TITLE: Proving a formula about binomial coefficients
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: I found the following formula in a book without any proof:
$$\sum_{j=k}^{\lfloor\frac n2\rfloor}{\binom{n}{2j}}{\binom{j}{k}}=\frac{n}{n-k}\cdot2^{n-2k-1}{\binom{n-k}{k}}$$
where $n$ is a natural number and $k$ is an integer which satisfies $0\le k \le\frac n2$. 
I've tried to prove this, but I'm facing difficulty. Could you show me how to prove this?

REPLY [2 votes]: We will use induction to prove the identity (equivalent to the one given) that
1) $\displaystyle\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j}\binom{j}{k}=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k-1}{k-1}\bigg]$ $\;\;$for $0\le k\le\frac{n}{2}$ and the identity
2) $\displaystyle\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j+1}\binom{j}{k}=2^{n-2k-1}\binom{n-k-1}{k}$ $\;\;$for $0\le k\le\frac{n-1}{2}$.
If $n=1$, $k=0$ and both sides of both identities are 1;
so assume that both identities are valid for some $n\in\mathbb{N}$.
1) $\displaystyle\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n+1}{2j}\binom{j}{k}=\sum_{j\ge0}\bigg[\binom{n}{2j}+\binom{n}{2j-1}\bigg]\binom{j}{k}=\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j}\binom{j}{k}+\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j-1}\binom{j}{k}$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j}\binom{j}{k}+\sum_{l\ge0}\binom{n}{2l+1}\binom{l+1}{k}$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j}\binom{j}{k}+\sum_{l\ge0}\binom{n}{2l+1}\bigg[\binom{l}{k}+\binom{l}{k-1}\bigg]$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j}\binom{j}{k}+\sum_{l\ge0}\binom{n}{2l+1}\binom{l}{k}+\sum_{l\ge0}\binom{n}{2l+1}\binom{l}{k-1}$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k-1}{k-1}\bigg]+2^{n-2k-1}\binom{n-k-1}{k}+2^{n-2k+1}\binom{n-k}{k-1}$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k-1}{k-1}+\binom{n-k-1}{k}+4\binom{n-k}{k-1}\bigg]$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k+1}{k}+\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k}{k-1}+2\binom{n-k}{k-1}\bigg]$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[2\binom{n-k+1}{k}+2\binom{n-k}{k-1}\bigg]=2^{n-2k}\bigg[\binom{n-k+1}{k}+\binom{n-k}{k-1}\bigg]$,
$\;\;\;\;$ so identity 1) holds for $n+1$.
2) $\displaystyle\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n+1}{2j+1}\binom{j}{k}=\sum_{j\ge0}\bigg[\binom{n}{2j+1}+\binom{n}{2j}\bigg]\binom{j}{k}=\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j+1}\binom{j}{k}+\sum_{j\ge0}\binom{n}{2j}\binom{j}{k}$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k-1}\binom{n-k-1}{k}+2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k-1}{k-1}\bigg]$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k-1}{k}+\binom{n-k-1}{k-1}\bigg]=2^{n-2k-1}\bigg[\binom{n-k}{k}+\binom{n-k}{k}\bigg]$
$\;\;\;\displaystyle=2^{n-2k}\binom{n-k}{k}$, 
$\;\;\;$so identity 2) holds for $n+1$.