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! = 5.4.3.2.1 = 120

b) 2! = 2.1 = 2

c) 8!  8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1 = 8.7.6! = 56
6! 6.5.4.3.2.1 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
5.4.3.2.1
=
(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 45
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 !