Question:medium

\(\sum_{k=0}^{10} {}^{20}C_k\) is equal to

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Use \(\sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k} = 2^n\) and symmetry \(\binom{n}{k} = \binom{n}{n-k}\).
Updated On: Jun 19, 2026
  • \(2^{19} + \frac{1}{2} {}^{20}C_{10}\)
  • \(2^{19}\)
  • \({}^{20}C_{10}\)
  • None of these
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

To solve the problem \(\sum_{k=0}^{10} {}^{20}C_k\), we need to understand that it involves the binomial coefficients. The binomial theorem states that:

\((a + b)^n = \sum_{k=0}^{n} {}^{n}C_k \cdot a^{n-k} \cdot b^{k}\)

By choosing \(a = 1\) and \(b = 1\), the theorem simplifies to:

\((1 + 1)^{20} = \sum_{k=0}^{20} {}^{20}C_k = 2^{20}\)

Similarly, choosing \(a = 1\) and \(b = -1\), it gives:

\((1 - 1)^{20} = \sum_{k=0}^{20} {}^{20}C_k \cdot (-1)^k = 0\)

Which means:

\(\sum_{k=0}^{20} {}^{20}C_k \cdot (-1)^k = {}^{20}C_0 - {}^{20}C_1 + {}^{20}C_2 - \ldots + {}^{20}C_{20} = 0\)

Adding the equations:

  1. \(\sum_{k=0}^{20} {}^{20}C_k = 2^{20}\)
  2. \(\sum_{k=0}^{20} {}^{20}C_k \cdot (-1)^k = 0\)

We get:

\(2 \times \sum_{k=0}^{10} {}^{20}C_{2k} = 2^{20}\)

\(\sum_{k=0}^{10} {}^{20}C_{2k} = 2^{19}\)

Now, considering the symmetry and properties of binomial coefficients, adding up from \(k=0\) to \(k=10\) and using the identity:

\(\sum_{k=0}^{n} {}^{n}C_k = 2^{n-1} + \frac{1}{2} \cdot {}^{n}C_{\frac{n}{2}}\)

Since \(n = 20\) is even, \(k=10\) is the middle term:

The result is:

\(\sum_{k=0}^{10} {}^{20}C_k = 2^{19} + \frac{1}{2} \cdot {}^{20}C_{10}\)

Therefore, the correct answer is \(2^{19} + \frac{1}{2} \cdot {}^{20}C_{10}\)

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