Binomial help decimals??

**adam_leeds** · February 21st 2010, 11:32 AM

in my book i have $\left(\begin{array}{cc}s\\2\end{array}\right)$ where s = 0.4

In my book the answer is -0.12 but i have no idea how they have got this, any help please?

**vince** · February 21st 2010, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by adam_leeds

in my book i have $\left(\begin{array}{cc}s\\2\end{array}\right)$ where s = 0.4

In my book the answer is -0.12 but i have no idea how they have got this, any help please?

look here, but note that when i try it one of the integrals isnt converging...im using matlab.

Binomial coefficient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**o_O** · February 21st 2010, 12:41 PM

Maybe without resorting to the Gamma function and what not, they're talking about the "generalized" binomial coefficient which we see used in binomial series:

${a \choose k} = \frac{a(a-1)(a-2)\cdots(a - k+1)}{k!}$ where $a$ can be complex.

Hence: ${0.4 \choose 2} = \frac{(0.4)(0.4-1)}{2!}$

**vince** · February 21st 2010, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by o_O

Maybe without resorting to the Gamma function and what not, they're talking about the "generalized" binomial coefficient which we see used in binomial series:

${a \choose k} = \frac{a(a-1)(a-2)\cdots(a - k+1)}{k!}$ where $a$ can be complex.

Hence: ${0.4 \choose 2} = \frac{(0.4)(0.4-1)}{2!}$

whups...glossed over that as it appears on the wiki page. apologies adam leeds, glad o_O chimed in...furthermore, the formula i cite above is to be used for large $n$ and $k$ ...whups

...apologies all around.

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