The Binomial Theorem

First, do p. 264 #9,10 to review Sigma Notation.

Recall: Pascal’s Triangle and notice the pattern related to Combinations (nCr):
1 0C0
1 1 1C0 1C1
1 2 1 2C0 2C1 2C2
1 3 3 1 3C0 3C1 3C2 3C3
1 4 6 4 1 4C0 4C1 4C2 4C3 4C4
1 5 10 10 5 1 5C0 5C1 5C2 5C3 5C4 5C5

Pascal’s Formula: tn,r = tn-1,r-1 + tn-1,r (row n, term r)

& nCr = n-1Cr-1 + n-1Cr

The Binomial Theorem:

For any positive integer n,

(a + b) n = nC0 a n + nC1a n -1b1 + nC2 a n -2b 2 +... + nCr a n - r b r + ... + nCr -1ab n -1 + nCnb n

�
n
or, (a + b)n = r =0
n
Cr a n - r b r

Examples:
1. Use combinations to expand (a + b)6
(a + b)6 = Ʃ6r=0 6Cra6-rbr
= 6C0a6 + 6C1a5b + 6C2a4b2 + 6C3a3b3 + 6C4a2b4 + 6C5ab5 + 6C6b6
= a6 + 6a5b + 15a4b2 + 20a3b3 + 15a2b4 + 6ab5 + b6
2. Expand: (x + 2/x2)4
(Do on board.)
use (a + b)4 = a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 + b4
and substitute x for a and 2/x2 for b (in brackets!)

3. Factoring using the binomial theorem.

Rewrite 1 + 10x2 + 40x4 + 80x6 + 80x8 + 32x10 in the form (a + b)5
- 6 terms, therefore n = 5.
- the first term, 1, represents a5 so a = 1
- the last term, 32x10 represents b5, so b = 2x2
Therefore (a + b)n = (1 + 2x2)5

Review Questions for this unit:

p. 296 # 1,5,8-14,15ac,16ac,19,23
p. 298 # 5,6,7,9