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evaluate : $$ \sum_{k=0}^\infty\binom{n}{2+4k} $$ I tried using pre formulated series of multinomial expansions but it doesnt help. Please give a solution to the problem, without using complex numbers

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  • $\begingroup$ nc2+nc6+....so on $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 12:10
  • $\begingroup$ Do you mean $\sum\limits_{k=0}^\infty\binom{n}{2+4k}$ ? $\endgroup$
    – robjohn
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 12:28
  • $\begingroup$ yes @robjohn i meant that $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 12:30
  • $\begingroup$ I will update the MathJax in your question, but please use MathJax in your questions and answers on this site. $\endgroup$
    – robjohn
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:30

3 Answers 3

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Here is another idea.

Let $E_r(n)=\sum_{k=0}^\infty\binom{n}{r+4k}$ for $r=0,1,2,3$ and note $E_0(0)=1, E_1(0)=E_2(0)=E_3(0)=0$

We have the recurrences based on the formation of Pascal's triangle: $$E_0(n+1)=E_3(n)+E_0(n), E_1(n+1)=E_0(n)+E_1(n), E_2(n+1)=E_1(n)+E_2(n), E_3(n+1)=E_2(n)+E_3(n)$$

It is easy to prove by induction that $$E_1(n)+E_2(n)+E_3(n)+E_4(n)=2^n$$ and for $n\ge 1,$$$ E_1(n)+E_3(n)=E_0(n)+E_2(n)=2^{n-1}$$

So for $n\ge 1,$ $$ E_3(n)=2^{n-1}-E_1(n) \text{ and } E_0(n)=2^{n-1}-E_2(n)$$

So we have $$E_1(n+1)=2^{n-1}-E_2(n)+E_1(n)$$

and

$$E_2(n+1)=E_2(n)+E_1(n)$$ which is $$E_1(n)=E_2(n+1)-E_2(n)$$

Whence $$E_2(n+2)-E_2(n+1)=2^{n-1}-E_2(n)+E_2(n+1)-E_2(n)$$

This becomes the linear recurrence

$$E_2(n+2)=2E_2(n+1)-2E_2(n)+2^{n-1}$$ and the auxiliary equation is $$x^2-2x+2=0$$ which has roots $x=1\pm i$

Solving the recurrence with a particular solution for the inhomogeneous version plus a general solution for the homogeneous part, and then checking boundary conditions, gives the same elements as other solutions, and it is no surprise that the this method gives components $(1\pm i)^n$ and a multiple of $2^n$.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks in advance for all these efforts $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 21, 2017 at 4:46
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Hint:

For integer $n>0,\binom nr=0$ for $r<0,r>n$

So, we need $$\sum_{r=0,4r+2<n}\binom n{4r+2}$$

Now, $$(1+y)^n=\sum_{r=0}^n\binom nry^r\ \ \ \ \ (1)\implies y^2(1+y)^n=\sum_{r=0}^n\binom nry^{r+2}\ \ \ \ \ (2)$$

If $y^4=1, y=\pm1,\pm i$

set $y=\pm1,\pm i$ in $(ii)$ and add

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  • $\begingroup$ not satisfied i wanted without complex identities $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:17
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    $\begingroup$ @ChenGuo: Then state the question more precisely. I see that you've updated your question, but people have put in time answering your question only to have you change it under them. You should also add some context. The lack of context is probably why people are voting to close this question. I've deleted my answer, but I will undelete it if more context is shown (what you've tried, where the question came from, etc.). $\endgroup$
    – robjohn
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:21
  • $\begingroup$ @ChenGuo: Also, you should use MathJax to better format the math in your question. $\endgroup$
    – robjohn
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:24
  • $\begingroup$ @ChenGuo: The final answer can be expressed without complex numbers, but the derivation of that answer would be very complex without using complex numbers. $\endgroup$
    – robjohn
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:29
  • $\begingroup$ ok just thinking for a way to do that without i or omega $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:49
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I've made this more an extended hint and tried to give a different way into understanding lab bhattacharjee's method. I think of this as twisting a power series to get the right cancellations.

If $\omega$ is a complex $q^{th}$ root of unity we have that the sum $$S=1+\omega^r+\omega^{2r}+\dots +\omega^{(q-1)r}$$is equal to $q$ or $0$ according to whether $r$ is a multiple of $q$ or not. We can use this to pick out every $q^{th}$ element of a power series.

Here we would do $$(1+1)^n+(1+\omega)^n+(1+\omega^2)^n+\dots+(1+\omega^{(q-1)r})^n$$

This would pick out terms $0,q,2q,3q \dots$

If you want to pick out the terms $k, q+k \dots$ you have to shift the power series to get the right cancellation. But the same idea works.


Here you want to have $4^{th}$ roots of unity and shift so that the coefficient is non-zero only when $r\equiv 2 \bmod 4$


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  • $\begingroup$ can u show me any idea to proceed without using i or complex numbers? $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 13:17
  • $\begingroup$ @ChenGuo I can't think of an easy way to do that, but I'll see what I can think of $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 14:09
  • $\begingroup$ @ChenGuo I have done this via recurrence relations in another solution, but that essentially leads to the same thing by another root. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 19, 2017 at 14:42
  • $\begingroup$ I wondered if there is any series of omega or i....lol $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 21, 2017 at 4:48
  • $\begingroup$ I just want to escape writing i or omega $\endgroup$
    – Chen Guo
    Commented Nov 21, 2017 at 4:48

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