Related Formula
(ⁿCᵣ)/(r+1) = ⁿ⁺¹Cᵣ₊₁n+1$$\frac{^nC_r}{r+1} = \frac{^{n+1}C_{r+1}}{n+1}$$
Σk=0ⁿ ⁿ⁺¹Ck+1 · ⁿCn-k = ²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₁$$\sum_{k=0}^n {}^{n+1}C_{k+1} \cdot {}^nC_{n-k} = {}^{2n+1}C_{n+1}$$
Core Logic
Simplify α$\alpha$ by absorbing the denominator:
α = Σk=0ⁿ ⁿCk · ⁿCkk + 1$$\alpha = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \frac{{}^nC_k \cdot {}^nC_k}{k + 1}$$
Multiply and divide by (n+1)$(n+1)$:
α = (1)/(n+1) Σk=0ⁿ (n+1)/(k+1) ⁿCk · ⁿCn-k$$\alpha = \frac{1}{n+1} \sum_{k=0}^{n} \frac{n+1}{k+1} {}^nC_k \cdot {}^nC_{n-k}$$
α = (1)/(n+1) Σk=0ⁿ ⁿ⁺¹Ck+1 · ⁿCn-k$$\alpha = \frac{1}{n+1} \sum_{k=0}^{n} {}^{n+1}C_{k+1} \cdot {}^nC_{n-k}$$
This corresponds to choosing k+1$k+1$ items from a set of n+1$n+1$, and n-k$n-k$ items from a set of n$n$. Total items chosen = (k+1) + (n-k) = n+1$(k+1) + (n-k) = n+1$ from a total pool of (n+1) + n = 2n+1$(n+1) + n = 2n+1$.
α = (1)/(n+1) · ²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₁$$\alpha = \frac{1}{n+1} \cdot {}^{2n+1}C_{n+1}$$
Step 1: Evaluating Beta
Now for β$\beta$:
β = Σk=0ⁿ⁻¹ ⁿCk · ⁿCk+1k + 2$$\beta = \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} \frac{{}^nC_k \cdot {}^nC_{k+1}}{k + 2}$$
Convert ⁿCk${}^nC_k$ to ⁿCn-k${}^nC_{n-k}$ and absorb the denominator into ⁿCk+1${}^nC_{k+1}$:
β = (1)/(n+1) Σk=0ⁿ⁻¹ ⁿCn-k · (n+1)/(k+2) ⁿCk+1$$\beta = \frac{1}{n+1} \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} {}^nC_{n-k} \cdot \frac{n+1}{k+2} {}^nC_{k+1}$$
β = (1)/(n+1) Σk=0ⁿ⁻¹ ⁿCn-k · ⁿ⁺¹Ck+2$$\beta = \frac{1}{n+1} \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} {}^nC_{n-k} \cdot {}^{n+1}C_{k+2}$$
Here, total items chosen is (n-k) + (k+2) = n+2$(n-k) + (k+2) = n+2$ from a total pool of n + (n+1) = 2n+1$n + (n+1) = 2n+1$.
β = (1)/(n+1) · ²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₂$$\beta = \frac{1}{n+1} \cdot {}^{2n+1}C_{n+2}$$
Step 2: Applying the Given Ratio
Given 5α = 6β ⇒ (β)/(α) = (5)/(6)$5\alpha = 6\beta \Rightarrow \frac{\beta}{\alpha} = \frac{5}{6}$.
(β)/(α) = (1)/(n+1) ²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₂(1)/(n+1) ²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₁ = ²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₂²ⁿ⁺¹Cₙ₊₁$$\frac{\beta}{\alpha} = \frac{\frac{1}{n+1} {}^{2n+1}C_{n+2}}{\frac{1}{n+1} {}^{2n+1}C_{n+1}} = \frac{^{2n+1}C_{n+2}}{^{2n+1}C_{n+1}}$$
Using the ratio property ⁿCᵣⁿCᵣ₋₁ = (n-r+1)/(r)$\frac{^nC_r}{^nC_{r-1}} = \frac{n-r+1}{r}$:
Here, n → 2n+1$n \to 2n+1$ and r → n+2$r \to n+2$.
(β)/(α) = (2n+1 - (n+2) + 1)/(n+2) = (2n+1 - n - 2 + 1)/(n+2) = (n)/(n+2)$$\frac{\beta}{\alpha} = \frac{2n+1 - (n+2) + 1}{n+2} = \frac{2n+1 - n - 2 + 1}{n+2} = \frac{n}{n+2}$$
Step 3: Solving for n
Equate and solve:
(n)/(n+2) = (5)/(6)$$\frac{n}{n+2} = \frac{5}{6}$$
6n = 5n + 10 ⇒ n = 10$$6n = 5n + 10 \Rightarrow n = 10$$
Pattern Recognition
Any fractional binomial coefficient like Ck / (k+x)$C_k / (k+x)$ triggers an absorption identity to step up the index. Then, multiplying terms turns into a simple combinatorial Vandermonde convolution.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Maths: Binomial Theorem