Binomial Theorem

Positive Integral Index

Binomial has two terms (bi-2, nomial= have)
Examples
No. of terms
Odd 3 (x+ a)? = x² + 2xa + a? 1,2, 1
Even 4 (x +a)3 =x°+3x'a +3xa? + a³ 1, 3, 3, 1
Odd 5 (x+ a)=xt + 4x°a + 6x2a 2+ 4xa³ + a 1,4, 6, 4, 1
Even 6 (x+ a)5 = x5 + 5xa +10x°a 2+ 10x²a3 + 5xa4 + a 1, 5, 10, 10, 5, 1

Notice

1. If the index-is 'n', then the number of terms is n+1

2. If the index is even, then there will be one middle term, but if the index is odd then there
will be two middle terms (repetition).
3. The index ofthe leading or first term willdiminish by one (1) and that of the second term
will increase by one (1) i.e. in the (r + 1)th term power of leading ternm will be (n-r)and
that of the second term will be (r)
4. In every term, sum of power(index) will be n
5. If the Coefficient of first term of expansion has no multiplicative coefficient then

nCpx"a + "C,xn-a + "Gzxna?+...+ "Cpxna' + . + "Chr°a"

1st term 2nd term 3rd termn (r+1)h term (n+1)h term

Note
m!
and 0!= 1! =1
(n-r)!r!
codintghlal
This is called combinational coefficient.
n!
It isalways less than "P, = (n-r)! , as if gets further divided by (r!)
xxxx do not/
When the order is disregarded and repetition is not allowed, terms like aaa or
and without
cannot occur. This is relevant for defining sample space "with replacement
replacement" of elements in population.
Standard Binomial expansion with first term equal one(l )and second term as '*.
(1+x)" nCo + "C,x +"Czx'+...+ "C,x+ . + "CHx"
2nd term 3rd term (r+1)h term (n+1h term

The general formula is

(x +a)"n = "Cox"a'+ "Cxn'a+ "Czx"-a'+...+ "C,x"-a" +.

+ "C,x an

Example 1
(x-3)5
We have a =-3 and n = 5, the expansion will be

(x-3)5 = SCox(-3)0 + C,r(-3)! + °Czr'(-3)² + SCyx(-3)3

+ 5C,x'(-3)* + SCgx°(-3)5
5- 15x4 + 90x 270x2 + 405x - 243
(Notice for all odd power of (-3) the sign is negative)
Example 2
If three coins are tossed (or a coin is tossed three times) Write all possible outcome
HHH All heads 3CoHSTO Sample space
HHT 2 heads 3C,H'T1
HTH 1tail Listing all
THH possible outcomes
TTH 1head 3C,H'T2 population
THT 2 tails
HTT
TTT Alltails 3CzHOT3
3C,H°T3
(H +T)3 = 3CoH3TO + 3C,HZT' + 3C,HlT² 4
Example 3
Write H=pand T q
p'+ 3pq'+ 3p'q + q'
If the coin is biased with p= probability of head is 0.75, what is the probability of getting
i. At least two tails
ii. Exactly one head
At least two tails mean Three tails or two tails

Thus 3pq+ q
Example 4
Write (r +1)n term for (p + g)". Similarly write rhand (r-1)h term.
be
Solution: For (r + 1h term power of q will be r and that of pwill be (n-r) and coefficient will
3C,
(r+ 1)h term will be C,p-q
r term =C,-1p-(r-1)q-1
= "C,-1p7-rtlg-1
Check (n r+1)+ (r-1) =n
(r-1)h term ="C,-zp-(-2)q-2
Example 5
Write down and simplify the 4th term of (x 5)13
Solution: n= 13, for 4th term r=3
Hence,T4= 13 Cax(13-3)(-5)3
13Ca = 286
=286x(10) x (-5)3
286x(10) x(-125)
T4= -35750x(10)
Example 5

Write down and simplify the 5th term of 1 3

\a2 b2/
4

Remark

Binomial theorem is special case of polynomial where all roots are same and repeated.
If the roots are distinct the factors of the polynomial willbe
(x+ a)(x + b)(x + c)(*+ d)

=xt + (a +b+c+ d)xs + (ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd)x2

+ (abc + abd + acd + bcd)x+ (abcd)x0
S (a + b+c+ d) Sum of roots one taken at atime
S> (ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd)Sum of roots two taken as a product at a time
S3 (abc + abd + acd + bcd) Sum of roots three taken as a product at a time
SA(abcd) All four roots taken as a product at a time
Binomial is a =b=c=d’ (x+ a)(+ b)(x c)(*+ d)

Remark

Simplest form of binomial theorem is (1 + x)"i.e. writing 1 in place of xand putting

'x' in place of a. [(x+ a)" (1+x)"]
unity
Similarly, expansions can also be made in which the first term is
(x+y"=x(1+)} = x"(1+ z)"

Where z =
x.
expansion to find ratio or rate of change in y as a consequence of
We can readily use binomial
Eg. y = x ’ function y = f(«)
ofyalso change.
As the value of xchanges the value
Suppose value of xchanges by quantityh
quantity of x)
If yo = x (where xo is the initial
Then y, = (ro+ h)²
Change in y willbe yË - yo = Ay
Y1- Yo Ay = (xo +h)² - (x)
Ay = xó + 2x,h + h?-x
Ay = 2x0h + h?
change in x (Ax) i.e. h will be
Hence the ratio of change in y (Ay) to
Ay Ay 2xgh + h? = 2x% +h
Ax h
Ifh is very small (h ’ 0),then

lim
Ax=ho (Ax

Thus, generally y = x"

Then dy
dx
nxn-1 can be derived as binomial expansion of (x + h)" and by dividing h.
=

change in x will
When h is very small i.e. close enough to zero, the ratio of change y to
approximated as (nxn-1).
This formula is valid for fractional value of n (i.e. n need not be integer).
N

Binomial theorem also give rise to a special series1 +

As the value of Nbecomes larger and larger (i.e. tends to infinity N o), the value of the
binomial expansion produces a special type of number called 'transcendental number
e=2.718281828..
This number is used as the base of logarithm called Natural logarithm' denoted as 'In'.
Also note usual propertics of
logarithnm
log (M x N) = log M +
log N
log ( = log M- log N

log(M)r =nlog M
Note
a) If in the
expansion of (1+
terms in the expansion will be x)"n, n is not a positive integer then the number of
b) Expansion up to finite infinite (Hence no 'middle term')
many approximations.
number of term (generally four to five) are
usually sufficient for
(1+x)" =1+ nx +n(n- 1) n(n- 1)(n-2)
2! 3!
It may be noted that "C,
with any index can always be written as
n(n- 1)(n - 2) (n-3)..... (n-r-1)(n-r)!
(n-r)!r!
n(n-1)(n-2)(n-3)..... (n -r -1)
r!
n(n- 1)(n -
2(n-3).....n- (r+ 1)
1x2 X3 X ... ..X r
With any the numerator is apolynomial in 'n'
and the denominator is usual integral (r!)
Example 1
Expand (1+x) up to four termns
Solution
1
n =
2

(1+x) = 1+ nx + n(n- 1)(n- 2) x3

2! 3!

,4-)-).
1
1
(1+ x)2 =1+,xt 2! 3
1 1 1
2

=1+5-+
Note

3rd term -1) y2 1

1 1
2! 2! 2 2 4

1
-
-x2
8
Similarly, 4th term

G-)4-),.G0,-D), 3!
=

3x 2
3
6
3

3
3 1 1
+a X-x3
6 6 16
Example 2
2

Expand (1- x)s up to four terms

2 2 3 3
(1-x)Ñ=
5 1-x+ 125

n=and coefficient of x=-1

2

Second term

nx =()(-1)x=-x
Third term

n(n-1)-x2
2!
(-),2! 2
(-1)x2
-6
-6 1
-(-1)x² =25(-1)x²=
2
25*z-1)x?
2
3 3
=--)x? = 25

Fourth term
n(n - 1)(n
3!
2),3= -)-2),-(-1)x3 =
3!
-1)(6-)
3 × 2
10\
-(-1)x3 = (-1)x3
6 6

6
8
-r3
125

Example 3
Expand up to four term the expression (1 + x2)-z
Solution
1
(1+x²)-2 = (1+x2)2
Substituting x = x and n =-2in the formula
n(n-1) n(n-1)(n- 2)
(1+ x)"=1+nx + 2!
x + x3
3!

=1+(-2)x+ -2(-2-1)(2242-2-)E2-223
2! 3!

=1-2x + -2(-3),* +-2(-3)(-4),6

2 3x2
6 -2(12) x6
=1- 2x? + x++ 3× 2
=1-2x + 3x4 4x6