ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Multiplicities of entries in Pascal's triangle

Pascal's triangle is a triangle made up of numbers. Each number is the sum of the two numbers above it. For example, the number in the third row and second column is the sum of the number above it (1) and the number above and to the left of it (also 1), so the number is 2.

A multiplicity in Pascal's triangle means that a certain number appears multiple times in the triangle. For example, the number 1 appears many times in every row of the triangle. This is because it is the result of adding two numbers that are both 0 or 1, which is always 1.

Sometimes, other numbers have multiplicities as well. For example, the number 2 appears in Pascal's triangle in the third row, second column (1+1=2) and in the fourth row, third column (1+2+1=4). This means that the number 2 appears twice in the triangle.

The multiplicities of entries in Pascal's triangle can be used to find patterns and relationships in the numbers. Mathematicians love patterns and relationships because it helps them understand how things work!