Question (1)
Find the coefficient of x
5 in (x + 3)
8
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by ${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Assuming that x
5 occurs in the (r + 1)
th term of the expansion
(x + 3)
8, we obtain
${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^8}{C_r}{\left( x \right)^{8 - r}}{\left( 3 \right)^r}$
Comparing the indices of x in x
5 and in T
r +1, we obtain
r = 3
Thus, the coefficient of x
5 is
\[^8{C_3}{\left( 3 \right)^3} = \frac{{8!}}{{3!5!}} \times {3^3} = \frac{{8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5!}}{{3 \cdot 2 \cdot 5!}} \cdot {3^3} = 1512\]
Question (2)
Find the coefficient of a
5b
7 in (a – 2b)
12
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by
${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Assuming that a
5b
7 occurs in the (r + 1)
th term of the expansion (a – 2b)
12, we obtain
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^{12}}{C_r}{\left( a \right)^{12 - r}}{\left( { - 2b} \right)^r}{ = ^{12}}{C_r}{\left( { - 2} \right)^r}{\left( a \right)^{12 - r}}{\left( b \right)^r}\]
Comparing the indices of a and b in a
5b
7 and in T
r+1, we obtain r = 7
Thus, the coefficient of a
5b
7 is
\[^{12}{C_7}{\left( { - 2} \right)^7} = - \frac{{12!}}{{7!5!}} \cdot {2^7} = - \frac{{12 \cdot 11 \cdot 10 \cdot 9 \cdot 8 \cdot 7!}}{{5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 7!}} \cdot {2^7}\]
\[ = - \left( {792} \right)\left( {128} \right) = - 101376\]
Question (3)
Write the general term in the expansion of (x
2 – y)
6
Solution
It is known that the general term T
r+1 {which is the (r + 1)
th term} in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}\]
Thus, the general term in the expansion of (x
2 – y)
6
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{\left( {{x^2}} \right)^{6 - r}}{\left( { - y} \right)^r} = {\left( { - 1} \right)^6}{C_r}{x^{12 - 2r}}{y^r}\]
Question (4)
Write the general term in the expansion of (x
2 – yx)
12, x ≠ 0
Solution
It is known that the general term T
r+1 {which is the (r + 1)
th term} in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}\]
Thus, the general term in the expansion of (x
2 – yx)
12 is
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^{12}}{C_r}{\left( {{x^2}} \right)^{12 - r}}{\left( { - yx} \right)^r}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^r}{\;^{12}}{C_r}{x^{24 - 2r}}{y^r}{x^r}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^r}{\;^{12}}{C_r}{x^{24 - r}}{y^r}\]
Question (5)
Find the 4th term in the expansion of (x – 2y)12 .
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by
${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Thus, the 4th term in the expansion of (x – 2y)
12 is
\[{T_4} = {T_{3 + 1}}{ = ^{12}}{C_3}{\left( x \right)^{12 - 3}}{\left( { - 2y} \right)^3}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^3} \cdot \frac{{12!}}{{3!9!}} \cdot {x^9} \cdot {\left( 2 \right)^3} \cdot {y^3}\]
\[ = - \frac{{12 \cdot 11 \cdot 10}}{{3 \cdot 2}} \cdot {\left( 2 \right)^3}{x^9}{y^3}\]
\[ = - 1760{x^9}{y^3}\]
Question (6)
Find the 13th term in the expansion of ${\left( {9x - \frac{1}{{3\sqrt x }}} \right)^{18}},x \ne 0$
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by ${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Thus, 13
th term in the expansion of ${\left( {9x - \frac{1}{{3\sqrt x }}} \right)^{18}}$ is
\[{T_{13}} = {T_{12 + 1}}{ = ^{18}}{C_{12}}{\left( {9x} \right)^{18 - 12}}{\left( { - \frac{1}{{3\sqrt x }}} \right)^{12}}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^{12}}\frac{{18!}}{{12!6!}}{\left( 9 \right)^6}{\left( x \right)^6}{\left( {\frac{1}{3}} \right)^{12}}{\left( {\frac{1}{{\sqrt x }}} \right)^{12}}\]
\[ = \frac{{18 \cdot 17 \cdot 16 \cdot 15 \cdot 14 \cdot 13 \cdot 12!}}{{12!6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2}}{x^6}\left( {\frac{1}{{{x^3}}}} \right){3^{12}}\left( {\frac{1}{{{3^{12}}}}} \right)\]
Note $\left[ {{9^6} = {{\left( {{3^2}} \right)}^6} = {3^{12}}} \right]$
\[ = 18564\]
Question (7)
Find the middle terms in the expansions of ${\left( {3 - \frac{{{x^3}}}{6}} \right)^7}$
Solution
It is known that in the expansion of (a + b)
n, if n is odd, then there are two middle terms, namely, ${\left( {\frac{{n + 1}}{2}} \right)^{th}}$ term and ${\left( {\frac{{n + 1}}{2} + 1} \right)^{th}}$ term.
Therefore, the middle terms in the expansion of ${\left( {3 - \frac{{{x^3}}}{6}} \right)^7}$ are ${\left( {\frac{{7 + 1}}{2}} \right)^{th}} = {4^{th}}$ term and ${\left( {\frac{{7 + 1}}{2} + 1} \right)^{th}} = {5^{th}}$ term.
\[{T_4} = {T_{3 + 1}}{ = ^7}{C_4}{\left( 3 \right)^{7 - 3}}{\left( { - \frac{{{x^3}}}{6}} \right)^3}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^3}\frac{{7!}}{{3!4!}} \cdot {3^4} \cdot \frac{{{x^9}}}{{{6^3}}}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^3}\frac{{7!}}{{3!4!}} \cdot {3^4} \cdot \frac{{{x^9}}}{{{6^3}}}\]
\[ = - \frac{{7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4!}}{{4! \cdot 3 \cdot 2}} \cdot {3^4} \cdot \frac{1}{{{2^3} \cdot {3^3}}} \cdot {x^9} = - \frac{{105}}{8}{x^9}\]
\[{T_5} = {T_{4 + 1}}{ = ^7}{C_4}{\left( 3 \right)^{7 - 4}}{\left( { - \frac{{{x^3}}}{6}} \right)^4}\]
\[ = {\left( { - 1} \right)^4}\frac{{7!}}{{4!3!}}{\left( 3 \right)^3} \cdot \frac{{{x^{12}}}}{{{6^4}}}\]
\[ = \frac{{7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4!}}{{4! \cdot 3 \cdot 2}} \cdot \frac{{{3^3}}}{{{2^4} \cdot {3^4}}} \cdot {x^{12}} = \frac{{35}}{{48}}{x^{12}}\]
Thus, the middle terms in the expansion of ${\left( {3 - \frac{{{x^3}}}{6}} \right)^7}$ are
$ - \frac{{105}}{8}{x^9}$ and $[\frac{{35}}{{48}}{x^{12}}$
Question (8)
Find the middle terms in the expansions of ${\left( {\frac{x}{3} + 9y} \right)^{10}}$
Solution
It is known that in the expansion (a + b)
n, if n is even, then the middle term is ${\left( {\frac{n}{2} + 1} \right)^{th}}$ term.
Therefore, the middle term in the expansion of ${\left( {\frac{x}{3} + 9y} \right)^{10}}$ is ${\left( {\frac{{10}}{2} + 1} \right)^{th}} = {6^{th}}$
\[{T_6} = {T_{5 + 1}}{ = ^{10}}{C_5}{\left( {\frac{x}{3}} \right)^{10 - 5}}\left( {9{y^5}} \right)\]
\[ = \frac{{10!}}{{5!5!}} \cdot \frac{{{x^5}}}{{{3^5}}} \cdot {9^5} \cdot {y^5}\]
\[ = \frac{{10 \cdot 9 \cdot 8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5!}}{{5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 5!}} \cdot \frac{1}{{{3^5}}} \cdot {9^5} \cdot {y^5}\]
Note : $\left[ {{9^5} = {{\left( {{3^2}} \right)}^5} = {3^{10}}} \right]$
\[ = 252 \times {3^5} \cdot {x^5} \cdot {y^5} = 6123{x^5}{y^5}\]
Thus, the middle term in the expansion of ${\left( {\frac{x}{3} + 9y} \right)^{10}}$ is 61236 x
5y
5.
Question (9)
In the expansion of (1 + a)
m + n, prove that coefficients of a
m and a
n are equal.
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by ${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Assuming that am occurs in the (r + 1)
th term of the expansion (1 + a)
m + n, we obtain
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^{m + n}}{C_r}{\left( 1 \right)^{m + n - r}}{\left( a \right)^r}{ = ^{m + n}}{C_r}{a^r}\]
Comparing the indices of a in a
m and in T
r + 1, we obtain
r = m
Therefore, the coefficient of a
m is
\[^{m + n}{C_m} = \frac{{\left( {m + n} \right)!}}{{m!\left( {m + n - m} \right)!}} = \frac{{\left( {m + n} \right)!}}{{m!n!}} - - - (i)\]
Assuming that an occurs in the (k + 1)
th term of the expansion (1 + a)
m+n, we obtain
\[{T_{k + 1}}{ = ^{m + n}}{C_k}{\left( 1 \right)^{m + n - k}}{\left( a \right)^k}{ = ^{m + n}}{C_k}{\left( a \right)^k}\]
Comparing the indices of a in a
n and in T
k + 1, we obtain
k = n
Therefore, the coefficient of a
n is
\[^{m + n}{C_n} = \frac{{\left( {m + n} \right)!}}{{n!\left( {m + n - n} \right)!}} = \frac{{\left( {m + n} \right)!}}{{n!m!}} - - - (ii)\]
Thus, from (1) and (2), it can be observed that the coefficients of a
m and a
n in the expansion of (1 + a)
m + n are equal.
Question (10)
The coefficients of the (r – 1)
th, r
th and (r + 1)
th terms in the expansion of
(x + 1)
n are in the ratio 1:3:5. Find n and r.
Solution
It is known that (k + 1)
th term, (T
k+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by ${T_{k + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_k}{a^{n - k}}{b^k}$
Therefore, (r – 1)
th term in the expansion of (x + 1)
n is
\[{T_{r - 1}}{ = ^n}{C_{r - 2}}{\left( x \right)^{n - \left( {r - 2} \right)}}{\left( 1 \right)^{\left( {r - 2} \right)}}{ = ^n}{C_{r - 2}}{x^{n - r + 2}}\]
r
th term in the expansion of (x + 1)
n is
\[{T_r}{ = ^n}{C_{r - 1}}{\left( x \right)^{n - \left( {r - 1} \right)}}{\left( 1 \right)^{\left( {r - 1} \right)}}{ = ^n}{C_{r - 1}}{x^{n - r + 1}}\]
(r + 1)
th term in the expansion of (x + 1)
n is
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{\left( x \right)^{n - r}}{\left( 1 \right)^r}{ = ^n}{C_r}{x^{n - r}}\]
Therefore, the coefficients of the (r – 1)
th, r
th, and (r + 1)
th terms in the expansion of (x + 1)
n are respectively. Since these coefficients are in the ratio 1:3:5, we obtain
$\frac{{^n{C_{r - 2}}}}{{^n{C_{r - 1}}}} = \frac{1}{3}$ and $\frac{{^n{C_{r - 1}}}}{{^n{C_r}}} = \frac{3}{5}$
\[\frac{{^n{C_{r - 2}}}}{{^n{C_{r - 1}}}} = \frac{{n!}}{{\left( {r - 2} \right)!\left( {n - r + 2} \right)!}} \times \frac{{\left( {r - 1} \right)!\left( {n - r + 1} \right)!}}{{n!}}\]
\[ = \frac{{\left( {r - 1} \right)\left( {r - 2} \right)!\left( {n - r + 1} \right)!}}{{\left( {r - 2} \right)!\left( {n - r + 2} \right)\left( {n - r + 1} \right)!}} = \frac{{r - 1}}{{n - r + 2}}\]
\[\therefore \frac{{r - 1}}{{n - r + 2}} = \frac{1}{3}\]
\[ \Rightarrow 3r - 3 = n - r + 2\]
\[ \Rightarrow n - 4r + 5 = 0 - - - (1)\]
\[\frac{{^n{C_{r - 1}}}}{{^n{C_r}}} = \frac{{n!}}{{\left( {r - 1} \right)!\left( {n - r + 1} \right)}} \times \frac{{r!\left( {n - r} \right)!}}{{n!}}\]
\[ = \frac{{\left( {r - 1} \right)\left( {r - 2} \right)!\left( {n - r + 1} \right)!}}{{\left( {r - 2} \right)!\left( {n - r + 2} \right)\left( {n - r + 1} \right)!}}\]
\[ = \frac{r}{{n - r + 1}}\]
\[ \therefore \frac{r}{{n - r + 1}} = \frac{3}{5}\]
\[ \Rightarrow 5r = 3n - 3r + 3\]
\[ \Rightarrow 3n - 8r + 3 = 0 - - - (2)\]
Multiplying (1) by 3 and subtracting it from (2), we obtain
4r – 12 = 0
⇒ r = 3
Putting the value of r in (1), we obtain
n – 12 + 5 = 0
⇒ n = 7
Thus, n = 7 and r = 3
Question (11)
Prove that the coefficient of x
n in the expansion of (1 + x)
2n is twice the coefficient of x
n in the expansion of (1 + x)
2n–1 .
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by ${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^n}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Assuming that x
n occurs in the (r + 1)
th term of the expansion of (1 + x)
2n, we obtain
Comparing the indices of x in x
n and in T
r + 1, we obtain
r = n
Therefore, the coefficient of xn in the expansion of (1 + x)
2n is
\[^{2n}{C_n} = \frac{{\left( {2n} \right)!}}{{n!\left( {2n - n} \right)!}} = \frac{{\left( {2n} \right)!}}{{n!n!}} = \frac{{\left( {2n} \right)!}}{{{{\left( {n!} \right)}^2}}} - - - (1)\]
Assuming that x
n occurs in the (k +1)
th term of the expansion (1 + x)
2n – 1, we obtain
\[{T_{k + 1}}{ = ^{2n - 1}}{C_k}{\left( 1 \right)^{2n - 1 - k}}{\left( x \right)^k}{ = ^{2n - 1}}{C_k}{\left( x \right)^k}\]
Comparing the indices of x in x
n and T
k + 1, we obtain
k = n
Therefore, the coefficient of x
n in the expansion of (1 + x)
2n –1 is
\[^{2n - 1}{C_n} = \frac{{\left( {2n - 1} \right)!}}{{n!\left( {2n - 1 - n} \right)!}} = \frac{{\left( {2n - 1} \right)!}}{{n!\left( {n - 1} \right)!}}\]
\[ = \frac{{2n\left( {2n - 1} \right)!}}{{2n \cdot n!\left( {n - 1} \right)!}} = \frac{{\left( {2n} \right)!}}{{2 \cdot n!n!}} = \frac{1}{2}\left[ {\frac{{\left( {2n} \right)!}}{{{{\left( {n!} \right)}^2}}}} \right] - - - (2)\]
From (1) and (2), it is observed that
\[\frac{1}{2}\left( {^{2n}{C_n}} \right){ = ^{2n - 1}}{C_n}\]
\[{ \Rightarrow ^{2n}}{C_n} = 2\left( {^{2n - 1}{C_n}} \right)\]
Therefore, the coefficient of xn in the expansion of (1 + x)
2n is twice the coefficient of xn in the expansion of (1 + x)
2n–1.
Hence, proved.
Question (12)
Find a positive value of m for which the coefficient of x
2 in the expansion
(1 + x)
m is 6.
Solution
It is known that (r + 1)
th term, (T
r+1), in the binomial expansion of (a + b)
n is given by ${T_{r + 1}}{ = ^m}{C_r}{a^{n - r}}{b^r}$
Assuming that x
2 occurs in the (r + 1)
th term of the expansion (1 +x)
m, we obtain
\[{T_{r + 1}}{ = ^m}{C_r}{\left( 1 \right)^{m - r}}{\left( x \right)^r}{ = ^m}{C_r}{\left( x \right)^r}\]
Comparing the indices of x in x
2 and in T
r + 1, we obtain
r = 2
Therefore, the coefficient of x
2 is.
It is given that the coefficient of x
2 in the expansion (1 + x)
m is 6.
\[ \therefore ^m{C_2} = 6\]
\[ \Rightarrow \frac{{m!}}{{2!\left( {m - 2} \right)!}} = 6\]
\[ \Rightarrow \frac{{m\left( {m - 1} \right)\left( {m - 2} \right)!}}{{2 \times \left( {m - 2} \right)!}} = 6\]
\[ \Rightarrow m\left( {m - 1} \right) = 12\]
\[ \Rightarrow {m^2} - m - 12 = 0\]
\[ \Rightarrow {m^2} - 4m + 3m - 12 = 0\]
\[ \Rightarrow m\left( {m - 4} \right) + 3\left( {m - 4} \right) = 0\]
\[ \Rightarrow \left( {m - 4} \right)\left( {m + 3} \right) = 0\]
\[ \Rightarrow \left( {m - 4} \right) = 0 \; \;or \; \;\left( {m + 3} \right) = 0\]
\[ \Rightarrow m = 4 \; \; or \;\; m = - 3\]
Thus, the positive value of m, for which the coefficient of x
2 in the expansion
(1 + x)
m is 6, is 4.