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The Binomial Expansion1

The document discusses the binomial expansion formula to find the terms of (a + b)n where n is a positive integer. It explains that the expansion has coefficients that can be found using Pascal's triangle. Specifically: - The binomial expansion of (a + b)n in ascending powers is the sum of terms with coefficients from Pascal's triangle and powers of a and b such that the powers sum to n. - The formula for the r+1th term is the coefficient times arbr. - Specific terms can be found without computing the whole expansion using this formula.

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Kaness Mathz
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48 views24 pages

The Binomial Expansion1

The document discusses the binomial expansion formula to find the terms of (a + b)n where n is a positive integer. It explains that the expansion has coefficients that can be found using Pascal's triangle. Specifically: - The binomial expansion of (a + b)n in ascending powers is the sum of terms with coefficients from Pascal's triangle and powers of a and b such that the powers sum to n. - The formula for the r+1th term is the coefficient times arbr. - Specific terms can be found without computing the whole expansion using this formula.

Uploaded by

Kaness Mathz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Binomial Expansion

CURRICULUM CONTENT

The Binomial Expansion

In this presentation we will develop a formula to


enable us to find the terms of the expansion of
n

(a b )

where n is any positive integer.


We call the expansion binomial as the original
expression has 2 parts.

The Binomial Expansion


We know that

( a b ) ( a b )( a b )
2

a 2 2 ab b 2
We can write this as
2
1
a 2 ab 1

so the coefficients of the terms are 1, 2 and 1

The Binomial Expansion

( a b ) ( a b )( a b )
3

( a b )( a 2 2 ab b 2 )
1a 3 2 a 2 b 1 ab 2
2
2 1 3
1
2
a b ab b
1a

3a b 3 ab
2

The Binomial Expansion

( a b ) ( a b )( a b )
3

( a b )( a 2 2 ab b 2 )
1a 3 2 a 2 b 1 ab 2
2
2 1 3
1
2
a b ab b
1 a 3 3 a 2 b 3 ab 2 1 b 3
so the coefficients of the expansion of
are 1, 3, 3 and 1

(a b)

The Binomial Expansion


So, we now have
Expression

(a b )

(a b )

(a b )

Coefficients

1
1
1

2
3

1
3

1
4

The Binomial Expansion


So, we now have
Expression

(a b )

(a b )

(a b )

Coefficients

1
1
1

2
3

1
3

1
4

Each number in a row can be found by adding the 2


coefficients above it.

The Binomial Expansion


So, we now have
Expression

(a b )

(a b )

(a b )

Coefficients

1
1
1

2
3

1
3

1
4

Each number in a row can be found by adding the 2


coefficients above it.
The 1st and last numbers are always 1.

The Binomial Expansion


So, we now have
Expression
0

Coefficients

(a b )

(a b)1
(a b )

(a b )

(a b )

1
1
1
1

1
2

3
4

1
3

1
4

To make a triangle of coefficients, we can fill in


the obvious ones at the top.

The Binomial Expansion

The triangle of binomial coefficients is called


Pascals triangle, after the French mathematician.
Notice that the 4th row gives the coefficients of
( a b )3
. . . but its easy to know which row we want as,
for example,

( a b ) 3 starts with

1 3

(a b )

1 10 . . .

10

will start

. . .

The Binomial Expansion


Exercise

Find the coefficients in the expansion of


Solution: We need 7 rows

1
1
1
1

1
Coefficients

1
2

3
4

(a b ) 6

3
6

10

15

1
1
4
10

20

1
5

15

The Binomial Expansion


We usually want to know the complete expansion not
just the coefficients.
5
e.g. Find the expansion of

(a b )

Solution: Pascals triangle gives the coefficients

10

10

The full expansion is

1a

b 5 a b 10 a b 10 a b

5 0

4 1

3 2

2 3

ab

Tip: The powers in each term sum to 5

The Binomial Expansion


Example 1
1. Find the expansion of
powers of x.
Solution:

The coefficients are

1
So,

(1 2 x ) 5 in ascending

10

10

(1 2 x ) 5
1 5 ( 2 x ) 10( 2 x ) 2 10( 2 x ) 3 5 ( 2 x ) 4 ( 2 x ) 5

1 10 x 40 x 80 x 80 x 32 x
2

The Binomial Expansion

EXERCISE 1

The Binomial Expansion


If we want the first few terms of the expansion
of, for example, ( a b ) 20 , Pascals triangle is not
helpful.
We will now develop a method of getting the
coefficients without needing the triangle.

The Binomial Expansion


Generalizations Binomial Theorem
The binomial expansion of ( a b ) n in ascending
powers is given by

( a b)
n

n 1

n2 2

C0 a b C1 a b C2 a b . . . b
n

Specific Term of an Expansion


If only a specific term of an expansion is required,
the binomial theorem can be used to determine such a
term without computing all the rows of Pascals
triangle or all the preceding coefficients.

U r 1 Cr a
n

n r r

where r is any integer from 0 to n.

The Binomial Expansion


e.g.2 Find the first 4 terms in the expansion of
(1 x ) 18 in ascending powers of x.
Solution:

( 1 x)

C0 (1) ( x)

18 18

18

18

C 1 ( x )
18

18

C2 ( x)

C 3 ( x ) . . .
1 18 x 153 x 2 816 x 3 . . .
3

The Binomial Expansion

EXERCISE 2

The Binomial Expansion


Powers of a + b
e.g.4 Find the 5th term of the expansion of
in ascending powers of x.
Solution: The 5th term contains

It is

U r 1 C r a
n

n r r

U r 1 C4 (2) x
12

(2 x )

495 (2) x
4
126720 x
8

These numbers
will always be
the same.

12

The Binomial Expansion

EXERCISE 3

The Binomial Expansion


SUMMARY

The binomial expansion of


powers of x is given by
n

n in ascending
(a b )

(a b )
n

C 0 a n n C 1 a n 1 b n C 2 a n 2 b 2 . . . b n

The ( r + 1 ) th term is

C r a nr b r

The expansion of

(1 x) n is

(1 x ) n n C 0

C1 x

C2 x2 . . . xn

The Binomial Expansion


Exercise
1. Find the 1st 4 terms of the expansion of ( 2 3 x ) 8
in ascending powers of x.
Solution:
8

C 0 28

C 1 2 7 (3 x )

C 2 2 6 (3 x ) 2

C 3 2 5 (3 x ) 3

256 3072 x 16128 x 2 48384 x 3


2. Find the 6th term of the expansion of
in ascending powers of x.
Solution:

13

C 5 ( x )

1287 x 5

(1 x ) 1 3

The Binomial Expansion

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