Chapter 2 : BINOMIAL EXPANSION

Assumed Knowledge (refer to appendix):

. Delinitionoff'actorial
. Propefties ofmodulus functions
. Pascal Triangle

Key Concepts:
. Binomial Theorem of (a+b)", neZ*
. Use the binomial expansion of (d+b)',neR\Z.w{0} .

. To detemine the convergence conditioD in the expansion

of (a +D)',n e 1i{ \ Z' v {0}

1 - Binomial fxpan sion of (a + b)" , ne Z*

,".,,. .[;)(," v' .,(,"_,)*" .(;),

[;),..[1)a"t',(;'1t')'.
=

1".-)!!--!:
ra -t; -a" -ila 'tt-"i ,ttl"' y'' ,......"' ')1o' 14'*...
n(n-l\(n- ))..2 t _6"
..., oU,
12 3...(n-1)

where r? is a positive integer

, ('l '! is called lhe d''*rn,,l ^"1rrenL

\r / /!(n r.)l

("\ ("\
br I
loj= -o [,J='
c) The expansion is a finite series with r+1 terms
d) Tlie powers of a are in descending order while that of D are in ascending order

c2-1
 e) The surn ofpowers ofd and 6 in each tenn is always n

f |; tler, lr"orgeneral le.m is

'
/,, -l
t',
o 'b -"t.a h

g) To cxpand (o - b)" , replace b with ( b) in the binomial expansion (a + b)".

Example 1: Do It Yourself (Tutorial 2, Ola and Olb)r

W.ite down the expansions in ascending powers ofr ofthe lollowing:

4
(a, l2J.\' .Jrl (bl r2r' 1,, (c) (t 2r rr ,
\ vr,,lt A
Sohltion:
r)l
(c) [1 + 3n2 ]13 t a

: l! li,),ll)r-r1l i ralr , (,)1 I (lY, -)r)r

?( )(l,trl: .r.' ,
:l+9r2 6ir + 3(9r.4 12rr + 4,x1
+ (3rT + 3(3r'?)1 2') + 3(311( 2r)'? + (-,2r):r

r.l",, :l +91 - 36-rl + 2'lx4 - 54x5 + 21x6

- 6-,.
l
DY
l(./. + 1)x. -tri t l6y'
+,Lj
[ 1r 3.,' -1' 1r
:1 6x +21? 44x3 + 63;ra 54x5 + 27)t6

l.l Expansion ofBinomial & Fintling Coefficient ofTerm by Expansion

Worked Example 1:
Find the coefficient of rc '?in the expansion of (l+ zr)s.

Solufion:

t''r
General Term lbr (j.-)',. ( I ) tr't o1 ' =sc,(,-t)s '(z')(')'

Since we are looking for coefficient of .r ? in the expansion,

id ().ih] ts ?.!1,, : i).1tr),, . i1l )"\lr 1r1) ,(1h4 rr.1,
'(1)'r,)'r+r
' q6.rj . )t{,rr ' 116.13.

{) (r'*' i)5 . (r)rl{ lillr,q"( + (1)br,),1-i)'

' r]) r:r'l'{i), r1l'
: ?Ir'' (-Iq.X') + li.x' + -,+"x) t
 (1r;r-r111'= 1-r

F+r +r - _-t

)r =(

oc,1z'; eq) /ri l'r f.,ff . u.. (5{)'-'{-J,),

= 44s

The coetficient is 448.

- '.. l+)' i1,) r', y,11.1r1

rl , r,
Example 2: Do lt Yourself (Turorial 2. 02):
' 1 ld-?"' '1
Find thc coefficient of-,rr2 in the expans'on of 1\ 2',t: l.: l

- ?4.", )t. . D(,, ti).i-tl,

Ea:rmple 3: Do It Yourself (Tutorial 2. O3)i ' Lt uLn

Frnd rhe reoD indepen,lenl ol \ ln the expsnsron ol (2,( ' ,l '

2x'
( x,

n lt^.rt !- c q t + at. <u v.

2. Biromial Expansion of (a+r)",zeR\Z.uloi | <<L-4 <tl rrn -o6liivr rr4l nErnt,J
, v..p, 1!4
h ]?4{g6
To expand (a +x)',n e 1R \ Z. u {0} , we consider the expansion o1':

n\n-l) / n\n l){,? 2) I n\n l)ln 2)\...)\n - r - l)

.y' 1..,
2: J: rl -
(ProofofBinomial Series v,ill be cotiered under Maclaurin's Series)

,12 lr.t{ r"r. , r5r, L)\)5'(.-1.

. \ 1, ,'r" x',, ( j), ()(.1.

\'5 . (] -l' . I.

{ r rr :-
4t ' 5
C2-3 r.q
r-h .:,...,.i _;'r' '5rq ;" 1i]s
_ :11 ,!,.
Note:

r) Ilr? r" nor a posrtivc int<ger. Jo 4!l uritc 'f .,rfu)rir'tlrrrrparNi0n.

' t'/
b) The rumber of tems in the above expansion is infinitc.

c) The term with x'isgivenby 7,., =

d) The expansion of (1 + r)" is valicl only for:r such that lrl < 1 .

For example:
| l.
rl r 2rr"is\alrd lor 2r -1.
'2) - -, -
{l .1\}'rs v,ilrd lor r J.\ l.- 1 ,. L
-l -l
Within this range, the inlinite series !!!!glge! to a finite limit.

e) To cxpand (l -x)",r e llt \ Z. u {0}, replace x by ( r).

f) There are two possible ways to expand (l + r)", n e R \ Z. u {0}

(i) Expansion in ascending powers of.r
(ii) Expansion in descending powers of -r

2.1 Expansion of (a + ':r)', n e lR \ Z ' w {0} in ascending porvers of x

To expand (a + l.)'', r e IR \ Z. u {0} in ascending powers of .!, convert to

un 1 + !1' and expand(t +l)' as follows:

n(n t')(n 2)(...)(n r +\t

(a+x), =a"(t+!t ="ur,[;).91 (;)'r ,
rl 0"
r.1d
.r
Nole lhcl the expansion of 1t r
a rs valrd onry
' rorll]
lol
,111. 1r1.

Note:
Since,
.
1t + r1' - l a or a'(n:
l)
rt n ntn lrn 2\ nln lrn 2\...tln r -ll ,
rl

_. .2
t+xf . t-nl'l*''' "[* l l-...-
n(n - t)(n - 2)(...)(n r+ l)
u \a) 2! \o) rl

c2-4
Sonle commonly encountercd expansions can be found in worked exanpie 2.

Worked Example 2:
Expand each.ofthe following as a series of ascending powers of.r, up to and including
the lerm in jr', simplilying lhe coefficients.

(a) (l+x)t, (b) (1 :r)-',

(c) (l +.r)-'?, (d) (l-;)-'?, wherelrl< I

Solution:
(a) (l+x)l
,21
!i$i^ .iii, r4r.r{ { (a.l E rh}ir'il* Rris <ci\.OK, ! a finik linrl

rl ,r r.r" + ., ('r'l9rqf
(b)
Sr.rf + ...
\,
=l+-r+-,r2+rl+...
4DEldiU /hrt6 &.rnqlq..

Altematively, ftom (a) (l+jr)r=1 ,r+t2 rl+....if we..ntu".. bv@, *"

get /
4nlSig l(,',+ tl

[r-( 4l '-r { .)-(-,)--(-,) *...

=1+"+"2+13+... wherelxl<1

.
-.r}-" -tl /-r I /-
. t-t(J)ttrl
'|l- (r3)
{c) (r I .x, i -f,fl{
+ ..

=1 2x+ix2 4x3 +... wherelxl.l

(d) (1 r)-' : I +\r + t+) iD 1 t'$fl'*' * "

=l+2x +3x2 + 4x3 +... wherelxl<l

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 ( l-J.') i
Find the first four terms in the expansion, in ascending powers of x, of the following
functions. State in each case the set ofvalues ofr for which the expansion is valid.
!2 I
(a) (l 4-x)', (b) (8+3')3, (c) (4 + r2)-t,
-4.,.. <4 -S <" <* 1{ r (I -t tr <{
Solution:

(c) (4+x2)
r. r *t/
l:911r TJ
(-,1(j( 9 rrF
: \ll +$)' ry(+r .'
--t-r- \'{/ r
=] tr {"+fr'a-#"u* l

: l-16x2 +fixa #'u t v'laJ'U = -1 (L (r

td I vql$t: {/ €lR: -r{r(r}
Note, condition for the expression to be valid:
?

"r r, ' 3,ir V

?

1)1)
. rrt r' 't{rr) . ,.1P
tnf I
(il( {(-j) (i,,1 I
. iI r+\1 -r' .a]r' 1

qr, t jt'
= tl 'lr

c2-6
2.2 Expansion of (a+.x)',ze )R\2. u {0} descending powers ofr

To expand (a + r.)' in descending powen ofr, convert to

g)"
0.)'(l + and

expand (1 + 1)' as follows:

ta+r1'=1"1'1119Y
a nrn-tt
1a1) ntn t n 7^..rn t,tt la l'
''L ,lL.,r
-r,r,lr 1
2, t.^) ,! ',,
I

Note that the expansion of (1 + 1)t is valid only for x such that lgl . r= Irl , lrl.
I'l

Worked Example 3:
Find the fi$t three terms in the series expansion of i2y 1;1, in
a) ascending powers ofrc, and
b) descending powers ofr, stating the set ofvalues ofr for which each expansion
is valid-

Solution:
(a) Ascending powers ofx:
1
(2x l)3 Change into the form:
(1+ r)"

) 4^
= -1 +i r+-x' +
39
The expansion is valid for: Ffyl ( |

rt (+
( t ll
xe lR: - <"x < - i
'
Theexpansionis valid lor:l
t 2 2)

c2-'1
(b) Descending powers of,t:

(2r-l)+: Ih(l - dni Change into the fom:

n)'
: r>1r 1r_ tr1r (1+

.l ' *-'--:t
:rz"r,;r_ (l)( l)r r \2
-lI
;J
=,r",1f, b).
I
l- 16r.
1* Il
=,;1,+
|
+, 16.r:
6r
+. I
I

The expansion is valid for: t

I --L,
rll (

i*,t (l

t(lrl
rro *

rr* * r <-t

{rero, r 7
-l
- r<-*i
3- Applications of Binomial Expansion
worked Examplc,{;
Find the coeficient ofthe i' term in the expansion (4 r)-r, in ascending powers of

Solution:

(4-") '

:(!)'0-l)' .-** sinp I n(n -1)(n 2X....)(n r +l) {)'

l*1., rl 4)

- + (-l){-!lJI.. -* /-rrr
.1-;1-,t.{/
_+ (rlrii{r).. i4 r_,} r /-!l r
' r! \'/ \ tl/
= U fr ,r' {-,1' (+J'(r)'
- [+)r1, (-r]1. N,
: (+)r+' x. A

' t'''' -
'
- \',.r-[1]'
''"-[oJ ' Thus.rhecoemcrenrolthe
,4]
Worked Example 5:

E p-a
' ./!1?t as a series of ascending powers ofrc up to and including the tenn in
\/l x
12, stating the set ofvalues of,r for which the expansion is valid. By puttiog
"
=a in

your result, show that J5 is approximately equal to ?I2 .

c2-9
Solution
L,r-
,/-= (l'r:1{ 11-v1-{
v r--r

(NE) (')'*
=I
,,. , l;ll ;l
Lr ,,r,. 2xl
l,.rr,,/- ]"['.[-;),-n.
=(t*'-j"2*... )(r.j,.fl *...
)

=l+ ]', + l12 +...

*+lr2 +...

i",...
= r+]',.+fx2

Altemativel y

(, *, _!,.* )l., *.1.*.1,., *

[ 2 ]\2 8

=t+rl) + r x+r l+l

))
r],.,'*...
I

-t+1"+1-r'
28

The expansion is valid for

{r alq: -{rr {}

c2-10
Thus expansion is valid for lrc | < j.

whenr=*. tJi

Using the expansion,

i.t' = t* {(+l - 1,*,'

f"ls _
- 1!
,-
_"
6-tlq
lT* *

Worked Example 6:
Prove that, ifr is so small that terms in x3 and higher powers may be neglected, then

, l-r ,')-l-.r+lr'.
I I I x,] r '- !
\ -
Bq l\rlh1l t<6
avsrritable valrre of. .h.,* rhor J7 . ;-81
128

Solution:
I
/ r -\l
l+'
\ l+rl
= (r-rtlt (t_ ta

c2-11
 I ,1,, j+ - ll, l, I'1"
rr'L-
"'-| I
\ ,,1,
:1'
; ;. )('-;.,. )
| 1 2 -1 \
:l II]T]T.YJJ
I -- + + +
l. 22 4 8 8 )
-1 x+ 1;21showny

By putting -r = { ,
( ,,i)* ' B)+ =q * I- * * *F)'
.: fi = r -j n +(+)'t = {^t?
t)d
t
85 puur r ={ ta
i, r-t -L
'-]: 1r_
r,+l - l-; . *(i)' -' - -'u'
.JuU-

Worked Example 7: J: : ".tq4qit + Jl - I.(rre

1-rl
Ci\enlhal l(x)--+ .e\prcls l{\)inparlial fiactions.

l
Hence, expand f(.r) in descending powers ofr as far as the term in r and state also
the range ofvalues ofr for which the expansion is valid.

Solution:
3(+l 1.,. rl A B
""' 2^, ."-t (2r+t)(.r-t) (2x rl)'(r l)

Using Cover-Up method,

t
1)*' d ln) I-4
wlren.r -- . n --\-])-- --l and when *- r. B-
Z t , 3 2(t),t J
2

f(x) =
3r+l 1

;t -,-1= 3(r,+i)+ 3(' i)

tltA
ToexDandf{rl +- lt2x+lr +'{r-l)'
.t(2x r l) l(x lJ I l'

c2-12
For descending porvcr of r,

r I r ( t ) ... 4[I r,r' lr... ]

',,,
2.r 2, 1,1 ,.,, l
ll1 +-+
= u!
ll\j 14'r
411
++++...
3r l-rl l.' l
I 5 ll ,
LlLl\l
218
Thi.',prt..i,,rr i. r r'r,l 1.'r:

. l) I

'lirking thc intcrscction ofthcsc conditions, the expansion is valicl fbr

-r< I or -r>l

cr 1l
 APPendix A

Delinition of Factorial
(aJ r factoricl. denotcd by /! . is the product ofall the lg[ggqg from r clown to 1.

rt= r(r 1)(r 2) (3X2Xl)

Eg. 6l=6 5 4.3 ) 1=120

By delinition,
. 0! =l
r 1!:1
. (r+1)! : \.2.3...n(n+1)= l(n+l)

(b) For non-negative integers l? and r, such that /? > /,

,C, n(n -l\(n 2)(n 3)(.......Xr?-r+1)

(:) rl

3X.......Xlr /+1)[(lr /X....X1)]

_ "(r-lxr-2X" rrf(n r)(..)(r)l
nl
rl(n-r)l

(c) Use ol calcutalor lo d.r.r.,n. ,t ur,a ['l

\,./
Take nole lhat the value ofz! u.a f'l "- be obtained by using rhe lr!l and l"c. I
lr,l
function keys on the calculator when r and / ate non-negative integers.

c2-t4
 Appendix B

Properties of Modulus Punctiou

llxample
(at . l. ifr 0 . l5l=5
'l=l
' | , ifr-0
' l-s:-(-s)=5
(Also known as absolute ralue of -v)
. 0l=0

(b) -rl > 0 VJ. € 1lt (ftrr all real values ofr)

@ a.bl =l.,l.)h p.2l= pl]2 = 16 =6

l(-3p =Fllrl=16l=6

l,l i, b . bi=lq=c=,
(d)
Irl-T-ljl l3l lr 3 -
.t+t ?:,
1e.t l-tl<te t<:r<ft whcre kisa lrl<te t<'<t
positive constant.

(f) x>kc>x>k or r< t wheretisa . lxl>1er>1orx< 1

positive constant.

(g) Graph of lx
v=l'l

c2-t5
 Appendix C

Pascal Triangle

Coemcients

(r+ v)' x+y

(t + v)t r'+2ry+)'

(" + -y)' 'r + 3?y + 3,1 + ,'

(x + y)o 'o + aly + 6iy2 + 4*yt + yo

. The rows of Pascal Triangle can be used to obtain the coefficients ofthe binomial
expansion.

. Properties ofPascal Triargle:

a) Each row begins and €nds with I'
b) Each number of a given row can be obtained by adding the two adjacent terms
in the preceding row

c2-16
My lr,lotes:
hll4} l*l lxr h.r,r\ )

Bqri. ?..Qer.lic.r.
I=-l
I. lrl ()
t -I(L{1.

I |(l 7 !

r( 1 1 (-r .

3t lll(3
lrr ({
) -{ (x ((

it lrl rrr k
l*t <,,
? wq r.lt! s9t,

{ <rxt hl
7 rr t {

;;J hl (\
.> l-rt. txt (r
r lrt 11
r -: (t(\.
{i') *.q
*'I <t /
&r'n- il4 1 ir -vc. h,JH rulii4.

v) )(t < r+

-l{r (l
F(h< I
(t*H' llJl)r
(t*t)' -- t-f + (1]!{
trr +

.t-t-+.
( t*1) i : t-I+ {9}
r! r!.'
: | -t +ar i...

(l- * ., t)( r -r' q") l-r+r. -t +$ 1-

laa t +r.
I -+r