Solve $$\displaystyle\binom{16}r =\binom{16}{2r + 1}.$$
From what I understand:
$$\displaystyle\frac{16!}{r!(16-r)!}=\frac{16!}{(2r+1)!(16-(2r+1))!}$$
$$\implies r!(16-r)! = (2r+1)!(16-(2r+1))!$$
But I am stuck at this point. If there is any straightforward way to solving this problem, please describe it.
On
Binomial coefficients are duplicated at the 'mirror-image' argument - by which I mean $$\binom{n}{k}=\binom{n}{n-k} .$$ The binomial 'function' of order n, with k considered to be a variable, is exactly symmetrical about the centreline. So in this case we have $$16-r=2r+1$$$$\therefore$$$$3r=15$$$$\therefore$$$$r=5 .$$
This is a great question! If all you have learnt is the definition of $\binom nm$ as $$ \binom nm = \frac{n!}{m!(n-m)!}\tag{$\dagger$} $$ then this problem seems quite imposing. How is one to check for which values of $r$ the equation $$ r!(16-r)! = (2r+1)! (16-(2r+1))! $$ holds?!
However, if you have the correct tool in hand then this problems opens up to your efforts very easily. The basic idea is given by @farruhota in the comments (and also in @AmbretteOrrisey's answer), but I believe there is one key ingredient still missing, so I will elaborate on that in this answer.
Now, it is easy to see from the definition of $\binom nm$ that $$\binom nm = \binom{n}{n-m}.$$ Indeed, just plug into the formula $(\dagger)$ and check that LHS = RHS.
However, you cannot immediately use this to solve $$r = 2r+1$$ and thereby get the desired value of $r$. Because, perhaps there also exist some other integers $0 \leq r < l \leq n$ such that $\binom nr = \binom nl$ is true? One still needs to rule out that possibility.
As it happens, it is not too difficult to prove that $\binom nr = \binom nl$ holds if and only if $r = l$ or $r = n - l$. So, here goes: say $0 \leq r < l \leq n$ and $$ \binom nr = \binom nl. $$ Then, using the definition we get $$ \begin{align} &&\frac{n!}{r! (n-r)!} &= \frac{n!}{l!(n-l)!}\\ \iff&& l!(n-l)! &= r!(n-r)!\\ \iff&& \frac{l!}{r!} &= \frac{(n-r)!}{(n-l)!}\\ \iff&& l(l-1)(l-2) \cdots (r+1) &= (n-r)(n-r-1)(n-r-2) \cdots (n-l+1).\tag{$*$} \end{align} $$
Now, in the last equation, both the LHS and the RHS are a product of $l-r$ consecutive integers. When can they be equal to each other? Well, for any positive integers $a,b,k$, we have $$ a(a+1)(a+2) \cdots (a+k) = b(b+1)(b+2) \cdots (b+k) \iff a = b. \qquad (\text{Why? Check this!}) $$
And, et voila! We can now conclude that $(*)$ holds if and only if $$ r+1 = n-l+1 \iff r = n-l $$ as we wanted to show.
With this result in hand, it is now easy to solve this problem. I believe you can take it from here. :)