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The Binomial Theorem

The document discusses Pascal's triangle and the binomial theorem. It provides examples of using Pascal's triangle to expand binomial expressions like (a + b)^n in terms of descending powers. It also discusses properties of the coefficients and using the binomial theorem to obtain terms of an expansion. Convergent series with a finite sum as the number of terms approaches infinity are introduced.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
288 views9 pages

The Binomial Theorem

The document discusses Pascal's triangle and the binomial theorem. It provides examples of using Pascal's triangle to expand binomial expressions like (a + b)^n in terms of descending powers. It also discusses properties of the coefficients and using the binomial theorem to obtain terms of an expansion. Convergent series with a finite sum as the number of terms approaches infinity are introduced.

Uploaded by

ray469859
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TOPIC 7: The Binomial Theorem

Pascal’s triangle

Consider the following expansions:

(a + b)0 = 1

(a + b)1 = 1a + 1b

(a + b)2 = 1a2 + 2ab + 1b2

(a + b)3 = 1a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + 1b3

(a + b)4 = 1a4 + 4a3 + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 +1d4

If the coefficients are written alone in a form of a triangle we obtain,

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

This form of triangle is called Pascal’s triangle.

The reader should note that every coefficient in the table is obtained from the two on either side
of it in the row above. In this way the next line can be obtained.

For example,

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

1 5 10 10 5 1

There are points to note about the expansion of (a + b)n and the reader should verify them for the
cases n = 2,3,4 in the expansions obtained so far.

(a) Reading from either end of each row, the coefficients are the same.
(b) There are (n+1) terms.
(c) Each term is of degree n.
(d) The coefficients are obtained from the row in Pascal’s triangle.

Example 1

Expand (a + b)7 in descending powers of a.

Solution

We shall get (7+1) terms, i.e. 8 terms. The coefficients are picked from the 8th row of Pascal’s
triangle and each term is of degree 7, i.e.

a7, a6b1, a5b2, a4b3, a3b4, a2b5, a1b6, b7

From 1 5 10 10 5 1

1 6 15 20 15 6 1

1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1

The last line gives the coefficients for degree 7.

(a + b)7 = a7 + 7a6b + 21a5b2 + 35a4b3 + 35a3b4 + 21a2b5 + 7ab6 + b7.

Example 2.

Expand (x + 2y)4 in descending powers of x.

Solution

Let a = x and b = 2y.

There will be 5 terms, i.e.

x4, x3(2y)1, x2(2y)2, x(2y)3, (2y)4

The coefficient, obtained from Pascal’s triangle are respectively;

Therefore

(x+2y)4 = x4 + 4x3(2y) + 6x2(2y)2 + 4x(2y)3 + (2y)4.

= x4 + 8x3y + 24x2y + 32xy3 + 16y4

Example 3
1
Expand (2𝑥 + 3)3 in descending powers of x.

Solution
1
Let a = 2x and b = 3.

There will be 4 terms, each of degree three, that is


1 1 1
(2x)3, (2x)2(3)1, (2x)1 (3)2, (3)3

The coefficients from Pascal’s triangle are 1, 3, 3, 1 respectively.

Therefore,

1 3 1 1 1
(2𝑥 + ) = (2𝑥)3 + 3(2𝑥)2 x + 3 (2𝑥)x +
3 3 9 27
2 1
= 8𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 + 3 𝑥 + 27.

Example 4

Use Pascal’s triangle to obtain the value of (1.002)4, correct to six places of decimals.

Solution

1.002 = 1 + 0.002

The expansion of (a + b)4, may be used

Let a = 1 and b = 0.002.

The coefficients will be,

1, 4, 6, 4, 1

(1+0.0002)4 = 14 + 4(1)3(0.0002)1 + 6(1)2(0.002)2 + 4(1)1(0.002)3 + (0.002)4

= 1 + 0.008 + 6x0.000004 + 4x0.000000008

= 1 + 0.0008 + 0.000024 + 0.000000032

∴ (1.002)4 = 1.008024 (6d.p)

The reader should not that the last two terms in the expansion could be ignored because they
don’t make any difference to the answer, correct to six places of decimals.

Exercise 1.

This exercise is intended to give the reader practice in using Pascal’s triangle, therefore
calculators should not be used in the numerical questions.
1. Expand the following;
𝑥 2
(a) (x + y)5, (b) (x+2y)3 (c) (2x+3y)4, (d ) (4x+1)3. (e) (2 + 𝑥)4

2. Write down the expansion of (2 + 𝑥)5 in a ascending powers of x. Taking the first three terms
of the expansion, put x = 0.001, and find the value of (2.001)5 correct to five places of decimals.

1 4
3. Write down the expansion of (1 + 4 𝑥) . Taking the first three terms of the expansion, put
x = 0.1, and find the value of (1.025)4, correct to three places of decimals.

4. Expand (2-x)6 in ascending powers of x. Taking x=0.002, and using the first three terms of the
expansion, find the value of (1.998)6 as accurately as you can.

1 5
5. Expand (2𝑥 + 2𝑥) in descending powers of x.

4 4
6. Simplify (√5 + √3) − (√5 − √3) .

1 5
7. Write down the expansion of (a - b)5 and use the result to find the value of (9 2) correct to
the nearest 100.

8. Expand (x + 2)5 and (x - 2)4. Obtain the coefficient of x5 in the product of the expansions.

The Binomial Theorem

A binomial is a mathematical expression with two unlike terms. e.g. (a + b)

If n is a positive integer

(a + b)n = an + nc1 an-1b1 + nc2an-2b2 + ----+ ncr an-rbr+----+bn, where


𝑛!
ncr = (𝑛−𝑟)!𝑟! . 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚.

When a few terms of an expansion are required the theorem is used in the form:
𝑛(𝑛−1) 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2) n-3 3
(a + b)n = an + nan-1b + an-2b2+ a b +-----------+bn, since
2! 3!

𝑛! 𝑛(𝑛−1)!
nc1= (𝑛−1)!1! = (𝑛−1)! 1 ! = 𝑛

𝑛! 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)! 𝑛(𝑛−1)
nc2= (𝑛−2)!2! = (𝑛−2)! 2 !
= 2!
𝑛! 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)(𝑛−3)! 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)
nc3= (𝑛−3)!3! = (𝑛−3)! 3 !
= 3!

Qn: Show that ncn-r = ncr

Example 5

Find the coefficient of x12 in the expansion of (3x - 2)15

Solution

The required terms is in (3x)12(-2)3 by the binomial theorem it is 15c3 (3x)12(-2)3

The coefficient of x12 is


15!
=(15−3)!3! x 312 x (-2)3

15𝑥14𝑥13
= x 312 x (-2)3
3𝑥2𝑥1

= -1, 934,445,240.

Example 6
𝑥
Write down and simplify the 5th term in the expansion of (2 − 2)12.

Solution
𝑥
The term in (2)8 (– 2)4 is the 5th term by binomial theorem,

𝑥
5th term = 12C4 (28) (– 2)4

12! (−𝑥)4
x28
8!3! 24

12𝑥11𝑥10𝑥9𝑥8!
= 𝑥24 𝑥4
8!𝑥43𝑥2𝑥1

= 11x10x9x23x4

= 7920x4

Qn: Obtain the four terms of the expansion of (1.005)10, correct to four decimal places.

Example 7
Obtain the expansion of (1+x+x2)6, as far as the term in x3

Solution

(1+x+x2)6 = {1 + (𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )}6, as a binomial expression.

By the binomial theorem


6𝑥5 6𝑥5𝑥4
{1 + (𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )}6 = 1+ 6 (x+x2) + (x + x2)2 + (x + x2)3 +----
2 3!

= 1+ 6x + 6x2 + 15 (x2 + 2x3) + 20 x3 +-----

(Ignoring terms in x4 and higher powers)

: . (1 + x + x2)6 = 1 + 6x + 21x2 + 50x3

Exercise 2

Calculators should not be used in this exercise.

1.Write down the terms indicated, in the expansions of the following, and simplify your answers.
1 𝑥
(a) (x + 3)7, 5th term, (b) (2t - 2)12 term in t7 , (c)(2-2)12, 4th term, (d) (2x+y)11, term in x3

2. Write down, and simplify, the coefficients of the terms indicated, in the expansions of the
following:
3 1 1
(a) (4 + 4 𝑥)6, term in x3, (b) (2x-3)7, term in x5, (c) (2 𝑡 − 2)10, term in t4.

3. Write down the coefficients of the terms indicated, in the expansions of the following in
ascending powers of x:

3 8
(a) (1+ x)16, 3rd term, (b) (2 + 2 𝑥) , 5th term, (c) (5 - 4x)6, 3rd term.

4. Write down the constant terms in the expansions of the following

1 8 1 6 1 10
(a) (𝑥 − ) , (b)(2𝑥 2 − ) , (d) (2𝑥 + )
𝑥 2𝑥 𝑥

5. Find the ratio of the term in x5 to the term in x6, in the expansion of (2x+3)20

6. Write down the first four terms of the expansions of the following, in ascending powers of x:
1
(a) (𝑥 + 2 𝑥) 9, (b) (1 - x)11.

7. Use the binomial theorem to find the values of (2.001)10, correct to six significant figures,
8. Expand the following as far as the terms in x3

(a) (1 – x + x2)4, (b) (2 + x + x2)5

Convergent Series

Consider a geometrical progression with first term 1 and common ratio x, that is,

1 + x + x2 + x3 +---------+ xn-1
𝑎(1−𝑟 𝑛 )
Sn = 1−𝑟

1−𝑥 𝑛
Sn = 1+ x + x2 + x3 +-----+ xn-1 =
1−𝑥

If x lies between -1 and +1, as x tends to ∞, 𝑥 𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑡𝑜 0


1
∴ 1+x+x2+x3+-----xn-1 = 1−𝑥

A series of terms, whose sum approaches a finite value as the number of terms is increased
indefinitely is called a convergent series and the finite value is called its sum to infinity.

Thus 1+ x + x2 + x3 +---+ xn-1 is a convergent series, provided -1<x<1 and its sum to infinity is
1
1−𝑥

The binomial theorem for any index

the binomial theorem states that,


𝑛(𝑛−1) 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)
(1 + x)n = 1 + nx + x2 + 𝑥 3 +----- for any rational value of n, provided
2! 3!

|𝑥| < 1 𝑖. 𝑒. −1 < 𝑥 < 1.

In the expansion of (1+ x)n, the coefficient of xr is ncr


𝑛
ncr may be written as ( ).
𝑟
𝑛 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)(𝑛−3)−−−(𝑛−𝑟+1)
Thus ( ) = 𝑟x(𝑟−1)x−−−−−−−x3x2x1..
𝑟

Example 8
1
Use the binomial theorem to expand(1 − 2x)2 in ascending powers of x, as far as the term in x3,
and state the values of x for which the expansion is valid.
Solution
1 1 1 1 1
1
1 ( −1)(−2𝑥)2 ( −1)( −2)(−2𝑥)3
(1 − 2x)2 = 1 + 2 (−2𝑥) + 2 2
+ 2 2 2
+------
2! 3!

1 1 1 1 3
(− ) (− )(− )(−8𝑥3)+ −−−
2 2 2 2 2 2
=1 − 𝑥 + 4𝑥 +
2 6

1 1
= 1- x - 2 𝑥 2 − 2 𝑥 3 + − − − −

Exercise 3

Calculators should not be used in this exercise

1. Evaluate the following binomial coefficients;


1 1
5 −2 −
(a)( ) , (𝑏) ( ) , (𝑐) ( 2 ) , (𝑑) ( 4)
3 6 4 5
2. Expand the following in ascending powers of x, as far as the term in x3, and state the values of
x for which the expansions are valid;
3
(a) √(1 − 𝑥 2 ), (b) √(1 − 𝑥),
3 2𝑥−3 𝑥+3
(c) , (d) , (𝑒)
3√(3−𝑥 2 ) 𝑥+2 3√(1−3𝑥)

3. Use the binomial theorem to find the values of the √0.998, correct to six places of decimals,

4. Find the first four terms of the expansion of (1-8x) ½ in ascending powers of x. Substitute
1
x =100 and obtain the value of √23 correct to five significant figures.

5. Expand (1-x) 1/3 in ascending powers of x as far as the fourth term. By taking the first two
1
terms of the expansion and substituting x = 1000 find the value of 3√37, correct to 6s.f.

1
6. Find the middle term in the expansion of (6x+3 𝑦)10,

7. (a) Obtain the first four terms in the expansion of (1+2x+3x2)6 in ascending powers of x.

(b) Find the first four terms in the expansion of (i)(1-x+2x2)5, (ii) (1+x)-4 , in ascending
powers of x.

8. Find the first four terms in the expansion of the following in ascending powers of x.
𝑥+2 1−𝑥 1+𝑥
(𝑎) (b) (c) √(1−𝑥)
(1+𝑥)2, √(1+𝑥)

1
9(a) Write down the first four terms of the expansion of (2 + 4 𝑥)10 in ascending powers of x.
hence find the values of 2.02510, correct to the nearest whole number.

(b) Obtain the first four terms of the expansion of (1+8x) ½ in ascending powers of x. By
1
putting x = 100, obtain the value of √3, correct to five places of decimals.

10. Show that, if x is small enough for its cube and higher powers to be neglected,

1−𝑥 𝑥2
√( ) =1−𝑥+
1+𝑥 2

1 83
By putting x = 8 , show that √7 ≈ 2 128.

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