Mathematics

Session
Binomial Theorem Session 1
Session Objectives
Session Objective
1. Binomial theorem for positive
integral index
2. Binomial coefficients Pascals
triangle
3. Special cases
(i) General term
(ii) Middle term
(iii) Greatest coefficient
(iv) Coefficient of x
p

(v) Term dependent of x
(vi) Greatest term
Binomial Theorem for positive
integral index
For positive integer n
( )
n
n n 0 n n1 1 n n2 2 n 1 n1 n 0 n
0 1 2 n1 n
a b c a b c a b c a b ... c a b c a b + = + + + + +
n
n nr r
r
r 0
c a b
=
=

where
( ) ( )
n n
r nr
n! n!
c c for 0 r n
r! n r ! n r !r!
= = = s s
are called binomial coefficients.
( ) ( )
n
r
n n 1 ... n r 1
C ,
1.2.3...r
+
= numerator contains r factors
Any expression containing two terms
only is called binomial expression eg.
a+b, 1 + ab etc
Binomial theorem
10 10 10
7 107 3
10! 10.9.8
C 120 C C
7! 3! 3.2.1
= = = = =
Pascals Triangle
0
C
0
1
C
0
C
1
1
C
2
2
C
3
3
C
4
4
C
5
5
C
2
1
C
3
1
C
4
1
C
5
1
C
5
2
C
5
3
C
5
4
C
4
3
C
3
2
C
4
2
2
C
0
3
C
0
4
C
0
5
C
0
( )
0
a b 1 + =
( )
1
a b 1a 1b + = +
( )
2
2 2
a b 1a 2ab 1b + = + +
( )
3
3 2 2 3
a b 1a 3a b 3ab 1b + = + + +
( )
4
4 3 2 2 3 4
a b 1a 4a b 6a b 4ab 1b + = + + + +
( )
5
5 4 3 2 2 3 4 5
a b 1a 5a b 10a b 10a b 5ab 1b + = + + + + +
n n n 1
r 1 r r
c c c
+
+ =

3
4
5
6
10
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
10 5
1 1
1
1

Observations from binomial

theorem
1. (a+b)
n
has n+1 terms as 0 s r s n
2. Sum of indeces of a and b of each term
in above expansion is n
3. Coefficients of terms equidistant from
beginning and end is same as
n
c
r
=
n
c
n-r
( )
n
n n 0 n n1 1 n n2 2 n 1 n1 n 0 n
0 1 2 n1 n
a b c a b c a b c a b ... c a b c a b + = + + + + +
Special cases of binomial
theorem
( ) ( )
n n
n n n n1 n n2 2 n n
0 1 2 n
x y c x c x y c x y ... 1 c y = + +
( )
n
r
n nr r
r
r 0
1 c x y
=
=

( )
n
n
n n n 2 n n n r
0 1 2 n r
r 0
1 x c c x c x ... c x c x
=
+ = + + + + =

in ascending powers of x
( )
n
n n n n1 n
0 1 n
1 x c x c x ... c + = + + +
n
n nr
r
r 0
c x
=
=

( )
n
x 1 = +
in descending powers of x
Question
Illustrative Example
Expand (x + y)
4
+(x - y)
4
and hence
find the value of

( ) ( )
4 4
2 1 2 1 + +
Solution :
( )
4
4 4 0 4 3 1 4 2 2 4 1 3 4 0 4
0 1 2 3 4
x y C x y C x y C x y C x y C x y + = + + + +
4 3 2 2 3 4
x 4x y 6x y 4xy y = + + + +
Similarly ( )
4
4 3 2 2 3 4
x y x 4x y 6x y 4xy y = + +
( ) ( )
( )
4 4
4 2 2 4
x y x y 2 x 6x y y + + = + +
( ) ( )
4 4
4 2
2 4
Hence 2 1 2 1 2 2 6 2 1 1
| |
+ + = + +
|
\ .
=34
General term of (a + b)
n
n n r r
r 1 r
T c a b ,r 0,1,2,....,n

+
= =
n n 0
1 0
r 0, First Term T c a b = =
n n 1 1
2 1
r 1, Second Term T c a b

= =
n n r 1 r 1
r r 1
T c a b ,r 1,2,3,....,n
+

= =
1 2 3 4 5 n n 1
r 0 1 2 3 4 n 1 n
T T T T T T T
+
=
kth term from end is (n-k+2)th term from
beginning
n+1 terms
Question
Illustrative Example

Find the 6th term in the
expansion of
and its 4th term from the end.
9
5
2x
| |

|
\ .
4x
5
Solution :
9 r r
9
r 1 r
4x 5
T C
5 2x

+

| | | |
=
| |
\ . \ .
4 5
4 5
9
6 5 1 5
4 5
4x 5 9! 4 5
T T C
5 2x 4!5!
5 2 x
+

| | | |
= = =
| |
\ . \ .
3
9.8.7.6 2 .5
4.3.2.1 x
=
5040
x
=
Illustrative Example

Find the 6th term in the
expansion of
and its 4th term from the end.
9
5
2x
| |

|
\ .
4x
5
Solution :
9 r r
9
r 1 r
4x 5
T C
5 2x

+

| | | |
=
| |
\ . \ .
4th term from end = 9-4+2 = 7th term
from beginning i.e. T
7
3 6
3 6
9
7 6 1 6
3 6 3
4x 5 9! 4 5
T T C
5 2x 3!6!
5 2 x
+

| | | |
= = =
| |
\ . \ .
3
3
9.8.7 5
3.2.1
x
=
3
10500
x
=
Middle term
CaseI: n is even, i.e. number of
terms odd only one middle term
th
n 2
term
2
+
| |
|
\ .
CaseII: n is odd, i.e. number of
terms even, two middle terms
n n
n
2 2
n 2 n n
1
2 2 2
T T c a b
+
+
= =
th
n 1
term
2
+
| |
|
\ .
n 1 n 1
n
2 2
n 1 n 1 n 1
1
2 2 2
T T c a b
+
+
+
= =
th
n 3
term
2
+
| |
|
\ .
n 1 n 1
n
2 2
n 3 n 1 n 1
1
2 2 2
T T c a b
+
+ + +
+
= =
Middle term
= ?
2n
1
x
x
| |
+
|
\ .
Greatest Coefficient
n
r
c , 0 r n s s
CaseI: n even
n
1
2
n
term T is max i.e. for r
2
+
= Coefficient of middle
n
n
2
C
CaseII: n odd
n 1 n 3
2 2
n 1 n 1
term T or T is max i.e. for r or
2 2
+ +
+
= Coefficient of middle
n n
n 1 n 1
2 2
C or C
+
Question
Illustrative Example
Find the middle term(s) in the
expansion of and

hence find greatest coefficient
in the expansion
7
3
x
3x
6
| |
|
|
\ .
Solution :
Number of terms is 7 + 1 = 8 hence 2 middle
terms, (7+1)/2 = 4th and (7+3)/2 = 5th
( )
3
3 4 13
4
7
4 3 1 3
3
x 7! 3 x
T T C 3x
6 4!3!
6
+
| |

= = = |
|
\ .
13
13
3
7.6.5 3x 105
x
3.2.1 8
2
= =
Illustrative Example
Find the middle term(s) in the expansion
of and hence find greatest
coefficient in the expansion
7
3
x
3x
6
| |
|
|
\ .
Solution :
15
15
4
7.6.5 x 35
x
3.2.1 48
2 3
= =
( )
4
3 3 15
3
7
5 4 1 4
4
x 7! 3 x
T T C 3x
6 3! 4!
6
+
| |

= = = |
|
\ .
Hence Greatest coefficient is
7 7
4 3
7! 7.6.5
C or C or 35
3! 4! 3.2.1
= =
Coefficient of x
p
in the
expansion of (f(x) + g(x))
n
Algorithm
Step1: Write general term T
r+1
Step2: Simplify i.e. separate
powers of x from coefficient and
constants and equate final power
of x to p

Step3: Find the value of r
Term independent of x in
(f(x) + g(x))
n
Algorithm
Step1: Write general term T
r+1
Step2: Simplify i.e. separate
powers of x from coefficient and
constants and equate final power
of x to 0

Step3: Find the value of r
Question
Illustrative Example

Find the coefficient of x
5
in the expansion
of and term independent of x
10
2
3
1
3x
2x
| |

|
\ .
Solution :
( )
r
10 r
10 2
r 1 r
3
1
T C 3x
2x

+
| |
=
|
\ .
r
10 10 r 20 2r 3r
r
1
C 3 x
2

| |
=
|
\ .
For coefficient of x
5
, 20 - 5r = 5 r = 3

3
10 10 3 5
3 1 3
1
T C 3 x
2

+
| |
=
|
\ .
Coefficient of x
5
= -32805
Solution Cont.

( )
r
10 r
10 2
r 1 r
3
1
T C 3x
2x

+
| |
=
|
\ .
r
10 10 r 20 2r 3r
r
1
C 3 x
2

| |
=
|
\ .
For term independent of x i.e. coefficient of x
0
,
20 - 5r = 0 r = 4

4
10 10 4
4 1 4
1
T C 3
2

+
| |
=
|
\ .
Term independent of x
76545
8
=
Greatest term in the expansion
Algorithm
Step1: Find the general term T
r+1
Step2: Solve for r

1 >
r+1
r
T
T
Step3: Solve for r

1 >
r+1
r+2
T
T
Step4: Now find the common values
of r obtained in step 2 and step3
Question
Illustrative Example
Find numerically the greatest term(s) in
the expansion of (1+4x)
8
, when x = 1/3

Solution :
( )
r
8
r 1 r
T C 4x
+
=
( )
( )
r
8
r
r 1
r 1
8
r
r 1
C 4x
T
T
C 4x
+

=
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
8!
4x
8 r !r! 9 r 4x
8!
r
9 r ! r 1 !

= =

36 4r
3r

=
1 >
36
r
7
s

Solution Cont.
36
r
7
s
( )
( )
r
8
r
r 1
r 1
8
r 2
r 1
C 4x
T
T
C 4x
+
+
+
+
=
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
8!
8 r !r!
r 1
8!
8 r 4x
4x
7 r ! r 1 !

+
= =

+
3r 3
32 4r
+
=

1 >
29
r
7
>
29 36
r
7 7
s s
r = 5 i.e. 6th term
5 5
8
6 5 1 5
4 4
T T C 56
3 3
+
| | | |
= = =
| |
\ . \ .
Class Test
Class Exercise 1
Find the term independent of
x in the expansion of
8
1 1
3 5
1
x x .
2
| |
|
+
|
\ .
Solution :
8 r r
1 1
8
3 5
r 1 r
1
T C x . x
2

+
| | | |
| |
=
| |
\ . \ .
8 r r
8 r
8
3 5
r
1
C x
2

| |
=
|
\ .
40 5r 3r 40 8r
8 r 8 r
8 8
15 15
r r
1 1
C x C x
2 2


| | | |
= =
| |
\ . \ .
For the term to be independent of x
40 8r
0 r 5
15

= =
Hence sixth term is independent of x and is given by
3
8
6 5
1 8! 1
T C . 7
2 5! 3! 8
| |
= = =
|
\ .
6
T 7 =
Class Exercise 2
Solution :
Find (i) the coefficient of x
9
(ii) the
term independent of x, in the expansion
of
9
2
1
x
3x
| |

|
\ .
( )
r
9 r
9 2
r 1 r
1
T C x
3x

+
| |
=
|
\ .
r
9 18 2r r
r
1
C x
3

| |
=
|
\ .
r
9 18 3r
r
1
C x
3

| |
=
|
\ .
i) For Coefficient of x
9
, 18-3r = 9 r = 3

3 3
9 9 9 9
4 r
1 9! 1 28
T C x x x
3 3! 6! 3 9
| | | |
= = =
| |
\ . \ .
hence coefficient
of x
9
is -28/9

ii) Term independent of x or coefficient
of x
0
,

18 3r = 0 r = 6

6 6
9
7 6
1 9! 1 28
T C
3 6! 3! 3 243
| | | |
= = =
| |
\ . \ .
Class Exercise 3
Solution :
n n n
r r 1 r 2
For 2 r n, C 2 C C

s s + + =
n 1 n 1 n 2 n 2
r 1 r 1 r r
a) C b) 2 C c) 2 C d) C
+ + + +
+
n n n
r r 1 r 2
C 2 C C

+ +
n n n n
r 1 r r 2 r 1
C C C C

= + + +
Now as
n n n 1
m m 1 m 1
C C C
+
+ +
+ =
n n n n
r 1 r r 2 r 1
C C C C

+ + +
n 1 n 1 n 2
r r 1 r
C C C
+ + +

= + =
Class Exercise 4
Solution :
If the sum of the coefficients in the
expansion of (x+y)
n
is 4096, then
prove that the greatest coefficient in
the expansion is 924. What will be its
middle term?
Sum of the coefficients is
n 12
2 4096 2 = =
n 12 =
i.e. odd number of terms
greatest coefficient will be of the middle term
12
6
12! 12.11.10.9.8.7
C 924
6! 6! 6.5.4.3.2.1
= = =
Middle term =
12 6 6 6 6
6
C x y 924x y =
Class Exercise 5
Solution :
If
then prove that
( )
n
2 2 2n
0 1 2 2n
1 x x a a x a x ... a x + = + + + +
n
0 2 4 2n
3 1
a a a ... a
2
+
+ + + + =
( )
n
2 2 2n
0 1 2 2n
1 x x a a x a x ... a x + = + + + + ...(i)
Replace x by x in above expansion we get
( )
n
2 2 2n
0 1 2 2n
1 x x a a x a x ... a x + + = + +
...(ii)
Adding (i) and (ii) we get
( ) ( )
n n
2 2
1 x x 1 x x + + + +
( )
2 4 2n
0 2 4 2n
2 a a x a x ... a x = + + + +
Solution Cont.
( ) ( )
n n
2 2
1 x x 1 x x + + + +
( )
2 4 2n
0 2 4 2n
2 a a x a x ... a x = + + + +
Put x = 1 in above, we get
( )
n
0 2 4 2n
1 3 2 a a a ... a + = + + + +
n
0 2 4 2n
3 1
a a a ... a
2
+
+ + + + =
Class Exercise 6
Solution :
Let n be a positive integer. If the
coefficients of 2nd, 3rd, 4th terms in
the expansion of (x+y)
n
are in AP,
then find the value of n.
n n 2 n 3
2 1 3 2 4 3
T C x, T C x , T C x = = =
n n n
1 2 3
C , C , C
are in AP
n n n
2 1 3
2 C C C = +
( ) ( ) ( )
2 n! n! n!
2! n 2 ! 1! n 1 ! 3! n 3 !
= +
( ) ( ) ( )
1 1 1
n 2 ! n 1 ! 3! n 3 !
= +
( )
( )( )
( )
6 n 1 n 2
1
n 2 ! 3! n 1 !
+
=
( )
2
6 n 1 6 n 3n 2 = + +
( ) ( )
2
x 9n 14 0 n 7 n 2 0 + = =
n 2 or n 7 = = n 7 =
Class Exercise 7
Solution :
Show that
Hence show that the integral part of
is 197.
( ) ( )
6 6
2 1 2 1 198. + + =
( )
6
2 1 +
( ) ( )
6 6
LHS 2 1 2 1 = + +
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
6 5 4 3 2
6 6 6 6
1 2 3 4
2 C 2 C 2 C 2 C 2 = + + + +
( ) ( ) ( )
6 5
6 6 6 6
5 6 0 1
C 2 C C 2 C 2 + + +
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
4 3 2 1
6 6 6 6 6
2 3 4 5 6
C 2 C 2 C 2 C 2 C + + +
( ) ( ) ( )
6 4 2
6 6 6
2 4 6
2 2 C 2 C 2 C
(
= + + +
(

( ) ( )
6 6
2 1 2 1 + +
Solution Cont.
( ) ( ) ( )
6 4 2
6 6 6
2 4 6
2 2 C 2 C 2 C
(
= + + +
(

3 2
6! 6!
2 2 .2 .2 1
2! 4! 4! 2!
| |
= + + +
|
\ .
= 2 (8 + 15.4 + 15.2 + 1) = 198 = RHS
Let ( )
6
2 1 I f + = + where
I = Integral part of
( )
6
2 1 +
and f = fraction part of
( )
6
2 1 +
0 f 1 s <
i.e.
( )
6
0 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 < < < <
Solution Cont.
f f 198I Integer + = =
Now as
'
0 f 1 and 0 f 1 s < < <
let ( )
6
2 1 f =
( ) ( )
6 6
2 1 2 1 I f f 198 + + = + + =
'
0 f 1 and 0 f 1 s < < <
f f + is an integer lying between 0 and 2
f f 1 + =
( )
I 198 f f 198 1 197 = + = =
Integer part of is 197.
( )
6
2 1 +
0 f f ' 2 < + <
Class Exercise 8
Solution :
Find the value of greatest term
in the expansion of
20
1
3 1
3
| |
+
|
\ .
Consider
20
1
1
3
| |
+
|
\ .
Let T
r+1
be the greatest term
r 1 r r 1 r 2
T T and T T
+ + +
> >
r 1 r
T T
+
>
3 r 1
20 20
r r 1
1 1
C C
3 3
| | | |
>
| |
\ . \ .
( ) ( ) ( )
20! 1 20!
.
r! 20 r ! r 1 ! 21 r !
3
>
( ) ( ) ( )
20! 1 20!
.
r! 20 r ! r 1 ! 21 r !
3
>
Solution Cont.
1 1 1
.
r 21 r
3
>
21 r 3r >
( )
21 3 1
21 21 3 21
r
2 2
3 1
s = =
+
r 1 r 2
T T
+ +
>
r r 1
20 20
r r 1
1 1
C C
3 3
+
+
| | | |
>
| |
\ . \ .
( ) ( ) ( )
20! 20! 1
.
r! 20 r ! r 1 ! 19 r !
3
>
+
( )
1 1 1
.
20 r r 1
3
>
+
3r 3 20 r + >
( )( )
20 3 3 1
20 3 21 3 23
r
3 1 2
3 1
> = =
+
Solution Cont.
21 3 23 21 3 21
r
2 2
s s
6.686 r 7.686 s s
r = 7 is the only integer value lying in this interval
7
20
8 7
1
T 3 C
3
| |
=
|
\ .
is the greatest term.
Class Exercise 9
If O be the sum of odd terms
and E that of even terms in the
expansion of (x + b)
n
prove that
( )
n
2 2 2 2
O E x b =
( ) ( )
2n 2n
4OE x b x b = +
( )
( ) ( )
2n 2n
2 2
2 O E x b x b + = + +
i)
ii)
iii)
( )
n
x b + =
n n 0 n n 1 1 n 1 n 1 n 0 n
0 1 n 1 n
C x b C x b ... C x b C x b

+ + + +
Solution :
n n 0 n n2 2
0 2
O C x b C x b ... = + +
n n1 1 n n3 3
1 3
E C x b C x b ... = +
Solution Cont.
n n 0 n n2 2
0 2
O C x b C x b ... = + +
n n1 1 n n3 3
1 3
E C x b C x b ... = +
( )
n
O E x b + = +
O - E = (x-b)
n
( )( ) ( ) ( )
n n
2 2
O E O E O E x b x b = + = +
( )
n
2 2
x b =
4 OE =
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2n 2n
O E O E x b x b + = +
( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
2 O E O E O E + = + + ( ) ( )
2n 2n
x b x b = + +
Class Exercise 10
Solution :
In the expansion of (1+x)
n
the binomial
coefficients of three consecutive terms
are respectively 220, 495 and 792, find
the value of n.
Let the terms be
r r 1 r 2
T , T , T
+ +
n r 1 n
r r 1 r 1
T C x C 220 = =
n r n
r 1 r r
T C x C 495
+
= =
n r 1 n
r 2 r 1 r 1
T C x C 792
+
+ + +
= =
( ) ( )
( )
n
r r 1
n
r 1
r
r! n r !
T C n! 220
.
T r 1 ! n r 1 ! n! 495
C
+
= = =
+
Solution Cont.
( ) ( )
( )
n
r r 1
n
r 1
r
r! n r !
T C n! 220
.
T r 1 ! n r 1 ! n! 495
C
+
= = =
+
r 220 4
n r 1 495 9
= =
+
9r 4n 4r 4 = +
4n 4
r ...(i)
13
+
=
Similarly
r 1
r 2
T r 1 495 5
T n r 792 8
+
+
+
= = =
5n 8
8r 8 5n 5r r
13
+ = =
...(ii)
Solution Cont.
4n 4
r ...(i)
13
+
=
( )
5n 8
r ... ii
13

=
From (i) and (ii)
4n 4 5n 8
13 13
+
=
4n 4 5n8 + =
n = 12
Thank you