Even and odd pairs of lattice paths with multiple intersections (Q1924223)

Let \(M_{r,s}^{n,k}\) be the number of ordered pairs of plain lattice paths, with unit steps \(E\) and \(N,\) such that the first path ends at \((r,n-r),\) the second ends at \((k,n-k)\) and they have \(k\) intersections. Let \(N_E\) (\(N_O\)) denote the total numbers of pairs with even (odd) \(r+s.\) The paper proves simple relations among these (and related) quantities and determines a simpler exact formula for \(M_{r,s}^{n,k}.\)