I'm still having trouble giving a combinatorial proof of this identity using the vote casting example: sum_{k=0}^m ((n),(k))=((n+1),(m)), n >=0

Randall Booker

Randall Booker

Answered question

2022-09-06

Proving combinatoric identity using vote casting example.
I'm still having trouble giving a combinatorial proof of this identity using the vote casting example:
k = 0 m ( ( n k ) ) = ( ( n + 1 m ) ) , n 0
To me, the right-hand side represents casting m votes for n + 1 candidates, since it's a multiset, that seems like we could cast multiple votes for the same candidate. This is equivalent to sum over all the votes each candidate has received, as on the left-hand side.
Is my interpretation correct? I'm still not pretty sure about why the right-hand side has n+1 candidates, while the left side has n.

Answer & Explanation

Waylon Jenkins

Waylon Jenkins

Beginner2022-09-07Added 17 answers

Step 1
The right side means - as you've suggested - the number of ways to cast m votes for n + 1 candidates (when repetition is allowed).
Step 2
Break this down into cases based on how many votes go to candidate n + 1.
Karla Bautista

Karla Bautista

Beginner2022-09-08Added 16 answers

Step 1
Let's look at a specific case; you want to show
( ) ( ( 7 4 ) ) = ( ( 6 0 ) ) + ( ( 6 1 ) ) + ( ( 6 2 ) ) + ( ( 6 3 ) ) + ( ( 6 4 ) )
Imagine candy shop has 7 types of candy bar, and you want to buy four candy bars. The number of ways to do this is ( ( 7 4 ) ) , on the one hand. On the other had, consider the number of chocolate bars you buy:
You could buy 0 chocolate bars, and then buy four bars from the remaining six flavors in ( ( 6 4 ) ) ways.
You could buy 1 chocolate bars, and then buy three bars from the remaining six flavors in ( ( 6 3 ) ) ways.
You could buy 2 chocolate bars, and then buy two bars from the remaining six flavors in ( ( 6 2 ) ) ways.
You could buy 3 chocolate bars, and then buy one bar from the remaining six flavors in ( ( 6 1 ) ) ways.
You could buy 4 chocolate bars, and then buy zero bars from the remaining six flavors in ( ( 6 0 ) ) ways.
Adding up all of these ways, you get the summation on the right hand side of (∗).

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