BINOMIAL THEOREM

You should know that ( x +a )2= ( x+ a ) ( x + a )

2 2
¿ x + 2 ax+ a

( x +3 )2=( x +a )( x +a )( x +a )
2 2
¿ ( x +a ) (x +2 ax +a )
3 2 2 3
¿ x + 3 x a+3 xa + a

( x +a ) 4=x 4 + 4 x 3 a+6 x 2 a 2+ 4 xa3 + a4

Note the following points in these expression.

1. Each expression is homogeneous in x and a , ie. The sum of the powers of x and a is
constant and equal to the power of the binomial.
2. The power of x are in descending order and consequently the power of a are in
ascending order.
3. With the power arranged in this way, the coefficient form a pattern as shown
Binomial

=( x +a )1

=( x +a )2

=( x +a )3

=( x +a ) 4
Coefficients

This pattern of coefficient is called Pascal’s triangle. It can be used to find the coefficient for
particular expansion, using x +a as a standard binomial.

Eg: 1. Expand ( a−b )6

Solu.
6
( a−b )6=[ a+(−b) ]

From Pascal’s triangle, the coefficient will be 1 , 6 ,15 , 20 , 15 , 6 ,1

Again, the powers of a will decrease and those of b will decrease. So we can write as
2 5 2 4 2 3 2 2 4 1 5 0 6
1 a(−b) +6 a (−b) +15 a (−b) +20 a (−b) +15 (−b) +6 a (−b) +1 a (−b)

=a 6−6 a 5 b+ 15 a4 b 2−20 a3 b3 +15 a2 b 4−6 ab5 +b6

Example 2

Expand (3 x−2)5using Pascal’s triangle

Solution.
5
(3 x−2) , the initial coefficient are 1 ,5 , 10 , 5 ,1
Then
5 5 0 4 1 3 2 2 3 1 4 0 5
(3 x−2) =1(3 x) (−2 ) +5(3 x ) (−2) + 10(3 x) (−2) +10(3 x) (−2) +5(3 x) (−2) +1 (3 x ) (−2)

=243 x 5−810 x 4 +1080 x 3−720 x 3+ 240 x−32

TRY

Write out the expression of the following simplifying the coefficients.

3
1. ( x−1)
4
2. (x +2)
3
3. (2−x )
4
4. (2 x−1)
3
5. (2 x−3 y)
4
1
6. (x + )
x
3
1
7. (x− )
x
BINOMIAL THEOREM

Consider ( x +a)n=( x +a ) ( x +a ) ( x+ a ) −−−−−−−−(x+ a) i.e n brackets.

According to binomials theorem,

( X + a )n=x n + ❑nc 1 x n−1 a+ ❑nc 2 x n−2 a2 + ❑nc 3 x n−3 a3 −−−❑nc r x n−r a4 r −−−❑nc n an .

Which is the binomial theorem for all values of x and a, is a positive integer.
Where ❑n c1=n
n
n(n−1)
c2=
❑ 2!
n
n (n−1)(n−2)
c3= , and so on.
❑ 3!

Eg. 1 Find the first five term of the expansion of (1-x)10 in ascending power of x, and use it to
find the value of (0.98)10 correct to 5 places of decimal.

Soln.

a. (1−x )10=(1+ (−x ) )10 , n=10

10 10 9 10 8 2 10 7 3 10 6 4
The first 5 term are: (1) + ❑c 1 (1 ) (−x ) + ❑c 2 (1) (−x) + ❑c3 (1) (−x ) + ❑c 4 (1) (−x) ..
 10× 9 2 10 ×9 × 8 3 10 × 9× 8 ×7 4
=1−10 x + x− x+ x
2 1 ×2 ×3 1 ×2 ×3 × 4

= 1−10 x +45 x 2−120 x 3 +210 x 4

b. We write 0.98 as 1−0.02 and substitute x=0.02in the expansion.

Then (0.98)10

≈1−10 ( 0.02 ) + 45 ( 0.02 )2−120 ( 0.02 )3 +210(0.02)4

¿ 1−0.2+ 0.018−0.00096 +0.0000336
¿ 0.81707 (5 dp)

Eg. 2 Using binomial theorem, expand (1+x)6 to find the value of 1.986 correct to 5dp

Soln.
6 6 5 6 4 2 6 3 3 6 2 4 6 5 6 6 6
(1+ x ) =1 +c 1 ( 1 ) ( x )+ ❑c2 (1) ( x) +❑c 3 (1) ( x ) + ❑c 4 (1) ( x) + ❑c 5 ( 1 )( x ) + ❑¿ ❑c 6 (x) ¿
2 3 4 5 6
¿ 1+6 x +15 x +20 x +15 x +6 x + x

b 1.986 =(1+0.98)6
⟹ x=0.98
6 2 3 4 5 6
(1+0.98) =1+6 ( 0.98 ) +15(0.98) +20( 0.98) +15 (0.98) +6( 0.98) +(0.98)
¿ 60.25473(5 dp)

OR

1.986 ¿(2−0.02)6=26 (1−0.01)6

1.986 ¿ 26 ¿ ¿ 60.25473(5 dp)

Try

1. Without using calculator, find the value of ¿ ¿

2. If the expression of ( 1+8 x )4 is used to obtain the values of a . ( 1.04 ) ∧b .

4
( 3 √5 3 ) , find the
value of x to be substitute in each case.
3. Using binomial theorem, expand (1+x)5 and use it to determine the exact value of (1.02)5

( ) ( )
8 4
X 8 16
4. The expansion of 1+ is used to find the value of a .(0.995) , b . . What value of
2 25
x should be substituted in each case?
LINEAR APPROXIMATION

Given that (1+ x )n=1 ❑n c1 x+ ❑n c2 x 2+ . .. now if x is small, then x2, x3--- will get progressively
smaller and can be ignored. This will give a reasonable approximation: ( 1+ x )n ≈ 1+ nx .Similarly,
( 1−x ) ≈ 1−nx , provided x is small. This is called a linear approximation to the value of ( 1+ x )n
as we are only taking 1+nx , which is a linear function of x.

Eg. Find the linear approximation for

a. ( 1.003 )12
b. √ 1.07

Soln.

a. ( 1.003 )12=( 1+0.003 )12 ≈ 1+ 12× 0.003=1.036

1
1
b. √ 1.07= (1+ 0.07 ) 2 ≈ 1+ × 0.07=1.035
2

TRY

Find linear approximation for

1. ( 2.005 )8
2. ( 1.005 )10
3. √ 1.004
4. √3 1.006
1
5.
√1.003