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Binomial

The binomial theorem states that (x+y)n can be expressed as the sum of terms involving binomial coefficients. It provides a formula to write any power of the sum of two variables as a polynomial. The number of terms is always one more than the power n. Some key properties are that the sum of the exponents is always n, and coefficients equidistant from the start and end are equal. The middle term depends on whether n is even or odd. The binomial theorem is useful for solving many algebraic problems.

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68 views

Binomial

The binomial theorem states that (x+y)n can be expressed as the sum of terms involving binomial coefficients. It provides a formula to write any power of the sum of two variables as a polynomial. The number of terms is always one more than the power n. Some key properties are that the sum of the exponents is always n, and coefficients equidistant from the start and end are equal. The middle term depends on whether n is even or odd. The binomial theorem is useful for solving many algebraic problems.

Uploaded by

bharath
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Binomial Theorem

If x, y R and n N, then the binomial theorem states that


(x+y)n = nC0xn + nC1 xn-1y+ nC2 xn-2 y2 + .. + nCrxn-r yr + .. + nCnyn
which can be written as nCrxn-ryr. This is also called as the binomial
theorem formula which is used for solving many problems.
Some chief properties of binomial expansion of the term (x+y)n:

1.

The number of terms in the expansion is (n+1) i.e. it is one more than the index.

2.

The sum of indices of x and y is always n.

3.

The binomial coefficients of the terms which are equidistant from the starting and the end are
always equal. The simple reason behind this is
C(n, r) = C(n, n-r) which gives C(n, n) C(n, 1) = C(n, n1) C(n, 2) = C(n, n-2).
Such an expansion always follows a simple rule which is:

1.

The subscript of C i.e. the lower suffix of C is always equal to the index of y.

2.

Index of x = n (lower suffix of C).


The (r +1)thterm in the expansion of expression (x+y) n is called the general term and is given

by Tr+1 = nCrxn-ryr
The term independent of x is obviously without x and is that value of r for which the exponent

of x is zero.
The middle term of the binomial coefficient depends on thevalue of n. There can be two
different cases according to whether n is even or n is odd.
1.

If n is even, then the total number of terms are odd and in that case there is a single middle
term which is (n/2 +1)th and is given by nCn/2 an/2 xn/2.

2.

On the other hand, if n is odd, the total number of terms is even and then there are two

middle terms [(n+1)/2]thand [(n+3)/2]th which are equal to nC(n-1)/2 a(n+1)/2 x(n-1)/2 and nC(n+1)/2 a(n-1)/2 x(n+1)/2
The binomial coefficient of the middle term is the greatest binomial coefficient of the

expansion.
Some of the standard binomial theorem formulas which should be memorized are listed
below:
1.

C0 + C1 + C2 + .. + Cn= 2n

2.

C0 + C2 + C4 + .. = C1 + C3 + C5 + .= 2n-1

3.

3.

C02 + C12 + C22 + .. + Cn2 = 2nCn = (2n!)/ n!n!

4.

4.

C0Cr + C1Cr+1 + C2Cr+2+ .. + Cn-rCn=(2n!)/ (n+r)!(n-r)!

5.

Another result that is applied in binomial theorem problems is nCr + nCr-1 = n+1Cr

6.

We can also replace mC0 by m+1C0 because numerical value of both is same i.e. 1. Similarly we
can replacemCm by m+1Cm+1.

7.

Note that (2n!) = 2n. n! [1.3.5. (2n-1)]

In order to compute numerically greatest term in a binomial expansion of (1+x)n, find Tr+1 / Tr=
(n r + 1)x/r. Then put the absolute value of x and find the value of r which is consistent with the

inequality Tr+1 / Tr> 1.


If the index n is other than a positive integer such as a negative integer or fraction, then the

number of terms in the expansion of (1+x)nis infinite.


The expansions in ascending powers of x are valid only if x is small. If x is large, i.e. |x| > 1

then it is convenient to expand in powers of 1/x which is then small.


The binomial expansion for the nth degree polynomial is given by:

Following expansions should be remembered for |x| < 1:


1.

(1+x)-1 = 1 x + x2 x3 + x4 - ..

2.

(1-x)-1 = 1 + x + x2+ x3 + x4+ ..

3.

(1+x)-2 = 1 2x + 3x2 4x3 + 5x4 - ..


(1-x)-2 = 1 +2x + 3x2+4x3 + 5x4+ ..

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