CHAPTER

11 Binomial Theorem

Important terms in the binomial expansion are (b) For greatest term: Greatest term
(a) General term: The general term or the (r + 1)th
term in the  n +1
TP and Tp +1 if x is an integer
expansion of (x + y)n is given by  +1
Tr + 1 = nCr xn–r . yr =  a

T n +1
(b) Middle term: The middle term (s) is the expansion of if is non integer and ∈ (q, q + 1), q ∈ I
 q +1 x
(x + y)n is (are):  +1
 a
(i) If n is even, there is only one middle term which is given
by Multinomial Theorem
For any n ∈ N, n!
T(n + 2)/2 = nCn/2 . xn/2 . yn/2
(i) (x1 + x2 + ... + xk)n = ∑ n r1 ! r2 !... rk !
x1r1 x2r2 ... xkrk
(ii) If n is odd, there are two middle terms which are r1 + r2 + ... + rk =

T(n + 1)/2 and T[(n + 1)/2] + 1 (ii) The general term in the above expansion is
n!
(c) Term independent of x: Term independent of x contains no x ; x1r1 x2r2 ... xkrk
Hence find the value of r for which the exponent of x is zero. r1 !r2 !... rk !
Here total number of terms in the expansion = n+k–1Ck–1.
If ( A + B)n =+
I f , where I & n are positive integers
Binomial Theorem for Negative or Fractional Indices
and 0 ≤ f < 1, then n(n − 1) 2 n(n − 1)(n − 2) 3
(a) (I + f) · f = Kn if n is odd & A – B2 = K > 0 If n ∈ Q, then (1 + x)n = 1 + nx + x + x
2! 3!
(b) (I + f)(1 – f) = kn if n is even & A –B<1 + ... ∞ provided | x | < 1.

Some results on binomial coefficients Notes

(i) (1 – x)–1 = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + ... ∞
(a) nCx = nCy ⇒ x = y or x + y = n (ii) (1 + x)–1 = 1 – x + x2 – x3 + ... ∞
(b) nCr – 1 + nCr = n+1Cr (iii) (1 – x)–2 = 1 + 2x + 3x2 + 4x3 + ... ∞
C1 C2 Cn 2n +1 − 1 (iv) (1 + x)–2 = 1 – 2x + 3x2 – 4x3 + ... ∞
(c) C0 + ℵ ...
2 3 n +1 n +1 Exponential series
C C C (−1) Cn n
1 x x 2 x3
(d) C0 – 1 + 2 − 3 ... + = (a) ex = 1 + + + + ... ∞ ; where x may be any real or
2 3 4 n +1 n +1 1! 2! 3!
n
(e) C0 + C1 + C2 + ... = Cn = 2n  1
complex number and e = lim 1 +  .
(f) C0 + C2 + C4 + ... = C1 + C3 + C5 + ... = 2n–1
n→∞
 n
(2n)! x x2 2 x3 3
(g) C02 + C12 + C22 + ... + Cn2 = 2nCn = (b) ax = 1 + na + n a + n a + ... ∞, where a > 0 .
n !n ! 1! 2! 3!
(2n)! Logarithmic Series
(h) C0·Cr + C1.Cr+1 + C2·Cr+2 + ... + Cn–rCn =
(n + r )! (n − r ) x 2 x3 x 4
(a) ln (1 + x) = x – + − + ... ∞, where –1 < x ≤ 1.
2 3 4
Greatest coefficient and Greatest Term in Expansion
x 2 x3 x 4
of (x + a)n (b) ln (1 – x) = – x – − − – ... ∞, where –1 ≤ x < 1.
2 3 4
(a) If n is even greatest coefficient is nCn/2.
(1 + x)  x3 x5 
If n is odd greatest coefficient is n C n − 1  or n C n + 1  (c) ln = 2 x + + + ... ∞  , | x | < 1.
    (1 − x)  3 5 
 2   2 