1.

DEFINITION OF BINOMIAL EXPRESSION AND BINOMIAL EXPANSION :

An expression containing two terms, is called a binomial expression. For example
a + b/x, x + 1/y, a – y2 etc. are binomial expressions. Expansion of (x + a)n is called Binomial
Expansion.
Expression containing three terms are called trinomials. For example x + y + z is a trinomial expression.
In general an expression containing more than two terms is called a multinomial.

1.1 Definition of binomial theorem :

If n is a positive integer and x, y are two complex numbers, then
n
 x  y  n   n Cr x n  r y r
r 0
= nC0xn + nC1xn – 1 y + nC2xn – 2 y2 + . . . + nCn yn . . . (i)
n n n
The coefficients C0, C1, . . . , Cn are called binomial coefficients, while (i) is called the binomial
expansion.

1.2 Some Important Facts Regarding Binomial Expansion :

(i) There are (n + 1) terms in the expansion.
(ii) The sum of the exponents of x and y in any term of the expansion is equal to n.
(iii) The binomial coefficients of terms equidistant from the beginning and the end are equal,
since nCr = nCn – r .
(iv) The term nCr xn – r yr is the (r + 1)th term from the beginning of the expansion. It is usually
denoted by Tr + 1 and is called the general term of the expansion.
(v) The rth term from the end is equal to the (n – r + 2)th term from the beginning, i.e.,
n
Cn – r + 1 xr – 1 yn – r + 1 .
n 
(vi) If n is even, then the expansion has only one middle term, the   1 th term i.e.,
2 
n
Cn / 2 x n / 2 y n / 2 .
 n 1   n  3  th
If n is odd, then the expansion has two middle terms, the   th term and the  
 2   2 
n  n 1 / 2 y n 1 / 2 n  n 1 / 2 y n 1 / 2
term i.e., C n 1 / 2 x and C n 1 / 2 x .

Illustration 1 :
10
 1 
Find the coefficient of x–8 in the expansion of  x  2  .
 2x 
Solution:
We have
r
10 10 – r
 1  10
Tr + 1 = Cr(x)  2 = Cr (– 1)r 2– r x10 – 3r
 2x 
 To find the coefficient of x–8, we have
10 – 3r = – 8 i.e., r = 6.
6 105
Thus, the 7th term has x– 8 and its coefficient is 10
C6  1 26  .
32
Illustration 2:
9
Find the 3rd term from the end in the expansion of  x 3  1  .
 x
Solution:
The 3rd term from the end is equal to (9 – 3 + 2)th term, i.e., the 8th term from the beginning.
7
9 3 9–7  1  9.8  1  36
Hence, the required term is T8 = C7 (x )      .
 x  2  x  x

Illustration 3:
9
Find the middle term in the expansion of  ax  b  .
 x
Solution:
The expansion has two middle terms,
 9  1  th th  9  3  th th
viz   = 5 term and   = 6 term.
 2   2 
Hence, the middle terms are
4
 b  9.8.7.6 5 4
9
T5 = C4 (ax) 9–4
  
 x  1.2.3.4

a b x  126a 5b 4 x 
5
 b  9.8.7.6
and 9
T6 = C5 (ax) 9–5
  
 x  1.2.3.4

a 4 b5 x 1  126a 4b5 x 1
Drill exercise - 1
1. If p and q be positive, then prove that the coefficients of xp and xq in the expansion of (1 + x)p+ q will
be equal.
2. (a) Find the term independent of y in the expansion of (y–1/6 - y1/3)9 .
(b) Find the coefficient of x5 in the expansion of the product (1 + 2x)6 (1 – x)7 .
87
3. Find the number of integral terms in the expansion of 
233 . 
4. If coefficient of (2r + 3)th and (r - 1)th terms in the expansion of (1 + x)15 are equal, then find the
value of r.
12
a 
5. (a) Find the middle term in the expansion of   bx  .
x 
9
 x3 
(b) 
Find the middle term in the expansion of  3 x   .
 6 
2. SOME STANDARD EXPANSIONS :
n
n
(i) Consider the expansion  x  y    n Cr x n r y r . . . (i)
r 0
If we replace y by – y in equation (i), we have
n
 x  y n   n Cr  1r x n r yr . . . (ii)
r 0

n
= n
C0 x n n C1x n 1y  n C2 x n 2 y 2      n Cn  1 y n . . . (ii)

(ii) Adding equations (i) and (ii), we have

1
n


 x  y n   x  y n 
C0 x n  n C 2 x n  2 y2  n C 4 x n  4 y 4      . . . (iii)
2
and substracting equations (ii) from (i) we have,
1 n n
n
C1x n 1y  n C 3 x n  3 y 3  n C 5 x n 5 y 5        x  y    x  y   . . . (iv)
2 

(iii) Putting x = 1 and y = 1 in equation (i), we have

n
C0  n C1  n C 2      n Cn 1  n C n  2n . . . (v)
Thus, we see that the sum of the binomial coefficients of (x + y)n is 2n.

(iv) Putting x = 1 and y = 1 in equation (iii) and (iv), we have

n
C0  n C 2  n C4      2n 1  n C1  n C3  n C5     . . . (vi)

(v) Putting x = 1 and replacing y by x in equation (i), we have

(1 + x)n = nC0 + nC1x + nC2x2 + . . . + nCnxn . . . (vii)
Replacing x by – x in equation (vii), we have
(1 – x)n = nC0 – nC1 x + nC2x2 – . . . + nCn (– 1)n xn . . . (viii)

2.1 Important Formulae :

If C0 , C1, C2 , C3 ,........... represent n C0 , n C1, n C2 , n C3 ........... in the expansion of (1 + x)n . Then
(i) C0  C1  C2  C3  ........... Cn  2 n

(ii) C0  C1  C2  C3 ............. ( 1) n Cn  0

(iii) C0  C2  C4 .............  C1  C3  C5 ...........  2 n1

 Drill exercise - 2
6 6
1. (a) Find the value of e2  1j  e2  1j . (b) Find the sum of the series
10
20
r 0
Cr .

2. Find the value of 14 C1 14 C3 14 C5        14 C11 .

n 1 n
Cr
3. (a) Find the sum of the series 
r 0
n
Cr  n Cr 1
.

n
(b) Find the value of  r Cm , n  m .
r m

n
r n  1 3r 7 r 15 r 
4. Find the sum of the series  ( 1) C r  r
 2r
 3r
 4 r  . . .  to  
r 0 2 2 2 2 

2.2 Questions related with integral and fractional part

Illustration 4 :
If (7 + 4 3 )n = I + F, where I is a positive integer and F is a proper fraction, then show that
(I + F) (I – F) = 1.
Solution :
Let G = (7 – 4 3 )n.
Clearly, if we add G and I + F, we get an integer i.e.,
I + F + G = (7 + 4 3 )n + (7 – 4 3 )n
= 2[nC07n + nC27n–2 (4 3 )2 + . . . ] = an even integer..
 F+G=1  G = 1 – F
Hence, (I + F) (1 – F) = (I + F) G = (7 + 4 3 )n (7 – 4 3 )n = 1.
Drill exercise 3
1. Find the greatest integer less than or equal to ( 2 + 1)6.

2. If n is a natural number, show that the integral part of (5 + 2 6 )n is odd natural number..

3. Show that the integer just greater than ( 3 + 1)2m contains 2m+1 as a factor..

4. If (6 6 + 14)2n + 1 = R and F = R – [R], where [R] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal
to R, prove that RG = 20 2n+1.

5. If (5 + 6 )n = I + f, where I and n are positive integers and f is a positive fraction less than one,
show that (I + f) (I – f) = 1.
3. GREATEST BINOMIAL COEFFICIENT :
The greatest coefficient depends upon the value of n.
n no. of greatest coefficient (s) Greatest coefficient
n
Even 1 C n/2
n n
C n 1 C n 1
Odd 2 and
2 2
(Values of both these coefficients are equal)
Clearly greatest binomial coefficient corresponds to the coefficient of middle term.

4. NUMERICALLY GREATEST TERM OF BINOMIAL EXPANSION :

(a + x)n = C0 an + C1an – 1 x + . . . Cn – 1 a xn – 1 + Cnxn
n
Tr 1 Cr x n  r 1 x
 n

Tr C r 1 a r a

n  r 1 x
If  1 , for given a, x and n, then r  n  1
r a a
1
x

 
 n 1 
So numerically greatest term will be Tr + 1, where r =  
1  a 
 x 
[  ] denotes the greatest integer function.
n 1
Note : If itself is a natural number, then Tr = Tr + 1 and both the terms are numerically greatest term.
a
1
x

Illustration 5 .
10
 3x 
Given that the 4th term in the expansion of  2   has the maximum numerical value, find the
 8 
range of values of x for which this will be true.
Solution:
According to the question, |t4|  |t3|, |t4|  |t5|.
r
10 10 – r
 3x 
Now tr +1
= Cr. 2  
 8 
3 2 4
 3x   3x   3x 
 t4 = C3. 2 .   , t3 = 10C2. 28.
10 7
  and t5 = 10C4. 26.  
 8   8   8 
 Now, |t4|  |t3|
3 2
10
3 3
 C3. 2 .   . | x |3  10C2. 28.
7
  . | x |2 . . . (i)
8 8
and |t4|  |t5|
3 4
10
3 3
 C3. 2 .   . |x|3  10C4. 26.   . | x |4
7
. . . (ii)
8 8
from (i)
10.9.8 3 10.9
. . | x |3  .2 | x |2
6 8 2
or 45| x |  90 | x |2
3

or | x |3 – 2|x|2  0
or | x |  2 ,as x can not be zero.
10.9.8 10.9.8.7 3 7 3
from (ii) .2 | x |3  . . | x |4 or | x |3  . | x |4
6 24 8 8 8
 21  21
or | x |3 1  | x |  0  1 | x | 0
 64  64
64
 |x| 
21
64 1  64   64 
Thus, we get | x |  2 and | x |   3 . So x    ,  2    2, 
21 21  21   21 

Drill exercise 4

1. Prove that the greatest coefficient in the expansion of (1 + x)2n is double the greatest coefficient in
the expansion (1 + x)2n – 1.
2. Find numerically the greatest term in the expansion of (3 – 5x)15 when x = 1/5.
3. Find the greatest term in the expansion of (1 + x)10 when x = 2/3.

n
3 x 1
4. If the expansion of    when x = , it is known that 6th term is the greatest term, then find
2 3 2
the possible positive integral values of n.

5. Show that if the greatest term in the expansion of (1 + x)2n has also the greatest coefficient, then x
n n 1
lies between and .
n 1 n
5. SERIES OF BINOMIAL COEFFICIENT :
5.1 Sum of the series by the use of differentiation :
Generally we use the method of differentiation when the coefficient of binomial expansion Ck is a
polynomial in k

Important Formulae :
If C0 , C1, C2 , C3 ,........... represent n C0 , n C1, n C2 , n C3 ........... in the expansion of (1 + x)n . Then
(i) C1  2C 2  3C 3 ............. nC n  n.2 n1

(ii) C1  2C2  3C3 .............( 1) n 1 n. Cn  0

Illustration 6:
Find the sum of the series
C0 – 3C1 + 5C2 + . . . + (– 1)n (2n + 1)Cn.
Solution :
We have
(1 – x)n = C0 – C1x + C2x2 – . . . + Cn (– 1)nxn . . . (i)
Replacing x by x2 in equation (i), we have
(1 – x2)n = C0 – C1x2 + C2x4 – . . . + Cn (– 1)n x2n . . . (ii)
Multiplying throughout by x, we have
x(1 – x2)n = C0 x – C1 x3 + C2x5 – . . . + Cn (– 1)n x2n + 1 . . . (iii)
Differentiating equation (iii) w.r.t. x, we have
n
(1 – x2)n – 2nx2 (1 – x2)n – 1 = C0 – 3C1x2 + 5C2x4 – . . . +  1  2n  1 Cn x 2n . . . (iv)
Putting x = 1 in equation (iv), we have
C0 – 3C1 + 5C2 – . . . + (– 1)n (2n + 1) Cn = 0.

Illustration 7:
Find the sum of the series
12. C1 + 22. C2 + 32. C3 + . . . + n2. Cn

Solution :
We have
(1 + x)n = C0 + C1x + C2x2 + . . . + Cnxn . . . (i)
Differentiating equation (i) w.r.t. x, we have
n(1 + x)n – 1 = C1 + 2C2x + 3C3x2 + . . . + nCnxn – 1 . . . (ii)
Multiplying equation (ii) throughout by x, we have
nx(1 + x)n – 1 = C1x + 2C2x2 + 3C3x3 + . . . + nCnxn . . . (iii)
Differentiating equation (iii) w.r.t. x, we have
n(1 + x)n – 1 + n (n – 1)(1 + x)n – 2
= C1 + 22. C2x + 32. C3x2 + . . . + n2. Cn xn – 1 . . . (iv)
Putting x = 1 in equation (iii), we have
 12. C1 + 22. C2 + 32. C3 + . . . + n2. Cn
= n. 2n – 1 + n(n – 1). 2n – 2 = (n2 + n) 2n – 2
= n (n + 1)2n – 2.
Drill exercise 5

1. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that :
C0 – C1 + C2 – C3 + . . . + (–1)n Cn = 0
2. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that :
C3 + 2C4 + 3C5 + . . . (n – 2) Cn = (n – 4).2n–1 + n + 2.
3. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that
:
C0 + 3C1 + 5C2 + . . . (2n + 1) Cn = (n + 1).2n
4. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that :
(1.2) C2 + (2.3) C3 + . . . + ((n – 1).n) Cn = n (n – 1)2n–2
5. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that :
xy C0 – (x – 1)(y – 1) C1 + (x – 2)(y –2) C2 – (x – 3)(y – 3) C3 + . . . + (–1)n (x – n)(y–n) Cn= 0

5.2 Sum of the series by the use of integration :

Ck
Generally we use integration for the series having terms of the form r m or of the form
m 1
Ck
rm .
 m  1 m  2  . . .  m  j
Illustration 8:
Find the sum of the series
C1 C C
aC0 + a2  a 3 2  . . .  a n 1 n
2 3 n 1
Solution :
We have (1 + x)n = C0 + C1x + C2x2 + . . . + Cnxn . . . (i)
Integrating equation (i) w.r.t. x, we have
a a
n
 1  x  dx   C0  C1x  C 2 x 2  . . .  C n x n  dx . . . (ii)
 
0 0

a
 1  x n 1   n 1
1 a  1
Now, L.H.S. =   n  1    n  1
 
0
 a
 x2 x3  C C

and R.H.S = 0 C  C1  C 2  . . .   aC0  a 2 1  a 3 2  . . .
 2 3  0 2 3

Hence, we have
n 1
C1 3 C2
2a  . . .
1  a   1
aC0 + a
2 3  n  1
Illustration 9:
C C C n 1 Cn
Find the sum of the series C1 – 2  3  4  . . .   1 .
2 3 4 n
Solution :
We have (1 – x)n = C0 – C1x + C2x2 – . . . + Cn (– 1)n xn
n n 1 n
i.e. 1  1  x   C1x  C2 x 2  C3 x 3  . . .  Cn  1 x
n
1  1  x  n 1
i.e.  C1  C 2 x  C3x 2  . . .  Cn  1 x n 1 . . . (i)
x
Integrating equation (i) w.r.t. x from 0 to 1, we have
1 n 1
1  1  x 
 dx    C1  C 2 x  C3 x 2  . . .  dx
x  
0 0
1 n 1 1
1 x  x 2 x3 xn 
 1 x  x 
2 n 1
Now, L.H.S. =  1  x dx = . . .  x dx  x    . . .  
0 0  2 3 n 
0
1 1 1
= 1 +   . . .
2 3 n
1
 x2 x3  C C C
and R.H.S.=  1C x  C 2  C3  . . .   C1  2  3  . . . + (– 1) n 1 n
 2 3  0 2 3 n 1
Hence, we have
C 2 C3 n 1 Cn 1 1 1
C1 –   . . .   1  1   . . . .
2 3 n 2 3 n

Drill exercise 6

1. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that :
C1 C2 Cn 2n 1  1
C0 + + +...+ =
2 3 n 1 n 1
C1 C3 C5 2n  1
2. If Cr = nCr then prove that + + +...= .
2 4 6 n 1
C1 C C (1  x ) n 1  1
3. Prove that : C0 + x + 2 x2 + . . . + n xn =
2 3 n 1 (n  1) x
4. If C0, C1, C2, . . . Cn denote the coefficient in the binomial expansion of (1 + x)n, then prove that :
32 33 34 3n 1 4n 1  1
3C0 + C1 + C2 + C3 + . . . + Cn = .
2 3 4 n 1 n 1
n
5. n
If (1 + x) =  n C r x n , then prove that
r 0

C 0 2 C1 3 C 2 4 Cn
n+2
3n  2  2n  5
.2 + .2 + .2 + . . . + 2 =
1.2 2. 3 3. 4 (n  1)(n  2) (n  1)(n  2)

5.3 Sum of the series by comparing the coefficients of some power of x in an expansion :
In this method we use the fact that coefficient of same power of x in an appropriate identity is the
given series.
Important Formulae :
If C0 , C1, C2 , C3 ,........... represent n C0 , n C1, n C2 , n C3 ........... in the expansion of (1 + x)n . Then
(i) C0 2  C12  C2 2 .............Cn 2  2n Cn

(ii) C 0C r  C1C r 1  C 2 C r  2 ............. C n  r C n  2 n C n  r or 2n

C n r
Illustration 10:
Find the sum of the series
m
Cr + mCr – 1nC1 + mCr – 2 nC2 + . . . + nCr
where r < m, n and m, n, r  N.
Solution :
We have
(1 + x)n = nC0 + nC1 x + nC2x2 + . . . + nCrxr + . . . + nCn xn . . . (ii)
and (1 + x)m = mC0 + mC1x + . . . + mCr – 2 xr – 2 + mCr – 1 x r – 1
+ mCr xr + . . . + mCmxm . . . (ii)
Hence, the given series
= coefficient of xr in (1 + x)n (1 + x)m = coefficient of xr in (1 + x)m + n = m n
Cr .
Illustration 11:
Find the sum of the series C12  2.C22  3.C32  . . .  n.Cn2
Solution :
We have (1 + x)n = C0 + C1x + C2x2 + . . . + n. Cnxn . . . (i)
n
 1 1 1 1
and  1    C 0  C1  C 2 2  . . .  C n n . . . (ii)
 x x x x
Differentiating equation (i) w.r.t. x, we have
n(1 + x)n –1 = C1 + 2C2x + 3C3x2 + . . . + nCn xn – 1 . . . (iii)
n
 1
Hence, the given series = coefficient of x in  1   . n (1 + x)n – 1
–1
 x
= n × coefficient of xn – 1 in (1 + x)2n – 1 = n.2n 1C n 1 .
5.4 Sum of the series by equating the real and imaginary parts :

Illustration 12:
n
Prove that C1 – C3 + C5 – . . . = 2n/2 sin
4
Solution :
Consider the expansion
(1 + x)n = C0 + C1x + C2x2 + . . . + Cnxn . . . (i)
Putting x = – i in equation (i) we have
(1 – i)n = C0 – C1i – C2+ C3i + C4 + . . . (– 1)n Cn in
  n   n  
or (2)n/2  cos   4   i sin   4   = (C0 – C2 + C4 – . . . ) – i. (C1 – C3 + C5 – . . . ) . . . (ii)
    

n
equating the imaginary part in (i), we get C1 – C3 + C5 – . . . = 2n/2 sin
4
Illustration 13:
If (3 + 4x)n = p0 + p1x + p2x2 + p3x3 + . . . + pnxn, then prove that
(p0 – p2 + p4 – . . . )2 + (p1 – p3 + p5 – . . .)2 = 25n
Solution :
Consider the expansion (3 + 4x)n = p0 + p1x + p2x2 + p3x3 + . . . + pnxn
Putting x = i in the above expansion we get,
(3 + 4i)n = (p0 – p2+ p4– . . .) + i (p1 – p3 + p5 – . . .)
Equating the square of the modulus, we get,
(p0 – p2 + p4 – . . . )2 + (p1 – p3 + p5 – . . .)2 = 25n

Drill exercise 7

1. If C0, C1, C2, C3, . . ., Cn–1, Cn denote the binomial coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x)n, then
(2n )! 1.3.5. . . (2n  1)
prove that : C0C1 + C1C2 + C2C3 + . . . + Cn–1 .Cn = = .n.2n
(n  1)!(n  1)! (n  1)!
2. If C0, C1, C2, C3, . . ., Cn–1, Cn denote the binomial coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x)n, then
(2n )!
prove that : C0Cr + C1Cr+1 + C2Cr+2 + . . . + Cn–r Cn =
(n  r )!(n  r )!

3. If C0, C1, C2, C3, . . ., Cn–1, Cn denote the binomial coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x)n, then
1 2 2 1  2  3 2 1 2  3  . . .  n 2
find the value of C12 + C2 + C3 + . . . + Cn .
2 3 n
n–1
4. Prove that : Cn–1.nC1 + n–1
Cn–2.nC2 + n–1
Cn–3.nC3 + . . . + n–1
C0.nCn = 2n–1
Cn–1
n–1
5. Prove that : C0.nC2 + n–1C1.nC3 + n–1C2.nC4 + . . . + n–1
Cn–2.nCn = 2n–1
Cn–2
 ANSWERS

Drill exercise - 1

2. (a) –84 (b) 171 3. 15 4. 5

189 17 21
5. (a) 924a6b6 (b) T5 = x , T6 = – x19
8 16

Drill exercise - 2

1
1. (a) 140 2 (b) 219  20
C10 2. 213 - 14
2
n n+1
1
3. (a) (b) Cm + 1 4.
2 2n  1

Drill exercise - 3

1. 197
Drill exercise - 4
4
2
2. T4 = 455 × 3 12
and T5 = 455 × 3 12
3. 210 
3
4. n = 49, 50, 51, . . . 59

Drill exercise - 7

1  n  2 n 
3. 1  2  C n  1
2   