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the question goes as follows: In a B-tree (d,2d) of height h, what is the minimal and maximal number of inner-nodes (excluding leaves)?

My idea:

Minimal: The root is 1, it has a minimum of 2 children, therefore we have 1 + 2, and then for any level below each node will have the minimum nodes allowed which is d. We get $1 + 2 + 2d + 2d^2 + ... + 2d^{h-1}$ including the leaves, therefore making $1 + \sum_{i=1}^{h-2} 2d^i$ (note that the final index is $h-2$ since we dont count the leaves).

Maximal: Pretty similiar but each level will have $2d$ children, thus making $ 1 + 2d + (2d)^2 + .... + (2d)^{h}$ including the leaves, therefore making $ \sum_{i=0}^{h-1} (2d)^i$.

However, the answer sheet goes $1 + \sum_{i=1}^{h} (2d)^i$ for maximal and $1 + \sum_{i=1}^{h} 2d^{i-1}$ for minimal.

I'll note that the height is defined as the numbers of edges from top-to-bottom, and for example; a tree of root only is of height 0. Tree of root + one set of children is of height 1.

Am I missing something or is there a mistake in our answer-sheet?

Thanks!

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Update: There was an error in the answer sheet, it turns out I was right.

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    $\begingroup$ Probably best to delete the question, then, since it's no longer useful for you and unlikely to be of use to anyone in the future. $\endgroup$ May 28, 2017 at 17:44

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