I am currently reading the Algorithm Design Manual, but my mathematical notation has become a little rusty. What does <img src="https://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=tx&chl=%5CLARGE%5C%21%5Cleft%28%20a%20%20%5C%5C%20b%20%5Cright%29" alt='"\left( a \ b \right)" LaTeX'> mean?

Binomial coefficient? (also, see combination)

Mathematical notation in algorithms

I am currently reading the Algorithm Design Manual, but my mathematical notation has become a little rusty.

What does

$"\left( a \ b \right)" LaTeX$

mean?

Binomial coefficient? (also, see combination)

It means "n choose k", or in this case, "a choose b". It is a shorthand for the formula a!/(b!((a-b)!)).

Sorry for the many parenthesis, just didn't want amibuity. ! means factorial, 5! = 5*4*3*2*1, etc.

It is used for binomial expansion, and Pascal's Triangle.

Combination is the first thing that comes to mind...but without context, there are probably other meanings for the same notation.