Prove that B=k=0∑n(−1)k(kn)2={0,(−1)2n(2nn),if n is odd,if n is even.
Solution
If p,q are polynomials of deg≤n with coefficients ak,bk respectively, then the coefficients of the product pq may be found in terms of those of p and q as follows: p(x)q(x)=i=0∑naixij=0∑nbjxj=i=0∑naibjxi+j=k=0∑2ni+j=k∑aibjxk=k=0∑2n(i=0∑kaibk−i)xk
To obtain expression B, apply this formula with p(x)=(1+x)n=k=0∑n(kn)xkandq(x)=(1−x)n=k=0∑n(−1)k(kn)xk. Then k=0∑2n(i=0∑k(−1)i(in)(k−in))xk=p(x)q(x)=(1−x2)n=r=0∑n(−1)r(rn)x2r, so that, comparing coefficients, we see that, if 0≤k≤2n, i=0∑k(−1)i(in)(k−in)={0,(−1)2k(2kn),if k is odd,if k is even. In particular, taking k=n, B=k=0∑n(−1)k(kn)2={0,(−1)2n(2nn),if n is odd,if n is even.
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