P3 Binomial Expression (Inserted 23/07/20)

3 The ith term of a Binomial Expansion

At times there will be the need to find a specific term in of a binomial expansion without expanding the
whole expression. It is possible to do so if the variable and the constant are clearly identified.
Suppose it is requested to find the ith term of a binomial expansion of (a  b) n for which b is the variable
and a is the constant. There are two situations to be considered.
A) in the case when b is a multiplier of a whole value
Consider the binomial expression (a  bx m ) n for which m and n are positive integers.
Now any term in this binomial expression can be obtained by using the formula such that:

ith term  nCr a n  r  b m  for which r  i  1

r

Such formula is very useful to find a specific term or the coefficient of a specific term in a given
binomial expansion.
Eg: Given the binomial expression (3  2 x 2 )6
i) Find the forth term in the expression
ii) Find the coefficient of x8 of the binomial expansion.
Solution
(3  2 x 2 )6

i) from above a  3 , b  2 x 2 , n  6 and m  2

As it is required to find the forth term therefore i  4 then r  3
Use the formula above and replace these in the formula to give

ith term  nCr a n  r  b m 

r

4th term  6C3 36 3  2 x 2 

3

  20  27   2x 2 
3

  20  27   8x 6 

 4320x 6

ii) from above a  3 , b  2 x 2 , n  6 and m  2

It is required to find the coefficient of x8 but none the less
it is clear that i and r are not known in this case therefore there a need to.
find r so that it can be use in the formula above.
As the power of x is 8 then it is clear that
mr   8

 2(r )  8  r  4 and  i  5

© ANDSPI Mathematics Seychelles 07/23/20 1 Property of Andrew Spiro

 P3 Binomial Expression (Inserted 23/07/20)
Now put those values in the formula

5th term  6C4 32  2 x 2 

4

 15  9  16x8  6

 2160x8
Therefore the coefficient of x8 is 2160

B) in the case when b is a multiplier of a fraction value

Consider the binomial expression (a  bx m ) n for which m and n are positive integers.
Now any term in this binomial expression can be obtained by using the formula such that:

ith term  nCr a n  r  b m  for which r  i  1

r

Consider the next example

8
 2 
Eg: Given that  4 x  3  , find
 5x 
i) the 6th term in the binomial expression
ii) the coefficient of x 4 for this binomial expansion
iii) the term independent of in the binomial expression.

Solution
8
 2 
 4x  3 
 5x 
2
i) from above a  4 x , b   , n  8 and m  3
5 x3
As it is required to find the 6th term therefore i  6 then r  5
Use the formula above and replace these in the formula to give

ith term  nCr a n  r  b m 

r

6th term  8C5 a 85  b3 

5

5
 2 
 C5  4 x   3 
8 3

 5x 
 32 
 56  64 x 3   15 
 3125 x 
114688

x12

© ANDSPI Mathematics Seychelles 07/23/20 2 Property of Andrew Spiro

 P3 Binomial Expression (Inserted 23/07/20)
2
ii) from above a  4 x , b  , n  8 and m  3
5 x3
It is required to find the coefficient of x 4 but none the less it is clear
that i and r are not known in this case therefore there a need to find r
so that it can be use in the formula above. As the power of x is 4 then
it is clear that from the formula

ith term  nCr a n  r  b m 

r

r
 2 
 Cr  4 x   3 
8 8 r

 5x 
Thus it is clear from laws of indices that
 8  r  3r  4
4r  4  r  1  i  2
2nd term  nCr a n  r  b m 
r

1
 2 
 C1  4 x 
8 8 1
 3
 5x 
7 2 
 8 4x  3 
 5x 
 2  262144 x 7
 8 16384 x 7   3  
 5x  5x3
 262144x 4
Therefore the coefficient of x 4 is 262144

2
iii) from above a  4 x , b  , n  8 and m  3
5 x3
It is required to find the term independent of x that is the coefficient of x 0
but none the less it is clear that i and r are not known in this case
therefore there a need to find r so that it can be use in the formula above.
As the power of x is 0 then it is clear that from the formula

ith term  nCr a n  r  b m 

r

r
 2 
 Cr  4 x   3 
8 8 r

 5x 
Thus it is clear from laws of indices that
 8  r  3r  0 4r  8  r  2
2
 2 
i term  Cr a
th n nr
b  m r
 C2  4 x 
8 8 2
 3
 5x 
2
 2   4 
 28  4 x   3   28  4096 x 6  
6
6 
 5x   25 x 
458752 x 6 458752
 6

25 x 25

© ANDSPI Mathematics Seychelles 07/23/20 3 Property of Andrew Spiro