Analyzing the Setup
When you first look at the expression
S=51100C50+52100C51+⋯+101100C100
it is natural to feel a slight tremor of hesitation. It looks like a daunting sum of fractions, but in the world of JEE Advanced, complexity is often a mask for elegance.
We begin by identifying the general term. We can write this series as:
S=r=50∑100r+1100Cr
The Secret Identity
The secret weapon for this problem is the identity:
r+1nCr=n+11n+1Cr+1
This is a beautiful manipulation of factorials. When you expand nCr, you get r!(n−r)!n!. Dividing by r+1 gives you (r+1)!(n−r)!n!.
If you multiply and divide by n+1, you suddenly see the structure of n+1Cr+1 emerge. It is like finding a hidden door in a wall you thought was solid.
Transforming the Sum
By applying this identity to our sum, we transform the expression into:
S = \frac{1}{101} \sum_{r=50}^{100} ^{101}C_{r+1}
Suddenly, the denominator is gone, replaced by a constant factor outside the sum. We perform a change of variable, letting k=r+1.
Our sum becomes:
S = \frac{1}{101} \sum_{k=51}^{101} ^{101}C_k
Final Calculation
Now, we invoke the symmetry of binomial coefficients. We know that the total sum of the row is:
\sum_{k=0}^{101} ^{101}C_k = 2^{101}
Because 101 is odd, the total number of terms is 102, which is an even number. The sum of the first half equals the sum of the second half.
Therefore, the sum of the second half is:
\sum_{k=51}^{101} ^{101}C_k = \frac{2^{101}}{2} = 2^{100}
Finally, we multiply by our constant
1011 to arrive at the elegant result:
S=1012100
The fear was just a lack of perspective. Keep this identity in your toolkit, and you will conquer any binomial series that dares to cross your path.