularly in options pricing. It represents the number of possible paths in a binomial tree model with n time steps, which is used to value options and other financial derivatives.
31. What's the significance of the sum of binomial coefficients in graph theory?
In graph theory, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the total number of possible subgraphs of a complete graph with n vertices. This is useful in analyzing graph structures and properties.
32. How can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to understand the concept of computational complexity?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) often appears in the analysis of algorithms with exponential time complexity. It helps in understanding the rapid growth of problem difficulty as input size increases, which is crucial in complexity theory.
33. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and the concept of combinatorial optimization?
In combinatorial optimization, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) often represents the size of the solution space for problems involving subsets of n elements. This helps in understanding the difficulty of finding optimal solutions in large search spaces.
34. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of data compression?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the maximum number of distinct messages that can be encoded with n bits. In data compression, this relates to the theoretical limit of lossless compression for n-bit messages.
35. Can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve problems in population genetics?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients can be used in population genetics models. For example, in a population with n genetic loci, each with two possible alleles, 2^n represents the total number of possible genotypes.
36. What's the significance of the sum of binomial coefficients in error-correcting codes?
In error-correcting codes, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the total number of possible received messages for an n-bit transmission. This is important for designing codes that can detect and correct errors in data transmission.
37. How can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to understand the concept of state complexity in automata theory?
In automata theory, the sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) can represent the maximum number of states in a deterministic finite automaton that recognizes all subsets of an n-element alphabet. This helps in analyzing the complexity of formal languages and automata.
38. What's the connection between the sum of binomial coefficients and the concept of search space in optimization problems?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) often represents the size of the search space in optimization problems involving subsets of n elements. This helps in understanding the difficulty of finding optimal solutions and the need for efficient search algorithms.
39. How does the sum of binomial coefficients relate to the concept of information entropy?
The sum of binomial coefficients (2^n) represents the maximum possible entropy for a system with n binary variables. This connects to Shannon's information theory and the concept of maximum information content.
40. Can we use the sum of binomial coefficients to solve problems in molecular biology?
Yes, the sum of binomial coefficients can be used in molecular biology. For example, in analyzing DNA sequences, 2^n could represent the number of possible n-base sequences, which is useful in understanding genetic diversity and mutation rates.

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