Pure Mathematics

Binomial Expansion - 2
𝒂
When 𝒏 = , −𝒗𝒆, 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏,
𝒃

𝒏 𝒏(𝒏−𝟏) 𝟐 𝒏(𝒏−𝟏)(𝒏−𝟐) 𝟑
(𝟏 + 𝒙)𝒏 ≡ 𝟏 + 𝒙𝟏 + 𝒙 + 𝒙 + ⋯, only valid for −𝟏 < 𝒙 < 𝟏, or |𝒙| < 𝟏.
𝟏! 𝟐! 𝟑!

1. Expand the following up to first 3 terms. State the range of values of 𝑥 for which the expansion is valid
1
1 1
𝑥 4 1
(a) (1 + 5𝑥)3 (b) (1 + 5𝑥)5 (c) (1 + 2) (d) (1+3𝑥)2

1 1
3𝑥 3 𝑥 5 1
(e) (1 + 𝑝𝑥)−3 (f) (1 − ) (g) (1 − ) (h)
4 2 (1−𝑥)𝑘

1
1 1 1
𝑥 3
(i) (1 − 4𝑥) 4 (j) (1 + 3𝑥) 5 (k) (1 + ) (l) (1 + 3𝑥 2 )−2
5

1
1 3 3
(m) (n) (1 − 4 𝑥)
√1−3𝑥

2. Expand up to 𝑥 3 and state the range of values of 𝑥.

1
(a) √4 − 3𝑥 (b) (4 − 𝑥 2 )2 (c) (2 − 𝑥)−2 (d) (4 − 𝑥)−1

(e) (2 − 𝑥)−7
1
3. Write down the first 4 terms of the expansion, in ascending power of 𝑥, of simplifying each term as
(1+3𝑥)2

far as possible. State the range of values of 𝑥 for which this expansion is valid. [Jan 89/P2/Q2]
1
4. Given that (1 − 𝑎𝑥)2 ≡ 1 − 6𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 2 where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constant and 𝑥 is sufficiently small that terms in

𝑥 3 and higher powers of 𝑥 can be ignored, calculate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏. [May 97/P2/Q6]

5. Given that (1 + 𝑎𝑥)𝑛 = 1 + 18𝑥 + 135𝑥 2 +……., where 𝑎 and 𝑛 are constant, find the value of 𝑎 and the

value of 𝑛. [Jan 06/P2/Q4]

1
𝑥 4
6. (a) Expand (1 + 3
) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , giving each coefficient as

an exact fraction.
1
𝑥 −4
(b) Expand (1 − 3
) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , giving each coefficient as

an exact fraction.

(c) Write down the range of values of 𝑥 for which both of your expansions are valid.
1
3+𝑥 4
(d) Expand (3−𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 2 , giving each coefficient as

FAISAL MIZAN 1
 Pure Mathematics

an exact fraction.
1
0.6 3+𝑥 4
(e) Hence obtain an estimate, to 3 significant figures, of ∫0 (3−𝑥) 𝑑𝑥. [May 15/P1/Q7]

1
2𝑥 2
7. (a) Expand (1 + 5
) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , giving each coefficient

as an exact fraction in its lowest terms.

1
2𝑥 −2
(b) Expand (1 − ) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , giving each coefficient as
5

an exact fraction in its lowest terms.

(c) Write down the range of values of 𝑥 for which both of your expansions are valid.
1
5+2𝑥 2
(d) Expand (5−2𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 2 , giving each coefficient as an

exact fraction in its lowest terms.

1
0.3 5+2𝑥 2
(e) Hence use algebraic integration to obtain an estimate of ∫0.1 (5−2𝑥) d𝑥. Give your answer to

4 significant figures. [May 18/P2/Q7]

1
3𝑥 3
8. (a) Expand (1 − 4
) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , simplifying your terms

as far as possible.
1
3𝑥 −3
(b) Expand (1 + 4
) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , simplifying your terms as

far as possible.

(c) Write down the range of values of 𝑥 for which both of expansions are valid.
1
4−3𝑥 3
(d) Expand (4+3𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , simplifying your terms as far

as possible.
1
0.5 4−3𝑥 3
(e) Hence, obtain an estimate, to 3 significant figures, of ∫0 ( ) [May 11/P2/Q9]
4+3𝑥

9. (a) Expand, in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , simplifying each term as far as

possible:

(i) (1 + 𝑥)−1 ,

(ii) (1 − 2𝑥)−1.

FAISAL MIZAN 2
 Pure Mathematics

2 1 𝐴𝑥+𝐵
Given that 1−2𝑥 + 1+𝑥 = (1−2𝑥)(1+𝑥).

(b) find the value of 𝐴 and the value of 𝐵.

1
(c) (i) Obtain a series expansion for (1−2𝑥)(1+𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 2

(ii) State the range of values of 𝑥 for which this expansion is valid.
0.2 1
(d) Use your series expansion from part (c) to obtain an estimate, to 3 decimal places, of ∫0.1 (1−2𝑥)(1+𝑥)
𝑑𝑥.

[May 13/P2/Q9]
1 1 3𝑥 1
10. (a) Show that 1−𝑥 − 1+2𝑥 = 1+𝑥−2𝑥 , 𝑥 ≠ 1, 𝑥 ≠ − 2

(b) Expand (1 − 𝑥)−1 and (1 + 2𝑥)−1 in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 .

State, in each case, the set of values of 𝑥 for which the expansion is valid.
1
(c) Use the results in (a) and (b) to obtain the expansion of in ascending power of 𝑥 up to and
1+𝑥−2𝑥 2

including the term in 𝑥 2 . State the set of values of 𝑥 for which the expansion is valid.
0.1 1
(d) Use the result in (c) to find the value, to 2 decimal places, of ∫1 𝑑𝑥 . [May 87/P2/Q13]
1+𝑥−2𝑥 2

1
1
10. Given that can be written as 𝑝(1 − 𝑞𝑥)−2 .
√4−𝑥

(a) find the value of 𝑝 and the value of 𝑞.

1
(b) (i) Find the first four terms in the expansion of 4−𝑥
in ascending powers of 𝑥, simplifying each term.
√

(ii) State the range of values of 𝑥 for which this expansion is valid.
2(1+𝑥)
Given that the first three terms of the expansion of are 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 2
√4−𝑥

(c) find the exact value of: (i) 𝑎, (ii) 𝑏, (iii) 𝑐 [Jan 16/P1/Q5]

𝑥 −3
12. (a) (i) Expand (1 + 2) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 3 , expressing each

coefficient as an exact fraction in its lowest terms.

(ii) Find the range of values for which your expression is valid.

(b) Express (2 + 𝑥)−3 in the form 𝐴(1 + 𝐵𝑥)−3 where 𝐴 and 𝐵 are rational numbers whose values should be

stated.

(1 + 4𝑥)
f(𝑥) =
(2 + 𝑥)3

(c) Obtain a series expansion for f(𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 2 .

FAISAL MIZAN 3
 Pure Mathematics

0.2 (1+4𝑥)
(d) Hence obtain an estimate, to 3 significant figures, of ∫0 (2+𝑥)3
𝑑𝑥. [Jan 17/P1/Q8]

1
13. (a) Expand (1 − 4𝑥 2 )−2 in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 6 , giving each

coefficient as an integer.

(b) Write down the range of values of 𝑥 for which your expansion is valid.
3+𝑥
(c) Expand in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 4 , giving each coefficient as
√(1−4𝑥 2 )

an integer.
0.3 3+𝑥
(d) Hence, use algebraic integration to obtain an estimate, to 3 significant figures, of ∫0 d𝑥 .
√(1−4𝑥 2 )

[Jan 18/P1/Q7]
1
14. (a) Expand (1 + 2𝑥 2 )−3 in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 6 , expressing each

coefficient as an exact fraction in its lowest terms.

(b) State the range of values of 𝑥 for which your expansion is valid.
(2+𝑘𝑥 2 )
(c) f(𝑥) = 1 , where 𝑘 ≠ 0. Obtain a series expansion for f(𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and
(1+2𝑥 2 )3

including the terms in 𝑥 6 . Given each coefficient in terms of 𝑘 where appropriate.

Given that the coefficient of 𝑥 4 in the series expansion of f(𝑥) is zero.

(d) Find the value of 𝑘.

0.5
(e) Hence use algebraic integration to obtain an estimate, to 4 decimal place, of ∫0 f(𝑥) d𝑥.

[May 19/P1/Q10]
1
15. (a) Expand (1 + 4𝑥 2 )−5 in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 6 , expressing each

coefficient as an exact fraction in its lowest terms.

(b) Find the range of values of 𝑥 for which your expansion is valid.
(1+𝑘𝑥)
f(𝑥) = 1 where 𝑘 ≠ 0.
(1+4𝑥 2 )5

(c) Obtain a series expansion for f(𝑥) in ascending powers of 𝑥 up to and including the term in 𝑥 5 .

(d) Given that the coefficients of 𝑥 2 and 𝑥 5 in the expansion of f(𝑥) are equal, find the value of 𝑘.

[May 14/P1/Q6]

FAISAL MIZAN 4
 Pure Mathematics

Answers:
5 25 2 1 1 1 1 1 3
[1] (a) 1 + 3 𝑥 − 9
𝑥 , − 5 < 𝑥 < 5, (b) 1 + 𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 , − 5 < 𝑥 < 5, (c) 1 + 8 𝑥 − 128 𝑥 2 , −2 < 𝑥 < 2,

1 1 1 1 1 1 5
(d) 1 − 6𝑥 + 27𝑥 2 , − 3 < 𝑥 < 3, (e) 1 − 3𝑝𝑥 + 6𝑝2 𝑥 2, − 𝑝 < 𝑥 < 𝑝, (f) 1 − 4 𝑥 − 16 𝑥 2 − 192 𝑥 3 ,

4 4 1 1 3 𝑘(𝑘+1) 2
− 3 < 𝑥 < 3, (g) 1 − 10 𝑥 − 50 𝑥 2 − 500 𝑥 3 , −2 < 𝑥 < 2, (h) 1 + 𝑘𝑥 + 2
𝑥 , −1 < 𝑥 < 1,

3 1 1 3 18 1 1 1 1
(i) 1 − 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 2 , − 4 < 𝑥 < 4, (j) 1 + 5 𝑥 − 25 𝑥 2 , − 3 < 𝑥 < 3, (k) 1 + 15 𝑥 − 225 𝑥 2 , −5 < 𝑥 < 5,
3 27 4 1 1 3 27 2 1 1 1 1 2 4 4
(l) 1 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 , − <𝑥< , (m) 1 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 , − < 𝑥 < , (n) 1 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 , − <𝑥< ,
2 8 √3 √3 2 8 3 3 4 16 3 3

3 9 27 3 4 4 𝑥2 𝑥4 𝑥6 1 1 1 1
[2] (a) 2 − 4 𝑥 − 64 𝑥 2 − 8
𝑥 , − 3 < 𝑥 < 3, (b) 2 + 4
− 64 + 512, −2 < 𝑥 < 2, (c) 2 + 4 𝑥 + 8 𝑥 2 + 16 𝑥 3 ,
1 1 1 1 7 7
−2 < 𝑥 < 2, (d) 92 − 4 𝑥 − 64 𝑥 2 − 512 𝑥 3 , −4 < 𝑥 < 4, (e) 128 + 256 𝑥 + 128 𝑥 2 , −2 < 𝑥 < 2,

1 1 𝑥 𝑥2
[3] 1 − 6𝑥 + 27𝑥 2 − 108𝑥 3 , − 3 < 𝑥 < 3, [4] (a) 𝑎 = 12, 𝑏 = −18, [5] 𝑎 = 3, 𝑛 = 6, [6] (a) 1 + 12 − 96 +

7 𝑥 5 5 𝑥 𝑥2 𝑥 𝑥2 𝑥3
𝑥 3, (b) 1 + + 𝑥2 + 𝑥 3, (c) |𝑥| < 3, (d) 1 + + , (e) 0.631, [7] (a) 1 + − + …,
3456 12 288 1152 6 72 5 50 250

𝑥 3𝑥 2 𝑥3 5 5 2𝑥 2𝑥 2 1 1 2 5
(b) 1 + + + , (c) − ≤ 𝑥 ≤ , (d) 1 + + + ⋯, (e) 0.2167, [8] (a) 1 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 3,
5 50 50 2 2 5 25 4 16 192

1 1 7 4 4 1 1 11
(b) 1 − 4 𝑥 + 8 𝑥 2 − 96 𝑥 3 , (c) − 3 < 𝑥 < 3, (d) 1 − 2 𝑥 + 8 𝑥 2 − 96 𝑥 3 , (e) 0.441, [9] (a) (i) 1 − 𝑥+2 − 𝑥 3 …,

1
(ii) 1 + 2𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 3 …, (b) 𝐴 = 0, 𝐵 = 3, (c) (i) 1 + 𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 … ,(ii) |𝑥| < 2, (d) 0.122, [10] (b) 1 + 𝑥 +

1 1 1 1
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 , −1 < 𝑥 < 1, 1 − 2𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 3 , − < 𝑥 < (c) 1 − 𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 , − < 𝑥 < , (d) 0.10,
2 2 2 2

1 1 1 𝑥 3𝑥 2 5𝑥 3 9 19
[11] (a) 𝑝 = 2, 𝑞 = 4, (b) (i) 2 + 16 + 256 + 2048, (ii) −4 < 𝑥 < 4 or |𝑥| < 4, (c) (i) 1, (ii) 8, (iii) 128,

3𝑥 3𝑥 2 5𝑥 3 1 1 1 5𝑥 9𝑥 2
[12] (a) (i) 1 − 2
+ 2
− 4
, (ii) −2 < 𝑥 < 2, (b) 𝐴 = 8, 𝐵 = 2, (c) 8 + 16 − 16
…, (d) 0.0298,
1 1 1
[13] (a) 1 + 2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 4 + 20𝑥 6 + ⋯, (b) − 2 < 𝑥 < 2 or |𝑥| < 2, (c) 3 + 𝑥 + 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 3 + 18𝑥 4 , (d) 1.01,

2𝑥 2 8𝑥 4 112𝑥 6 1 1 1 4 16 2𝑘
[14] (a) 1 − 3
+ 9
− 81
, (b) − <𝑥< or |𝑥| < , (c) 2 + (𝑘 − 3) 𝑥 2 + ( 9 − ) 𝑥4 +
√2 √2 √2 3

8𝑘 244 8 4 48 704 1 1 1
(9 − 81
) 𝑥 6, (d) 3, (e) 1.0551, [15] (a) 1 − 5 𝑥 2 + 25 𝑥 4 − 125 𝑥 6 , (b) − 2 < 𝑥 < 2 or |𝑥| < 2, (c) 1 + 𝑘𝑥 −

4 2 4𝑘 3 48 48𝑘 5 5
5
𝑥 − 5
𝑥 + 25 𝑥 4 + 25
𝑥 , (d) − 12,

FAISAL MIZAN 5