Bill Allombert on Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:38:59 +0200


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Re: binomial coefficient with negative args


On Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 02:54:47PM -0400, Max Alekseyev wrote:
> I worry that this extension is not consistent with the definition of
> binomial(n,k) as the coefficient of x^k in (1+x)^n.
> According to this definition it should be zero for k < 0.

To give an example where that makes a difference:

? sum(i=-5,5,binomial(-1,i)*x^i)==(1+x)^-1+O(x^6)

pari 2.15:
%1 = 1
pari 2.16:
%1 = 0

Cheers,
Bill