9. BINOMIAL THEOREM.

CONTENT. COMMENTS
WEEK 1 Objectives.
24th May The learners should be able to:-
TO Know how to generate Pascal’s triangle.
th
30 May. Use Pascal’s triangle to expand binomial expressions.
Generate binomial theorem.
Use binomial theorem for positive integral index and use to find
approximate values.
Find particular terms of a binomial expansion.
Use binomial theorem for any rational index and use to find approximate
values.
Key terms:-Binomial, coefficients, Pascal’s triangle, expansion in ascending
/descending powers, particular term, Approximate values.
9.1 Pascal’s triangle and expansion.
Pascal’s triangle is made up of certain numbers arranged in a triangular
array following the rule ‘a number in a line across the page is the sum of
the two numbers on either side of it in the previous line.’

1 The learners
1 1 should generate
1 2 1 the last two
1 3 3 1 lines.
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
etc

In expansions of two-term(binomial) expression, the brackets are opened in

the usual way.
For example
( x + y) 0 = 1
( x + y )1 = x + y
( x + y ) 2 = ( x + y )( x + y ) = x 2 + 2 xy + y 2
( x + y) 3 = ( x + y)( x + y)( x + y) = x 3 + 3x 2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3 etc.

Binomial Expanded form Coefficients

form.
( x + y)0 1 1
( x + y )1 x+ y 1, 1
( x + y) 2 x 2 + 2 xy + y 2 1, 2, 1
( x + y )3 x 3 + 3x 2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3 1, 3, 3, 1
( x + y) 4 x 4 + 4 x 3 y + 6 x 2 y 2 + 4 xy 3 + y 4 1, 4, 6, 4, 1

The extracted coefficients are arranged in Pascal’s triangle.

Expansions can therefore be simplified by using Pascal’s triangle while
noting the following.
1- Total power in every term of the expanded form is equal to the
power on the binomial form.

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 2- The power on the leading term of the binomial decreases from the
binomial power to zero.
3- The power on the second term of the binomial increases from zero
to the power on the binomial.
4- The coefficients are from a selected row in Pascal’s triangle.

Example 1. Use Pascal’s triangle to expand (x +2y)5.

The power is 5 therefore, coefficients are 1, 5, 10, 10, 5 and 1. ……(1)

5 4 3 2 2 3 4 5
The terms are x , x (2 y ), x (2 y ) , x (2 y ) , x(2 y ) and.(2 y ) ……(2)
Combining (1) and (2),
= (1) x 5 + (5) x 4 (2 y) + (10) x 3 (2 y) 2 + (10) x 2 (2 y) 3 + (5) x(2 y) 4 + (1)(2 y) 5
 ( x + 2 y) 5 = x 5 + 10 x 4 y + 40 x 3 y 2 + 80 x 2 y 3 + 80 xy 4 + 32 y 5

Example 2.
(a)Use Pascal’s triangle to expand (2x – y)4 in ascending powers of y.
(b)Hence, find the approximate value of 1.984to 4 decimal places.

(a)
(Ascending powers of y means increasing powers of y from left to right.)
The power is 4. Therefore, the coefficients are 1, 4, 6, 4 and 1
(2 x − y ) 4
= (1)(2 x) 4 + (4)(2 x) 3 (− y ) + (6)(2 x) 2 (− y) 2 + (4)(2 x)1 (− y ) 3 + (1)(− y) 4
 (2 x − y) 4 = 16 x 4 − 32 x 3 y + 24 x 2 y 2 − 8 xy 3 + y 4
(b)
Comparing (2 x − y ) 4 to 1.984 1.98 = 2 – 0.02 = 2(1) – 0.02
x = 1 y = 0.02
1.98 4 = 16(1) 4 − 32(1) 3 (0.02) + 24(1) 2 (0.02) 2 − 8(1)(0.02) 3 + (0.02) 4
= 16 − 0.64 + 0.0096 − 0.000064 + 0.00000016
= 15.369536 (for convenience, the last two figures may be ignored).
≈ 15. 3695( to 4 d.p.)
The disadvantages of using Pascal’s triangle are that it:-
(i) is tedious for larger powers.
(ii) does not work for rational powers.
9.2 Binomial theorem for positive integral powers.
(a) Binomial expansion.
Consider the expansion of ( x + y ) 3 .
( x + y ) 3 = ( x + y )( x + y)( x + y) .
After multiplying x, the y(‘s) are selected from any of the three brackets.
Term Number of Complete
involving Ways of forming the term. ways of term.
selecting y.
x 3 3 x’s from the three brackets and 3
C0 = 1 3
C0 x 3 y 0
no y from the three brackets.
2
x y 2 x’s from two brackets and one y 3C = 3 3
C1 x 2 y
1
from any of the three brackets.
xy 2 An x from any bracket and two 3
C2 = 3 3
C 2 xy 2
y’s from any two of the three
brackets.

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 y3 No x and 3 y’s from the three 3
C3 = 1 3
C3 x 0 y 3
brackets.
 ( x + y) 3 = 3C0 x 3 y 0 + 3C1 x 2 y + 3C2 xy 2 + 3C3 x 0 y 3 ( a binomial expansion)
= (1) x 3 + (3) x 2 y + (3) xy 2 + (1) y 3
= x 3 + 3x 2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3

For ( x + y) 4 = ( x + y)( x + y)( x + y)( x + y)

After multiplying x, the y(‘s) are selected from any of the four brackets.
Term Number of Complete
involving Ways of forming the term. ways of term.
selecting y.
x 4 4 x’s from the four brackets and 4
C0 = 1 4
C0 x 4 y 0
no y from the four brackets.
3
x y 3 x’s from three brackets and one 4
C1 = 4 4
C1 x 3 y 1
y from any of the four brackets.
2 2
x y 2 x’s from two brackets and two 4
C2 = 6 4
C2 x 2 y 2
y’s from two of the four brackets.
xy 3 An x from any bracket and three 4
C3 = 4 4
C3 x 1 y 3
y’s from three of the four
brackets.
y 4 No x and four y’s from the four 4
C4 = 1 4
C4 x 0 y 4
brackets.

 ( x + y) 4 = 4C0 x 4 y 0 + 4C1 x 3 y1 + 4C2 x 2 y 2 + 4C3 x1 y 3 + 4C4 x 0 y 4

= (1) x 4 + (4) x 3 y + (6) x 2 y 2 + (4) xy 3 + (1) y 4
= x 4 + 4 x 3 y + 6 x 2 y 2 + 4 xy 3 + y 4
These two expansions lead to the binomial theorem.
Therefore,
(i) ( x + y) n = n C0 x n + nC1 x n−1 y1 + nC2 x n−2 y 2 + ...+ nCn y n
Or
(ii)
n n(n − 1) n−2 2 n(n − 1)(n − 2) n−3 3
( x + y) n = x n + x n−1 y1 + x y + x y + . + yn
1! 2! 3!
This is the binomial expansion of (x + y)n where n is a positive integer.
…..F 9.1

Example 3. Expand (2 +3x)4 completely using binomial theorem.

(2 +3x)4
= 4C0  2 4 + 4C1  23 (3x)+ 4C2  2 2 (3x) 2 + 4C3  21 (3x) 3 + 4C4  20 (3x) 4
= 1 2 4 + 4  2 3 (3x) + 6  2 2 (3x) 2 + 4  21 (3x) 3 + 1 2 0 (3x) 4
= 16 + 96 x + 216 x 2 + 216 x 3 + 81x 4

Example 4.
(a) Find the binomial expansion of (2 + x)7 in ascending powers of x
up to the term in x4.
(b) Hence, find the approximate value of (1.8)7 to 3 decimal places.

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 (a) (2 + x) 7
7 7  6 5 2 7  6 5 4 3 7  6 5 4 3 4
= 2 7 + 2 6 ( x) + 2 ( x) + 2 ( x) + 2 ( x) + ...
1! 2! 3! 4!
= 128 + 448 x + 672 x 2 + 560 x 3 + 280 x 4 + ...

(b) 2 + x = 1.8 x = - 0.2

(1.8)  128 + 448(−0.2) + 672(−0.2) 2 + 560(−0.2) 3 + 2800 (−0.2) 4 + ......
7

= 128 − 89.6 + 26.88 − 4.48 + 0.448 +…

= 61.248

5
 1
Example 5. Use binomial theorem to expand  x +  completely.
 x
5 4  1  5 4 3 1  5 43 2  1 
5 2 3
 1
x+  = x + x  + x   + x   +
5

 x 1!  x  2!  x 3!  x

5 4  3 2  1  5  4  3  2 1  1 
4 5

x  + .  
4!  x 5!  x
−1 −3 −5
= x + 5x + 10 x + 10 x + 5x + x
5 3

Example 6. Expand (1 – x)(1 + 2x)8 using binomial theorem up to the

term in x3 .
 8 8 7 8 7 6 
(1 − x)(1 + 2 x) 8 = (1 − x)1 + (2 x) + ( 2 x) 2 + (2 x) 3 + ...
 1! 2! 3! 
(
= (1 − x) 1 + 16 x + 112 x + 448 x + ...
2 3
)
(
= 1 + 16 x + 112 x + 448 x + ... +
2 3
)
(
(− x) 1 + 16 x + 112 x + 448 x 3 + ...
2
)
( ) (
= 1 + 16 x + 112 x + 448 x + ... + − x − 16 x 2 − 112 x 3 + ...
2 3
)
= 1 + 15 x + 96 x 2 + 336 x 3 + ...

Example 7.
(a) Expand (1 – x + x2)6 in ascending powers of x up to the term in x3
(b) Hence find the value of (0.91)6 to 2 decimal place.

(a) (1 + ( x 2 − x)) 6
6 65 2 6 5 4 2
= 1 + ( x 2 − x) + ( x − x) 2 + ( x − x) 3 + ..
1! 2! 3!
= 1 + 6( x − x) + 15( x − 2 x + x ) + 20(.... − x 3 ) + ..
2 4 3 2

= 1 + 6 x 2 − 6 x + 15 x 4 − 30 x 3 + 15 x 2 − 20 x 3 + ..
= 1 − 6 x + 21x 2 − 50 x 3 + ....
(b) 1 – x + x2 = 0.91
x2 – x + 0.09 = 0
1  1 − 4(1)(0.09) 1  0.8
x= =
2(1) 2
x = 0.1, x = 0.9

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 Verifying.
If x = 0.1
(0.91) 6 = 1 − 6(0.1) + 21(0.1) 2 − 50(0.1) 3 + ....
= 1 − 0.6 + 0.21 − 0.05 + ....
= 0.56 (2 decimal place).
If x = 0.9
(0.91) 6 = 1 − 6(0.9) + 21(0.9) 2 − 50(0.9) 3 + ....
= 1 − 5.4 + 17.01 − 36.45 + ....
= -23.84 (2 decimal place).
⸫ (0.91)6 = 0.56 (to 2 decimal place)

(b) Particular terms.

From F 9.1(i) the second term is U 2 = n C1 x n −1 y 1
Therefore, the general term is given by U r +1 = n C r x n−r y r
………F 9.2
Example 8.Find the term involving x8 in the expansion of (2 + x)10

The general term is given by U r +1 = n C r x n−r y r

In (2 + x)10, n = 10, x = 2 y = x and r = ?
U r +1 =10C r 210−r x r
x8= xr → r=8
10−8
The term is U 8+1 = C8 2
10
x 8 = 45  2 2  x 8
= 180x 8

Example 9. Find the coefficient of the term involving x5 in the expansion

9
 3
of  x − 
 x
9
 3 3
In  x −  , x = x, y = − , n = 9
 x x
r
9− r  3 9 9− r r −r 9 9− 2 r
The term is U r +1 = C r x
9
 −  = Cr x (−3) x = Cr x (−3)
r

 x 
x9-2r= x5
9 – 2r = 5
4 = 2r r = 2.
The coefficient is C 2  (−3) 2 = 36  9 = 324
9

Example 10. Find the coefficient of the fourth term in the expansion of
(1 + x)(x − 2) in descending powers of x.
8

Let U4(r = 3) and U5 (r = 4) be the 4th and fifth terms of (x – 2)8 expansion.
The fourth term of the product is made of U 4 + xU 5
But in the expansion, U r +1 = 8C r x 8−r (−2) r
Therefore, the fourth term is 8C3 x 8−3 (−2) 3 + x8 C4 x 8−4 (−2) 4
 
= x 5 (−2) 3 8C3 + 8C4  (−2) = x 5 (56 − 140)
Therefore, coefficient = -84.
9.3 Binomial theorem for negative integral indices and any rational index.
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The combinations of negative integers and rational numbers are not there.
Therefore use of F 9.1(i) carries no meaning.
Here, for convenience in having any power of the first term, unit is made
the first term of the binomial.
Therefore,

n 1 n(n − 1) 2 n(n − 1)(n − 2) 3

(1 + y) n = 1 + y + y + y + ...
1! 2! 3!
For all values of n provided -1 ˂ y ˂1 or | y | ˂ 1
…F9.3
Example 11.
(a) Using binomial theorem, expand (1 + 3x)-1 in ascending powers of x
up to the term in x3.
(b) State the values of x for which the expansion is valid.
The 1st term in
the bracket is
(a)
already 1. So,
n 1 n(n − 1) 2 n(n − 1)(n − 2) 3
(1 + y) n = 1 + y + y + y + ... F9.3 is used
1! 2! 3! directly.
(−1) (−1)(−2) (−1)(−2)(−3)
(1 + 3x) −1 = 1 + (3x) + (3x) 2 + (3x) 3 + ...
1! 2! 3!
= 1 − 3x + 9 x 2 − 27 x 3 + ...
1 1
(b) Is valid for − 13x1  − x
3 3

Example 12.
1
(a) Using binomial theorem, expand in ascending powers of x
(2 + x) 3
showing the first four terms only.
(b) State the value of x for which the expansion is valid.

1 1
(a) =
(2 + x) 3  x
3

2 1 + 
3

 2
−3
1 x
= 1 + 
8 2
1  (−3)  x  (−3)(−4)  x  (−3)(−4)(−5)  x  
2 3

= 1 +   +   +   + ...
8  1!  2  2!  2  3! 2 
1  3x 3x 2 5 x 3 
= 1 − + − + ...
8 2 2 4 
 1 3x 3x 2 5 x 3 
=  − + − + ...
 8 16 16 32 
x
(b) It is valid for -1 ˂ ˂ 1 .Multiplying through by 2 gives -2 ˂ x ˂ 2
2

Example 13.
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(a) Using binomial theorem, expand (1 + 2x)-2 in descending powers of x
showing the first four terms.
(b) State the values of x for which the expansion is valid.

(a) (1 + 2 x) −2
−2
  1 
=  2 x1 +  
  2 x 
−2
1  1 
= 2 1 + 
4x  2x 

1  (−2)  1  (−2)(−3)  1  (−2)(−3)(−4)  1  

2 3

= 2 1 +  +   +   + ...
4 x  1!  2 x  2!  2 x  3!  2x  
1  1 3 1 
= 2 
1 − + 2 − 3 + ...
4x  x 4x 2x 
x −2
x −3
3x −4
x −5

=  − + − + ...
 4 4 16 8 
1 1
(b) It is valid for ˂ 1 . 1 ˂ 2x   x
2x 2

Example 14.
1 − 2x
(a) Expand in ascending powers of x up to the term in x3.
1+ x
(b) State the values of x for which the expansion is valid.
(c) Hence if 1.1 = 1.04881 , find 0.8 to four significant figures.

1 − 2x
1 1
−
(a) = (1 − 2 x) 2 (1 + x) 2
1+ x
1  1  1   1  1  3 
1   −    −  − 
2
(1 − 2 x) 2 = 1 + (−2 x) +  2  2  (−2 x) +  
2 2 2  2 
(−2 x) 3 + ...
1! 2! 3!
 x 2
x 3

= 1 − x − − + ...
 2 2 

1  1  3   1  3  5 
1 −  −  −   −  −  − 
(1 + x)
−
2
= 1+ 2 ( x) +  2  2  2  2  2  2  3
( x) + ( x) + ...
1! 2! 3!
 x 3x 2 5 x 3 
= 1 − + − + ...
 2 8 16 
1
−
1
 x2 x3   x 3x 2 5 x 3 
(1 − 2 x) 2 (1 + x) 2 = 1 − x − − + ... 1 − + − + ...
 2 2  2 8 16 

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 x 3x 2 5 x 3 x 2 3x 3 x 2 x 3 x 3
= 1− + − −x+ − − + − + ....
2 8 16 2 8 2 4 2
3 3 2 15 3
= 1 − x + x − x + ....
2 8 16
Alternative.
1 − 2x 1 − 2x 1 − 2x 1 − 2x
 
1
−
=  = = (1 − 2 x) 1 − ( x + 2 x 2 ) 2
1+ x 1+ x 1 − 2x 1 − x − 2x 2
  1  3   1  3  5  
 −1  −  −   −  −  −  
       
(− x) + ...
2 2 2 2 2 2
= (1 − 2 x)1 + − ( x + 2x ) +
2
( x + 2x ) +
2 2 3

1! 2! 3!
 
 
 1 3 5 
= (1 − 2 x)1 + x + x 2 + ( x 2 + 4 x 3 + ..) + x 3 + ...
 2 8 16 
 1 11 29 
= (1 − 2 x)1 + x + x 2 + x 3 + ...
 2 8 16 
 1 11 29 11 
= 1 + x + x 2 + x 3 − 2 x − x 2 − x 3 + ..
 2 8 16 4 

3 3 15
= 1 − x + x 2 − x 3 + ..
2 8 8
1 1
(b) -1 ˂ x ˂ 1 and -1 ˂ 2x ˂ 1 ⸫ − x (common range)
2 2
1 − 2x 0. 8
(c) = When x = 0.1
1+ x 1 .1
0.8 3 3 15
= 1 − (0.1) + (0.1) 2 − (0.1) 3 + ...
1.1 2 8 8
0.8
= 1 − 0.15 + 0.00375 − 0.001875 + ...
1.1
0. 8
= 0.851875
1 .1
0.8 = 0.851875 1.0488 = 0.89344

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