A 42 APPENDICES

Algebra II

The Binomial Theorem

If n is a positive integer and r = rth term, we expand (x + y) n as shown below:

n ( n 1) n ( n 1)( n 2)
(x + y) n = xn + nxn 1 y + xn 2
y2 + xn 3
y3 +
2! 3!

n ( n 1)( n 2) (n r + 2)
+ xn r +1
yr 1
+ + yn (1)
(r 1) !

where : 2 ! = 2 ·1 = 2 , 3! = 3 ·2 ·1 = 6 and (r 1)! = (r 1)(r 2)(r 3) 3 ·2 ·1

 By definition : n! (n factorial) = n . (n . (n . (n . 2 .1

 Note : 1! = 1 and 0 ! = 1 
 

Equation (1) is called the binomial theorem, or the binomial formula.

Other forms of the binomial theorem exist and some use combinations to express the coefficients. The
relationship between the coefficients and combinations are shown below.

5.4 5 . 4  3 . 2 .1  5 . 4 . 3 . 2 .1 5! 5! 5! 5
=  
2 !  3 . 2 .1 
= = = = =
2! 3 . 2 .1. 2 ! 3! 2 ! 3! 2 ! (5 )! 2 ! 2

n ( n 1)( n 2) n ( n 1)( n 2) 2 .1 n! n

= = =  
3! (n 3) ! 3 ! ( n 3) ! 3 !  3 
So
n! n!
(x + y) n = xn + x n 1y + xn 2
y2 +
( n 1) ! 1! ( n 2) ! 2 !
n!
+ xn r +1
yr 1
+ + yn
 n ( r 1)  ! ( r 1) !

n n!
and using the Combinatorial Formula nC r =   = :
r  (n r) ! r !
A 43
APPENDICES

Algebra II

n n
(x + y) n = xn +   x n 1y +   x n 2 y2 +
1  2
 n  n r +1 n
+   x yr 1 + +   yn (2)
 r 1 n

➢ Note that in the expansion of (x + y) n :

1.) In every term, the exponent of x plus the exponent of y = n (i.e., the degree of each term is n).

2.) The number of terms is n + 1, where n is a positive integer.

3.) There are two middle terms when n is an odd positive integer.

4.) There is only one middle term when n is an even positive integer.

5.) Every term, except the last, has x as a factor. The exponent of x in the first term is equal to the exponent
of the binomial and decreases by 1 in each succeeding term.

6.) Every term, except the first, has y as a factor. The exponent of y in the second term is 1 and increases
by 1 in each succeeding term.

7.) The coefficients of the terms which are equidistant from the ends are the same. It is interesting to note
that these coefficients may be arranged as follows:

(x + y) 0 1

(x + y) 1 1 1

(x + y) 2 1 2 1

(x + y) 3 1 3 3 1

(x + y) 4 1 4 6 4 1

(x + y) 5 1 5 10 10 5 1

This array of numbers is known as Pascal’s Triangle. The first and last numbers in each row are 1, while
any other number in the array can be obtained by adding the two numbers to the right and left of it in the
preceding row.
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APPENDICES

Algebra II

►Example : Expand (a + x)3

 3. 2  2  3 . 2 .1  3
(a + x)3 = a3 + 3a2x +   ax +  1. 2 . 3
3 2 2
 x = a + 3a x + 3ax + x
3
 1. 2   

The rth term formula for the expression of (x + y)n can be expressed in terms of combinations.

n ( n 1)( n 2) (n r + 2)
rth term = xn r +1
yr 1 (3)
(r 1) !

n ( n 1)( n 2) (n r + 2 ) . ( n r + 1) 2 .1
= xn r +1
yr 1

(n r + 1) 2 .1 . ( r 1) !

n!  n  n (4)
rth term = xn r +1
yr 1
or rth term =   x
r +1
yr 1

 n ( r 1)  ! ( r 1) !  r 1 

►Example : Compute the sixth term of (x + y)15 using equation no. (3).

n ( n 1)( n 2) (n r + 2)
rth term of (x + y)n = xn r +1
yr 1

(r 1) !

In this case, n =15, r = 6, n r + 2 = 11, r 1 = 5, n r + 1 = 10

 15 .14 .13 .12 .11  10 5

 6 th term =   x y = 3003 x10 y5 Ans.
 . . . .
5 4 3 2 1 