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Solve for some terms in binomial coefficients

Use the definition of the binomial coefficient \binom{n}{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!} to establish the following:

  1. \binom{n}{k} = \binom{n}{n-k}.
  2. If \binom{n}{10} = \binom{n}{7} find n.
  3. If \binom{14}{k} = \binom{14}{k-4} find k.
  4. Is there an integer k such that \binom{12}{k} = \binom{12}{k-3}?

  1. Proof. By definition we have,

        \[ \binom{n}{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!(n-(n-k))!} = \binom{n}{n-k}. \qquad \blacksquare \]

  2. Using part (a) we know \binom{n}{k} = \binom{n}{n-k}. So, if k = 10 and n-k = 7, then n = 17.
  3. Again, by part (a) we have \binom{14}{k} = \binom{14}{k-4} implies k = 14 - (k-4) \implies 2k = 18 \implies k = 9.
  4. No. Since \binom{12}{k} = \binom{12}{k-3} implies k = 12 - (k-3) \implies 2k = 15 \implies k = \frac{15}{2} is not an integer.

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