Discrete Math - Combinatorics - Trinomial Coefficients question. Let k,l,m,n in Z >= 0 be such that n=k+l+m.

Konciljev56

Konciljev56

Answered question

2022-09-05

Discrete Math - Combinatorics - Trinomial Coefficients question
Let k , l , m , n Z 0 be such that n = k + l + m. The trinomial coefficient ( n k , l , m ) is given by the rules:
1. for k + l = n, ( n k , l , 0 ) = ( n k , 0 , l ) = ( n 0 , k , l ) = ( n k )
2. ( n k , l , m ) = ( n 1 k 1 , l , m ) + ( n 1 k , l 1 , m ) + ( n 1 k , l , m 1 )
The following questions use this definition.
(a) What are all the trinomial coefficients for n = 1 , 2 , 3?
(b) Describe the "triangle" of trinomial coefficients (Hint: Think three dimensional Pascal's triangle).
I don't understand the notation at all: n choose k,l,m. What does that even mean? And I don't get how to set up part (a) at all either. It's just very confusing. For (b) I can visualize a Pascal's "pyramid." One where the number below is a sum of the 3 above it. Something like that. But other than that, I'm not really sure what's going on.

Answer & Explanation

Holly Schmidt

Holly Schmidt

Beginner2022-09-06Added 10 answers

Step 1
The lines numbered (1) and (2) are the definition of ( n k , , m ) , so it means exactly what they say it means. It’s a recursive definition: it tells you how to compute trinomial coefficients with upper number n if you already know how to compute them with upper number n 1. However, you’ve miscopied (2), unless there was a typo in your source: it should read
( n k , , m ) = ( n 1 k 1 , , m ) + ( n 1 k , 1 , m ) + ( n 1 k , , m 1 ) .
Here’s an example to illustrate how to use (1) and (2) to calculate a trinomial coefficient:
( 4 1 , 2 , 1 ) = ( 3 0 , 2 , 1 ) + ( 3 1 , 1 , 1 ) + ( 3 1 , 2 , 0 ) using (2) = ( 3 2 ) + ( 3 1 , 1 , 1 ) + ( 3 1 ) using (1) = ( 3 2 ) + ( 2 0 , 1 , 1 ) + ( 2 1 , 0 , 1 ) + ( 2 1 , 1 , 0 ) + ( 3 1 ) using (2) = ( 3 2 ) + ( 2 1 ) + ( 2 1 ) + ( 2 1 ) + ( 3 1 ) using (1) = 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 12 .
Step 2
The pyramid that you describe is exactly what’s wanted for (b). At the peak you have ( 0 0 , 0 , 0 ) , which is 1. Below that you have a triangle of three 1’s. The next layer down will have six entries forming a triangle, corresponding to ( 1 1 , 0 , 0 ) , ( 1 0 , 1 , 0 ) , and ( 1 0 , 0 , 1 ) . The next layer will have ten entries in a triangle, corresponding to the ten possible trinomial coefficients ( 2 k , , m ) with 0 k , , m and k + + m = 2. And so on.

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