3.
2 BINOMIAL EXPANSION
Learning outcomes :
At the end of the topic, students should be able to :
(a)expand (a + b)n where n is a positive integer.
n
(b)write n! notation and Cr as a binomial coefficient
n
r
(c) determine the general term in a binomial expansion (a + b)n
where n is a positive integer.
(d) expand (1 + x)n for x where n is a rational number
Expansion of (a + b)n
We know that :
n=0,(a+b)0 = 1
n=1,(a+b)1 = 1 a+ 1 b
n=2,(a+b)2 = 1a2 + 2ab +1 b2
n=3,(a+b)3 = 1 a3+ 3a2b+ 3ab2+1 b3
n=4,(a+b)4= 1a4 +4a3b+6a2b2+4ab3+1 b4
n=5,(a+b) =
5 1 a 5 +5a4b+10a3b2+10a2b3+5ab4+1 b5
Expansion of (a + b)n
1
a+ b
a2 + 2ab + b2
a3+ 3a2b+ 3ab2+ b3
a4 +4a3b+6a2b2+4ab3+b4
a5 +5a4b+10a3b2+10a2b3+5ab4+b5
The coefficient of the expansion can be
arranged in a triangular array of numbers,
called Pascal’s Triangle .
Extracting the coefficients alone, we obtain a table
as follows
1 n=0
1 ( ) 1 n=1
1 ( ) 2 ( ) 1 n=2
1 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 1
1 4 6 4 1
This table of coefficients is known as Pascal’s
triangle. Pascal triangle can be used to expand
expressions of the type (a x)
n
Expansion of (a + b)n
a0 1 b0 n=0
a1 1 ( ) 1 b1 n=1
a2 1 b0 ( ) a1 2 b1 ( ) a0 1 b2 n=2
a3 1 b0 ( ) a2 3 b1 ( ) a1 3 b2 ( ) a0 1 b3 n=3
a41 b0 a3 4 b1 a2 6 b2 a1 4 b3 a0 1 b4
Pascal’s Triangle can be used to expand
expressions of the type
(a +b)n
Definition of n factorial ( n! )
+
If n Z , then n! is given by
n! = n.(n-1).(n-2).(n-3). … .3.2.1
where 0! = 1 1! = 1
Note
n! = n.(n-1)!
n! = n.(n-1).(n-2)!
Example 2
a) 5! = [Link].1 = 120
b) 2! = 2.1 = 2
c) 8! [Link].[Link] = 8.7.6! = 56
6! [Link].2.1 6!
Example 3
Example 2
Simplify
n +2 ! = n +2 . n +1.n. n-1 !
a)
n-1 ! n-1 !
=n.(n+1)(n+2)
Definition of a Binomial coefficient
Let n and r be nonnegative integers,
0 ≤ r ≤ n
n n n!
= C =
r
r
r! n-r !
Example 4
Evaluate
5 4 4!
a) = 5
C2 b) =
2 0 0!(4 - 0)!
5!
=
2! (5-2)!
4!
=
5! 0!4!
=
2! 3!
=1
[Link].1
=
(2.1)(3.2.1)
n n n!
= Cr =
=10 r r! n-r !
Example 5
n n
Show that =
r n-r
Solution
n n!
RHS: = (n-r)! n-(n-r) !
n-r
n!
n n! =
(n-r)!(n-n +r)!
=
r r! n-r !
n!
=
(n -r)!r!
Continue…
n! compare
RHS:
(n -r)!r!
n n!
LHS: = r!(n -r)!
r
LHS =RHS
n n
Hence, =
r n-r
BINOMIAL THEOREM
For n a positive integer:
n n 0 n n-1 1 n n-2 2 n 0 n
(a +b) = a b + a b + a b +...+ a b
n
0 1 2 n
n n-1 n n-r 2
(a +b) =
n
a +n
a b + a b +...+b n
1 2
Notes
a) The power of ‘a’ decreases by 1 for each
term from left to right.
b) The power of ‘b’ increases by 1 for each
term from left to right.
c) The sum of the powers of a and b always
add up to n in each terms.
d) The expansion has (n + 1) terms
Example 6
Use the binomial theorem to expand the
following
n n-1 n n-r r
(a +b) = a + a b + a b +...+bn
n n
1 2
a = 4 , b = x , n = 3
3 2 1 3 1 2
a) (4 + x) = 4 + 4 x + 4 x +x 3
3 3
1 2
= 64 + 48x +12x 2 + x 3
Example 6 (b)
n n-1 n n-r r
(a +b) = a + a b + a b +...+b
n n n
1 2
a = 2x , b = -y , n = 4
4 1 4
b) (2x - y) = (2x) + (2x) (-y) + (2x)2 (-y)2
4 4 3
1 2
4
+ (2x)1 (-y) 3 +(-y) 4
3
=16x 4 -32x 3 y +24x 2 y2 -8xy 3 + y 4
Example 7
Expand (1 + x)10 up to term in x3. Find the
value of (1.01)10 and (0.99)10
Solution
n n-1 n n-r r
(a +b) = a + a b + a b +...+b
n n n
1 2
10 1 10 2 10 3
1+ x
10
=1 + x + x + x +...
10
1 2 3
=1+10x + 45x 2 +120x 3 +...
Continue… From previous
expansion
Find (1.01)10
= (1+0.01)10
(1+ x)10
x = 0.01
(1+ x)10 =1+10x + 45x 2 +120x 3 +...
(1.01) =1+10(0.01)
10
+ 45(0.01) 2
+120(0.01) 3
+...
=1.10462 #
Continue… From previous
expansion
Find (0.99)
10
=[1+(-0.01)] (1+ x)
10 10
x =-0.01
(1+ x)10 =1+10x + 45x 2 +120x 3 +...
(0.99) =1+10(-0.01)
10
+ 45(-0.01) 2
+120(-0.01) 3
+
= 0.90438 #
Example 8
Expand (3 - 2x)4 in the expansion ascending
power of x . Hence find the value of (2.98)4
correct to 5 significant figures.
Solution
n n-1 n n-r r
(a +b) = a + a b + a b +...+b
n n n
1 2
3-2x
4
a =3 , b=-2x , n = 4
Continue…
n n-1 n n-r r
(a +b) = a + a b + a b +...+bn
n n
1 2
a =3 , b=-2x , n = 4
4 3 4 2
3-2x
4
= 3 + 3 -2x + 3 -2x
4 1 2
1 2
4 1
+ 3 -2x + -2x 4
3
3
= 81+ 4 27 -2x +6 9 4x2 + 4 3 -8x 3 +16x 4
= 81-216x +216x -96x +16x2 3 4
Continue… From previous expansion
Find (2.98)4
(3-2x) 4
(3-2x) = (2.98)
2x = 0.02
x = 0.01
3-2x
4
= 81-216x +216x 2 -96x 3 +16x 4
(2.98) 4
=81-216(0.01) +216(0.01)2 -96(0.01) 3 +16(0.01) 4
= 78.862 (5 significant figures)
Determine the general term in a
Binomial Expansion, (a + b)n
The formula for the general term are
n n-r+1 r-1
r term: Tr = a b
r -1
or
n n-r r
(r+1) term: Tr+1 = a b
r
Example 9
Find the 6th term in the expansion of (2+3x)10
as a series in ascending power of x.
r = 6
Solution
a = 2 , b = 3x , n = 10 , r = 6
n n-r+1 r-1 10
Tr = a b T6 = (2)
10-6+1
(3x) 6-1
r -1 6-1
Continue…
10 5
T6 = 2 (3x) 5
5
10 5 5 5
= 2 3 x
5
T6 = 1959552x 5
Example 10
Find the term that have x3 in the expansion of
5
5
3x +
2x
Solution
5
a = 3x , b = , n =5 , r =?
2x
n n-r+1 r-1 5 5
r-1
Tr = a b Tr = (3x) 5-r+1
r -1 r-1 2x
Continue… 5
r-1
6-r 5
Tr = (3x)
r -1 2x
r-1 r-1
5 6-r 5 1
= (3) (x)
6-r
r -1 2 x
r-1
5 6-r 5
= (3) (x)
6-r
x
-1 r-1
r -1 2
r-1
5 6-r 5
= (3) (x)
6-r
(x)-r+1
r -1 2
r-1
5 6-r 5
= (3) (x) -r+1+(6-r)
r -1 2
Continue…
r-1
5 6-r 5
Tr = (3) (x) 7-2r
r -1 2
Find r to get the term that has x3
(x) 7-2r = (x) 3
7-2r = 3
r =2
2-1
5 6-2 5
T2 = (3) (x) 7-2(2)
2 -1 2
Continue…
1
5 45
T2 = (3) (x) 3
1 2
2025 3
T2 = x
2
The 2th term that has x3
Example 11
Find the coefficient that have x4 in the
2x -1
15
expansion of
Solution
a = 2x , b = -1 , n = 15 , r = ?
n n-r+1 r-1
Tr = a b
r -1
15
Tr = (2x)15-r+1
(-1) r-1
r -1
Continue…
15
Tr = (2x) (-1)
16-r r-1
r -1
15
Tr = (2)
16-r
(x)16-r
(-1) r-1
r -1
Find r to get the term that has
coefficient x4
(x)16-r = (x) 4
16-r = 4
r =12
Continue… r =12
15
Tr = (2)
16-r
(x) 16-r
(-1) r-1
r -1
15
T12 = (2) 16-12
(x) 16-12
(-1) 12-1
12 -1
15
= (2) 4 (x) 4 (-1)11
11
= -21840 x 4
Coefficient of x = -21840
4
#
Example 12
Find the term that is independent of x in
12
the expansion of 1
2x -
3
x
Solution
1
a = 2x 3
, b =- , n =12 , r = ?
x
n n-r+1 r-1
Tr = a b
r -1
r-1
12 3 12-r+1 1
Tr = (2x ) -
r-1 x
Continue…
12
Tr = (2x ) (-1) (x )
3 13-r r-1 -1 r-1
r -1
12 13-r 3 13-r
= (2) (x ) (-1) (x)
r-1 1-r
r -1
12 13-r 39-3r
= (2) (x) (-1) r-1
(x)1-r
r -1
12 13-r
= (2) (-1) r-1
(x) 40-4r
r -1
Find r to get the term that is
independent of x
Continue…
Find r to get the term that is
independent of x
(x) 40-4r
= (x) 0
40-4r = 0
r =10
12 13-r
Tr = (2) (-1) r-1
(x) 40-4r
r -1
12 13-10
T10 = (2) (-1)10-1
(x) 40-4(10)
10-1
Continue…
to get the term that is independent of x
12 3
T10 = (2) (-1) (x)
9 0
9
T10 = -1760 #
Expand ( 1 + x )n where n is a
negative integer or rational number
n is positive
n(n-1) 2 n n-1 n-2 3
(1+b)n
= 1 +nb + b + b +...+bn
2! 3!
n is negative or rational number
n(n-1) 2 n n-1 n-2 3
(1+b) = 1+nb +
n
b + b +...
2! 3!
and the expansion valid for b <1
-1<b <1
Remark
1) This expansion is an infinite series of
ascending powers of x.
2) This expansion is only valid if |b| < 1
Example 13
Find the first FOUR terms in the expansion
of the following functions in ascending
power of x and state the value of x for
which the expansion are valid,
1 1
a) 1+ x 1+2x
-4
4 b)
1+2x
4
Solution (a)
(1+b) n n(n-1) 2 n n-1 n-2 3
= 1+nb+ b + b +...
2! 3!
1
1
(1+ x) 4
(1+b) n
b=x , n=
4
1 1
1 -1 (x) 2
1
(1+ x) 4 =1 + (x) + 4 4
4 2!
1 1 1
-1 -2 (x) 3
4 4 4
+ + ...
3!
Continue…
1 3
1 - (x) 2
1 4 4
(1+ x) 4
=1+ (x) +
4 2
1 3 7
- - (x) 3
4 4 4
+ + ...
6
1 3 2 7 3
=1+ x- x + x +...
4 32 128
Finally, check the validity : |b| < 1 b = x
|x| < 1
The expansion valid if 1 < x < 1
Solution (b)
(1+b) n n(n-1) 2 n n-1 n-2 3
= 1+nb+ b + b +...
2! 3!
1
1+2x (1+b)n b= 2x , n =-4
-4
1+2x
4
1+2x
-4
=1+(-4)(2x) + (-4)(-4 -1)(2x)
2
2!
(-4)(-4 -1)(-4 -2)(2x) 3
+ +...
3!
Continue…
(1+2x) =1+(-4)(2x)
-4 (-4)(-5)(4x ) 2
+
2
(-4)(-5)(-6)(8x 3 )
+ +...
3!
=1-8x + 40x 2 -160x 3 +...
The expansion is valid if: b =2x
1 1
b <1 2x <1 - <x<
2 2
Expand (a + b)n where n is
negative integer or rational number
convert it to standard form !!!
n n
b n b
a + b
n
= a 1+ = a 1+
a a
and the expansion valid for
b
<1
a
Example 14
Find the first FOUR terms in the expansion
of the following functions in ascending power
of x and state the value of x for which the
expansion are valid,
1
(a) 2 + x
-2
(b) 8-x 3
Solution (a)
-2
x
2 + x
-2
= 2 1+
2
-2
x
=2 -2
1+ Use Binomial exp.
2
-2
1 x
= 1+ (1+b)n
4 2
x
b= , n =-2
2
(1+b) n n(n-1) 2 n n-1 n-2 3
= 1+nb + b + b +...
2! 3!
2
x
-2 -2 -2 -1
x x 2
1+ = 1+ -2 +
2 2 2!
3
x
x -2 -2 -1-2 -2
b= , n =-2 2
2 + +...
3!
3 2 1 3
= 1- x + x - x +...
4 2
-2
2 + x
-2 1 x
= 1+
4 2
1 3 2 1 3
= 1- x + x - x +...
-2
2 + x
4 4 2
1 1 3 2 1 3
= - x+ x - x +...
4 4 16 8
The expansion valid if:
-2
(refer 1+ x ) b=
x
2 2
x x
<1 -1< <1 -2< x <2
2 2
Solution (b)
1
1
x 3
(8- x) = 8 1-
3
8
1
1
x 3
= 8 1-
3
8 Use Binomial exp.
1
x 3
= 2 1- (1+b) n
8
x 1
b =- , n =
8 3
(1+b) n n(n-1) 2 n n-1 n-2 3
= 1+nb + b + b +...
2! 3!
2
1 1 1 x
x 3
1 x 3 3 -1 - 8
1- =1+ +
8 3 8 2!
x 1 3
b =- , n = 1 1 1 x
8 3 -1 -2 -
3 3 3 8
+ +...
3!
1 1 2 5
= 1- x- x - x +...
3
24 576 41472
1
x 3 1 1 2 5
2 1- = 2 1- x- x - x +...
3
8 24 576 41472
1 1 2 5
= 2- x+ x - x 3 +...
12 288 20736
The expansion valid if:
1
(refer x )3 x
1- b =-
8 8
x x
- <1 -1< <1 -8 < x <8
8 8
Example 15
1
Expand 1-2x 2 in ascending powers of
1
x, up to the term in x3. By letting x =
100
in this series, evaluate 2 correct to 5
decimal places.
Solution
1 1
1+b
n
1-2x 2 b = -2x , n =
2
1
1 2 1 3
1-2x 2 =1- x- x - x +...
2 2
The expansion valid if |b|<1
|-2x |<1 -1<2x <1 1 1
- <x<
2 2
To evaluate 2
1
Subs. x= into LHS & RHS
100
1
1
1 2
LHS: 1-2x 2 = 1- 2
100
1
98 2
=
100
1
49 2 2
=
100
7 2
=
10
1 2 1 3
RHS: 1- x- x - x +...
2 2
2 3
1 1 1 1 1
=1- - -
100 2 100 2 100
=1-0.01-0.00005-0.0000005
= 0.9899495
Since LHS = RHS 7 2
= 0.9899495
10
10
2 = × 0.9899495
7
=1.41421 #
(5 decimal places)
This is APPROXIMATION value,
to check, use calculator !