Key

Where Are the Like Terms?

We’ve already seen that standard and factored forms of equations reveal different
properties about the functions they represent. While expanding the factors of a
quadratic is fairly simple, working with higher degree polynomials can be a bit trickier.
Let’s see if we can identify and make use of any patterns.

1. Use the area model to expand (" + $)! . Write your simplified answer on the right.
! " '

! x2 IXY Ztaxyty
✗
f
" 1×4 YZ It I

2. Expand (" + $)" using your result from question 1. Write your simplified answer on the
right.
2 2
✗ axy y ' 3
>
t3X< y t 3✗
y ty
IXYZ
" 3 ×
✗ 2×2 y
q f
$ 1×2 y
'
} 21-1
2x y y 1+2

3. a. Expand (" + $)# using your result from question 2. Write your simplified answer on
the right.
}
3
3×2 y
'
✗ zxy y
4 } "
+4×391-6×2y
'
+
4×y
"
tys
" ✗ 3×39 3×292 Ixy
✗

f
}
q f
$ 1×3 y 3×292 3xy Yt 1+4 3+3 4+1

b. What do you notice about the exponents on x and y in each term?

always is the
power
of the cpansion .

sum of exponents
9- and the
power of y goes up 9-
The power of ✗
goes down
.

c. What do you notice about the coefficients of the terms in the expansion?
The middle one is the
highest . The coefficients
previous expansion
"

are "
symmetric .
They are related to the

4. Use highlighters or colored pencils to show the like terms in each expansion.
5. Which terms in the expansion do not have any like terms? Why?
the terms
with
only XS and only ys in them .

is because
there is
only
one
product in the expansion
This
includes only XS 4or only ys
that
.

is 3
The only way to get ✗ by multiplying ✗
by ✗ .
6. How are the coefficients in the expansion of (" + $)# related to the coefficients of
(" + $)" ? Why does happen?

have a coefficient
The terms with only ✗ and
y always
The other coefficients add the coefficients of
of 1 .

the previous expansion .

I 3 3 I
I
' '

b'
' '

1 4 I
7. Can you predict what the expansion of (" + $)$ will be without distributing all the
terms?

tys
}
✗ St 5×4 t 10×3 y '
1- 10×2 y +
sxy
"
y
Coefficients will be

1 5 10 5 I

8. The expansion of (" + $)% is " % + 6" $ $ + 15" # $ ! + 20" " $ " + 15" ! $ # + 6"$ $ + $ % .
a. Write the first 4 terms of the expansion of (" + $)& .
1 6 15 20
"

by tzlxsy 't 35×4 y if ji Is

}
✗ t 7- ✗
,

b. What other term in the expansion has the same coefficient as the " $ $ ! term?

the Zys
✗ term
 Lesson 2.9 – The Binomial Theorem
QuickNotes
The terms in a binomial expansion follow a predictable
because of distributive property
pattern the .

't
" "

an b' an "b 't

'
ab b
-

anti t
" -

t
( at b) +
-
. . .
= - -
-

the sums of
The coefficients are determined by Pascal 's
and be seen in
the previous expansion can

and can
triangle .

1 Note : a b
or
9- I be numbers
variables !
'
'
9- 2 "
9-
'
' '

I 3 3 I

a' b' É I
' '
'

Check Your Understanding

1. Write $ = (" − 4)" in standard form.

>
3- 12×21-48×-64
✗ 3+31×21-4) ) + 3. ( ✗ C-4) 2) + ( -4 ) =
✗

2. Let .(") = (2" − 5)(" + 3)# (" − 2).

a. What is the degree of the polynomial?
6
b. What is the leading coefficient of the polynomial?
2
c. What is the constant term of the polynomial?
-
So 34 . -2 = 810

3. Kelly and Rowan are asked to write .(") = (" + 2)# in standard form.
Kelly wrote .(") = " # + 4" " + 6" ! + 4" + 16.
✗ 4+4×-2 1- 6×2221-4×-23
Rowan wrote .(") = " # + 8" " + 24" ! + 32" + 16. 1- 24
Which of these students, if any, is correct? Explain.
Rowan is correct .

Kelly did not consider the powers

both
of 2 in her
expansion Rowan considered .

of 2
the coefficients and the powers .

4. In the expansion of (" + 2$)$ there is a term that looks like ☐"$ # . Determine what
number goes in the box.
Xyt is the 2nd to last term .

y 4=80×94
' " 16
5.
(X ) ( zig)
✗ • -

Came from 5 =