Moments, Narayana numbers, and the cut and paste for lattice paths (Q2568431)

Let \(\mathcal U(n)\) denote the set of unrestricted lattice paths in the integer lattice that run from \((0,0)\) to \((n,0)\) with permitted steps \((1,1)\), \((1,-1)\) and perhaps a horizontal step. Let \(\mathcal C(n)\) denote the paths in \(\mathcal U(n)\) that never dip below the \(x\)-axis. For any path \(P\) in \(\mathcal U(n)\) or \(\mathcal C(n)\), let \[ (0,p_0),(1,p_1),\dots,(x,p_x),\dots,(n,p_n) \] denote the integer lattice points traced by \(P\). \vskip.2cm \noindent The main result of this paper is: \[ \sum_{P\in\mathcal C(n)}\sum_{x=0}^n{{p_x+r+2}\choose{p_x}}= \sum_{Q\in\mathcal U(n)}\sum_{x=0}^n{{q_x+r}\choose{q_x}}, \] where \(r\) is any real number.