Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / iii / Paper 69 / 1 / b / Solution

At a sampling point $j/n$, the given polynomial has value $f_{nm}(j/n)=n^{-m}{j}^{\underline{m}}$, where $j^{\underline{m}}=j(j-1)\cdots (j-m+1)$ is a falling factorial. It vanishes when $j<m$. The binomial coefficient identity $j^{\underline{m}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n}{j}\right)=n^{\underline{m}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n-m}{j-m}\right)$ therefore givesThe last step is the binomial theorem, and $n^{\underline{m}}/n^m={\prod }_{r=0}^{m-1}(1-r/n)=f_{nm}(1)$. For $m=0$ the empty product is one and the identity is simply $B_{n}1=1$. This is the Bernstein falling-factorial identity.