Question 149
Let $n$ and $k$ be positive integers with $k \ge n$ and $k - n$ an even number. Let $2n$ lamps labelled $1, 2, \dots, 2n$ be given, each of which can be either on or off. Initially all the lamps are off. We consider sequences of steps: at each step one of the lamps is switched from on to off or from off to on.
Let $N$ be the number of such sequences consisting of $k$ steps and resulting in the state where lamps $1$ through $n$ are all on, and lamps $n+1$ through $2n$ are all off.
Let $M$ be the number of such sequences consisting of $k$ steps, resulting in the state where lamps $1$ through $n$ are all on, and lamps $n+1$ through $2n$ are all off, but where none of the lamps $n+1$ through $2n$ is ever switched on.
Determine the ratio $\frac{N}{M}$.
Let $N$ be the number of such sequences consisting of $k$ steps and resulting in the state where lamps $1$ through $n$ are all on, and lamps $n+1$ through $2n$ are all off.
Let $M$ be the number of such sequences consisting of $k$ steps, resulting in the state where lamps $1$ through $n$ are all on, and lamps $n+1$ through $2n$ are all off, but where none of the lamps $n+1$ through $2n$ is ever switched on.
Determine the ratio $\frac{N}{M}$.