The binomial expansion

8.1 Pascal’s triangle

You can use Pascal’s triangle to quickly expand expressions such as (x + 2y)3.
Consider the expansions of (a + b)n for n = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4:
(a + b)0 = 1
(a + b)1 = 1a + 1b
(a + b)2 = 1a2 + 2ab + 1b2 Each coefficient is the sum of the two
(a + b)3 = 1a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + 1b3 coefficients immediately above it.

(a + b)4 = 1a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 + 1b4

Every term in the expansion of (a + b)n has total index n:

In the 6a2b2 term the total index is 2 + 2 = 4.
In the 4ab3 term the total index is 1 + 3 = 4.

The coefficients in the expansions form a pattern that is known as Pascal’s triangle.

■ Pascal’s triangle is formed by adding adjacent pairs of numbers to find the numbers on the
next row.

Here are the first 7 rows of Pascal’s triangle:

1

1 1
The third row of Pascal’s triangle gives the
1 + 2 1
coefficients in the expansion of (a + b) 2.
1 3 + 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

1 5 10 10 5 1

1 6 15 20 15 6 1

■ The (n + 1)th row of Pascal’s triangle gives the coefficients in the expansion of (a + b)n.

Example 1

Use Pascal’s triangle to find the expansions of:

a (x + 2y)3 b (2x − 5)4

Index = 3 so look at the 4th row of Pascal’s

a (x + 2y)3 triangle to find the coefficients.
The coefficients are 1, 3, 3, 1 so:
(x + 2y)3 = 1x3 + 3x2(2y) + 3x(2y)2 + 1(2y)3 This is the expansion of (a + b)3 with a = x and
= x3 + 6x2y + 12xy2 + 8y3 b = 2y. Use brackets to make sure you don’t make
a mistake. (2y)2 = 4y2.

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Index = 4 so look at the 5th row of Pascal’s

b (2x − 5)4
triangle.
The coefficients are 1, 4, 6, 4, 1 so:
(2x − 5)4 = 1(2x)4 + 4(2x)3(−5)1 This is the expansion of (a + b)4 with a = 2x and
+ 6(2x)2(−5)2 + 4(2x)1(−5)3 b = −5.
+ 1(−5)4
= 16x4 − 160x3 + 600x2 Be careful with the negative numbers.
− 1000x + 625

Problem-solving
Example 2
If there is an unknown in the original
expression, you might be able to form
The coefficient of x2 in the expansion of (2 − cx)3 is 294. an equation involving that unknown.
Find the possible value(s) of the constant c.

The coefficients are 1, 3, 3, 1: Index = 3 so use the 4th row of Pascal’s triangle.

The term in x2 is 3 × 2(−cx)2 = 6c2x2

From the expansion of (a + b)3 the x2 term is 3ab2
So 6c2 = 294 where a = 2 and b = –cx.
c2 = 49
c = ±7 Form and solve an equation in c.

Exercise 8A
1 State the row of Pascal’s triangle that would give the coefficients of each expansion:
c (2x + _2 )
1 n
a (x + y)3 b (3x − 7)15 d (y − 2x)n + 4

2 Write down the expansion of:

a (x + y)4 b (p + q)5 c (a − b)3 d (x + 4)3
e (2x − 3)4 f (a + 2)5 g (3x − 4)4 h (2x − 3y)4

3 Find the coefficient of x3 in the expansion of:

a (4 + x)4 b (1 − x)5 c (3 + 2x)3 d (4 + 2x)5
f (4 − _2 x)
1 4
e (2 + x)6 g (x + 2)5 h (3 − 2x)4

P 4 Fully expand the expression (1 + 3x)(1 + 2x)3. Problem-solving

Expand (1 + 2x)3, then multiply each
term by 1 and by 3x.

P 5 Expand (2 + y)3. Hence or otherwise, write down the expansion of (2 + x − x2)3 in ascending
powers of x.

P 6 The coefficient of x2 in the expansion of (2 + ax)3 is 54. Find the possible values of the constant a.

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P 7 The coefficient of x3 in the expansion of (2 − x)(3 + bx)3 is 45. Find possible values of the
constant b.

P 8 Work out the coefficient of x2 in the expansion of ( p − 2x)3. Give your answer in terms of p.

P 9 After 5 years, the value of an investment of £500 at an interest rate of X % per annum is given by:

500(1 + ____)
X 5
100
Find an approximation for this expression in the form A + BX + CX 2, where A, B and C are
constants to be found. You can ignore higher powers of X.

Challenge
Find the constant term in the expansion of (x2 − ___) .
1 3
2x

8.2 Factorial notation

You can use combinations and factorial notation to help you expand binomial expressions. For larger
indices, it is quicker than using Pascal’s triangle.
Notation You say ‘n factorial’.
Using factorial notation 3 × 2 × 1 = 3! By definition, 0! = 1.

■ You can use factorial notation and your calculator to find entries in Pascal’s triangle quickly.
The number of ways of choosing r items from a group of
n items is written as nCr or (nr ):
Cr = (nr ) = ________
n n! Notation You can say
r !(n − r)! ‘n choose r’ for nCr . It is sometimes
The r th entry in the nth row of Pascal’s triangle is written without superscripts and
given by n − 1Cr − 1 = (
r − 1)
n−1 subscripts as nCr .

Example 3
Calculate:
a 5! b 5C2 c the 6th entry in the 10th row of Pascal’s triangle

a 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120 Online Use the nCr and ! functions on

5! 120 your calculator to answer this question.
b 5C
2 = ____ = ____ = 10
2 !3 ! 12
You can calculate 5C2 by using the nCr function on
c 9C
5 = 126
your calculator.
n! 5!
n
Cr = _______ = ________
r !(n − r) ! 2 !(5 − 2) !

In the expansion of (a + b)9 this would give the

term 126a4b5.

The rth entry in the nth row is n − 1Cr − 1.

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