Binomial Theorem

The Binomial theorem is a formula used for the algebraic expansion of binomials (2 terms)

(1+ x )n=1+( n ) x+( n) x 2 +...+( n ) x r +...+ x n

1 2 r

(a +b)n=a n +( n )a n−1 b+( n ) a n−2 b2 +...+( n )a n−r br +...+b n

1 2 r

n!
where ( n )=
r r ! (n−r )!

Expansion and Comparing Coefficients

Question 1

Find the first 3 terms in ascending powers of x , the expansions of

6
(i) (1+2 x ) [1]

(ii) (2−ax)6 , in terms of a , where a is a positive constant. [2]

In the expansion of (1+2 x )6 (2−ax )6 , the cofficient of x 2 is 3279 .

(iii) Find the possible value(s) of a . [3]

1 187
[Ans: (i) 1+12 x+ 60 x 2+ ... (ii) 64−192 ax +240 a 2 x 2 +... (iii) a= , ]
4 20

Question 2

x n
If the first three terms in the expansion of (1− ) is 1−6 x+ ax 2 , find the value of n
2
and of a. [4]
33
[Ans: n=12, a= ]
2

General term ( Tr+1 formula )

Question 3

1 6 2
(i) Find the term independant of x in the expansion of (3x − ) [2]
2x

p 10 63
(ii) The coefficient of x 5 in the binomial expansion of (x 3 + ) is . Find the
x 2
8
value of p . [3]

135 1
[Ans: (i) (ii) p= ]
16 2
Question 4

4 3 2 13
In the expansion of (2+ 4
)( kx − ) where k is a positive constant, the coefficient of
x x
1
is 0 . Find the value of k . [4]
x
2
[Ans: k = ]
5
Estimation

Question 5

x 8
Obtain the first 4 terms in ascending powers of x , the expansion of (2− ) . [2]
2
Hence find,
2 8
x x
(i) the coefficient of x 2 in the expansion of (1− ) (2− ) . [2]
2 2

(ii) an estimate for the value of 1.998 correct to 2 decimal places. [2]
[Ans: (i) 1024 (ii) 245.94 ]

Question 6

(i) Write down the expansion of (3−x)3 in ascending powers of x. [1]

(ii) Expand (3+2 x )8 , in ascending powers of x, up to the term in x 3 . [3]

(iii) Find the expansion of (3  x )3 (3+2 x )8 in ascending powers of x, up to x 2 . [2]

(iv) By using your answer to part (iii), let x=0.01 and estimate the value of
2.993×3.028 correct to 3 significant figures, showing clearly your working. [2]

(v) Explain why the expansion in (iii) is not suitable for finding 23 ×58 . [1]
2 3 2 3
[Ans: (i) 27−27 x +9 x −x (ii) 6561+34992 x+ 81648 x +108864 x +...
(iii) 177147+ 767637 x+1318761 x 2 + .. . (iv) 185000 (v) 1 is large, poor estimate ]

Challenging

Question 7
12
2 2
(i) In the binomial expansion of ( −x ) , in ascending powers of x , find the term
x3
in which the power of x first becomes positive. [4]

x n
(ii) Given that the first 2 non-zero terms in the expansion of (1+mx)(1− ) are
2
15 2
1 and − x , where n is a positive integer, find the value of m and of n . [5]
4
5
[Ans: (i) 7920 x 4 (ii) m= , n=5 ]
2
Question 8

x2 n
(i) Write down and simplify the first 3 terms in the expansion of (1− ) , in
2
ascending powers of x , where n is a positive integer greater than 2. [2]

(ii) The first three terms in the expansion, in ascending powers of x, of

x2 n
(2+ 3 x 2 )(1− ) are 2− px 2+ 2 x 4 , where p is an integer.
2
Find the value of n and of p . [5]
n 2 n(n−1) 4
[Ans: (i) 1− x + x +... (ii) n=8 , p=5 ]
2 8
Question 9

1 6
(i) By considering the general term in the binomial expansion of ( x 4− ) where k
kx 2
is a positive constant, explain why there are only even powers of x in this
expansion. [2]

5
(ii) Given that the term independent of x in this binomial expansion is , find the
27
value of k. [2]

(iii) Using the value of k found in part (ii), obtain the coefficient of x 18 in the expansion
1 6
of (2−3x 6)( x 4− 2 ) . [4]
kx
[Ans: (i) Since r is an integer, 2(12−3r) is even (ii) k =3 (iii) -9 ]