Closed formula for ${r \choose 1}+{r \choose 2}\cdots{r \choose w}$ where $w < r$

127 Views Asked by At

Let $r,w \in \mathbb{N}$. Are there some formula for the next sum?

$${r \choose 1}+{r \choose 2}\cdots{r \choose w}$$ where $w<r$?

1

There are 1 best solutions below

0
On

There is no closed form for this. See this MO question. One answer rewrites the sum in terms of the hypergeometric function ${}_2F_1$.