21
Shubhodip
·2011-10-13 11:05:50
Let x_p and x_q denote the two sets containing n things of two different kinds. So it matters only how many you select from there. Denote by x_i, 1 \le i \le n the rest of the things that are all different.
We are looking for number of solutions to the equation x_p + x_q + \sum_{i=1}^{n}x_i = n
Where x_p, x_q \in \left \{ 0,1, \cdots, n \right \}, x_i\in \left \{ 0,1 \right \}
Which is the coefficient of x^n in (1+ x+ x^2 + \cdots +x^n)^2(1+x)^n
or that in (1+ x+ x^2 + \cdots )^2(1+x)^n
wait : since you r in 9th, do u know these ?
341
Hari Shankar
·2011-10-13 20:45:46
A way of explaining accessible at school level would be:
Suppose k objects have been chosen out of the n dissimilar objects.
Then we have to choose n-k objects from out of the two other sets. The choices would go like 0 from the first set and (n-k) from the other, or 1 from set 1 and (n-k-1) from the other etc. This gives n-k+1 choices.
So we are looking for \sum_{k=0}^n (n-k+1) \binom{n}{k} = \sum_{k=0}^n (n+1) \binom{n}{k} - \sum_{k=0}^n k \binom{n}{k}
The first sum is just (n+1)2^{n}
The second one is
\sum_{k=0}^n k \binom{n}{k} = \sum_{k=0}^n (n-k) \binom{n}{k} = \frac{1}{2} \sum_{k=0}^n n \binom{n}{k}= n 2^{n-1}
Hence the required number of ways = (n+2) 2^{n-1}