Binomial Coefficient Calculator

Calculate the binomial coefficient C(n, k) — “n choose k” — exactly, with the matching row of Pascal’s triangle.

C(n, k)
Pascal’s row n

How to Calculate a Binomial Coefficient

Enter n and k with 0 ≤ k ≤ n.

1

Enter n and k

n is the total number of items; k is how many you choose. Both are whole numbers with k no larger than n.

2

Read C(n, k)

The binomial coefficient counts the ways to choose k items from n without regard to order.

3

See Pascal’s row

Row n of Pascal’s triangle lists every C(n, 0) … C(n, n) — the coefficients of (a + b)ⁿ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a binomial coefficient?
The binomial coefficient C(n, k), read “n choose k”, is the number of ways to choose k items from n without regard to order. It equals n! ⁄ (k!·(n − k)!).
How is it related to Pascal’s triangle?
Every entry in Pascal’s triangle is a binomial coefficient: the entry in row n, position k is C(n, k), counting rows and positions from 0. Each number is the sum of the two directly above it, which is Pascal’s rule C(n, k) = C(n − 1, k − 1) + C(n − 1, k). Row 4 reads 1, 4, 6, 4, 1, so C(4, 2) = 6. The rows are symmetric because C(n, k) = C(n, n − k).
Is it the same as combinations?
The binomial coefficient C(n, k) is exactly the number of combinations nCk, the same value a combination calculator gives. Both count how many k-element subsets can be chosen from n items when order does not matter, and both equal n! ⁄ (k!(n − k)!). C(5, 2) = 10, whether you call it a binomial coefficient or 5 choose 2. The name changes with the context, not the arithmetic.
Is my data sent anywhere?
Nothing you type is sent anywhere. The binomial coefficient calculator runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript, so the values of n and k never leave your device. There is no account, no upload step and nothing is logged. The page keeps working offline once it has loaded.