Solution:
In the factorial form,
(k−1)!(n−k+1)!n!+(k+1)!(n−k−1)!n!=k!(n−k)!2⋅n!
we multiply through by (k+1)!(n−k+1)! to clear the fractions and then divide through by n!:
k(k+1)+(n−k)(n−k+1)=2(k+1)(n−k+1)
To decrease the number of terms, we let k+1=a and n−k+1=b:
(a−1)a+(b−1)b=2aba2−2ab+b2=a+b(a−b)2=a+b
If we let a−b=c, then a+b=c2 and we get
a=2c2+candb=2c2−c
Here any integer value of c will yield nonnegative integer values of a and b; however, the condition 0<k<n requires that a=k+1 and b=n−k+1 are each at least 2. Hence the values c=−2,−1,0,1,2 are excluded, while every c≤−3 and every c≥3 will yield permissible values for
k=a−1=2c2+c−2
and
n=a+b−2=c2−2
which satisfy the equation.