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Algebra Difficulty 7.9 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Given positive integers k,m,nk, m, n such that 1kmn1 \leq k \leq m \leq n. Evaluate

i=0n(1)in+k+i(m+n+i)!i!(ni)!(m+i)!.\sum^{n}_{i=0} \frac{(-1)^i}{n+k+i} \cdot \frac{(m+n+i)!}{i!(n-i)!(m+i)!}.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Given positive integers k,m,n k, m, n such that 1kmn 1 \leq k \leq m \leq n , we aim to evaluate the sum
i=0n(1)in+k+i(m+n+i)!i!(ni)!(m+i)!. \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{(-1)^i}{n+k+i} \cdot \frac{(m+n+i)!}{i!(n-i)!(m+i)!}.

To solve this, we employ a calculus-based approach. We start by expressing the sum in terms of an integral:
i=0n(1)in+k+i(m+n+i)!i!(ni)!(m+i)!=i=0n(1)i(m+n+i)!i!(ni)!(m+i)!01xn+k+i1dx. \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{(-1)^i}{n+k+i} \cdot \frac{(m+n+i)!}{i!(n-i)!(m+i)!} = \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{(-1)^i (m+n+i)!}{i!(n-i)!(m+i)!} \int_0^1 x^{n+k+i-1} \, dx.

This can be rewritten as:
01[i=0n(ni)(m+n+in)(1)ixi]xn+k1dx. \int_0^1 \left[ \sum_{i=0}^n \binom{n}{i} \binom{m+n+i}{n} (-1)^i x^i \right] x^{n+k-1} \, dx.

Next, we use the binomial theorem and properties of partial derivatives:
01[i=0n(ni)(1)ixi1n!nynym+n+iy=1]xn+k1dx. \int_0^1 \left[ \sum_{i=0}^n \binom{n}{i} (-1)^i x^i \cdot \frac{1}{n!} \frac{\partial^n}{\partial y^n} y^{m+n+i} \bigg|_{y=1} \right] x^{n+k-1} \, dx.

This simplifies to:
1n!nyn[01i=0n(ni)(1)ixn+k+i1ym+n+idx]y=1. \frac{1}{n!} \frac{\partial^n}{\partial y^n} \left[ \int_0^1 \sum_{i=0}^n \binom{n}{i} (-1)^i x^{n+k+i-1} y^{m+n+i} \, dx \right]_{y=1}.

Further simplification gives:
1n!nyn[01xn+k1ym+n(1xy)ndx]y=1. \frac{1}{n!} \frac{\partial^n}{\partial y^n} \left[ \int_0^1 x^{n+k-1} y^{m+n} (1 - xy)^n \, dx \right]_{y=1}.

We continue by integrating and differentiating:
1n!nyn[ymk0yun+k1(1u)ndu]y=1. \frac{1}{n!} \frac{\partial^n}{\partial y^n} \left[ y^{m-k} \int_0^y u^{n+k-1} (1-u)^n \, du \right]_{y=1}.

Using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, we evaluate:
1n!j=0n(nj)[jyjymk]y=1[njynj0yun+k1(1u)ndu]y=1. \frac{1}{n!} \sum_{j=0}^n \binom{n}{j} \left[ \frac{\partial^j}{\partial y^j} y^{m-k} \right]_{y=1} \left[ \frac{\partial^{n-j}}{\partial y^{n-j}} \int_0^y u^{n+k-1} (1-u)^n \, du \right]_{y=1}.

For j<n j < n , the second factor is zero because we differentiate at most n1 n-1 times, and there is a zero of order n n at y=1 y=1 . For j=n j=n , the first factor is zero because mk<mn m-k < m \leq n . Thus, all terms of the sum vanish.

Therefore, the value of the sum is:
i=0n(1)in+k+i(m+n+i)!i!(ni)!(m+i)!=0. \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{(-1)^i}{n+k+i} \cdot \frac{(m+n+i)!}{i!(n-i)!(m+i)!} = 0.
The answer is: \boxed{0}.

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Source: Omni-MATH, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.