Binomial Theorem Cheat Sheet

Section *Remarks
Introduction 1. Binomial is about EXPANSION of expression. First of all, start with knowing the
definitions and formulae
! $ ! $ ! $
2. (a + b)n = a n + ## n && an−1b1 + ## n && an−2 b2 + ## n && an−3 b3 + ...
" 1 % " 2 % " 3 %
! $
3. General Term: Tr+1 = ## n && an−r br
" r %
! $ n!
4. Binomial Coefficient: ## n && =
" r % r !(n − r)!
Easy 4 Easy Questions usually deal with
Questions
1. Using Binomial Theorem, find the first four terms of 1+ 3x . ( ) applying formulae in a very
straightforward
Standard " x%
7 Standard Questions are questions
Questions 1. Using Binomial Theorem, find the first three terms of $$1− '' . often found in our textbook
# 5& exercises or assessment books.
i) Hence, obtain the coefficient of x 2 in the expansion Usually, the values of the
7 variables are changed but the
" x%
of (3x + 2)$$1− '' . question types will not divert too
# 5& much away from these standard
ii) Hence, estimate the value of 2.3 ×(0.98)7 , correct to 3 form.
significant figures.
7
! 2$
2. Using Binomial Theorem, find the first three terms of ## 5x + 2 && .
" x %
Hence, obtain the coefficient of x 2 in the expansion
7
2
" 2%
of (4x − 2) $$ 5x + 2 '' .
# x &
7
! 3$
3. Find the term independent of x in # x + 3 &
" x %
4. Find the coefficient of x−1 in the binomial expansion of
7
" 2 2%
$$ 3x − 3 ''
# x &
5. Given that the coefficient of the third term in the expansion of
(2x − 3)n is -253440 , find the value of n where n is a positive
integer.
6. In the expansion of (3 + 2x)n , the coefficient of x 2 and x 3 are in
the ratio of 9:1. Find the value of n.

Challenging n Challenging questions are hardly

Questions ( )
1. Given that 1+ kx = 1+ 20x + 45k 2 x 2 + ... , find the value of k and
predictable. They are either
n. more complicated in form or
2. Obtain the first three terms in the expansion, in ascending require knowledge from other
x2 chapters. To answer these
powers of x, of (4 − )6 . Hence, find the coefficient of x 3 in the questions, students have to be
3
generally strong in their
2x 6 2x 6 foundation in math and have a
expansion of (1+ ) (1− ) .
3 3 thorough understanding of the
chapter.