Binomial Theorem
Definition
$ (x+y)^n = \sum_{i=0}^n {n \choose k}x^i y^{n-i}, $
$ \text{where } {n \choose k} = \frac{n!}{n!(n-r)!}. $
Example
- What is $ \sum_{i=0}^n {n \choose k} = {n \choose 0} + {n \choose 1} + .. + {n \choose n} ? $
Solution: Using the Binomial Theorem, let x = y = 1. Then, $ \sum_{i=0}^n {n \choose k} (1)^i (1)^{n-i} = \underline{\sum_{i=0}^n {n \choose k}} = (1+1)^n = \underline{2^n}. $