Binomial Expansion

Precalculus
Binomial Theorem
Worked
example

• These are called combinations. MATH – PRB – nCr. Ex. 16 nCr 9

• https://youtu.be/YxysKtqpbVI
Note:

Try it!
Answer
Nth power
Pascal’s Triangle
Pascals Triangle Example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLQmQGA4a3M
Your Turn
Warmup
Create Pascal’s triangle up to the 7th
power of a binomial expansion

Hence, find the expansion of

Do not simplify your answer.

*x goes down from 4th power, y goes up from 0
power
Finding a Specific Term in Binomial
Expansion

note:
n = 12
x=x
y=a
r = 4 *Remember r is the desired term minus 1!
Identify x, y, r and n first.
 Combinations Practice

I have 17 DP1 MAA students and I need a group of 3 to help with a

project.
n= r=

I have 5 options for lunch, how many ways can I have a lunch with 2
dishes?
n= r=
Combinations formula practice
! is a factorial.
ex.)
3! = 3x2x1
6! = 6x5x4x3x2x1
 Use the formula to solve the following
- 6C2
- 8C3
- You have 4 Casvi shirts
(hoodie, white polo, athletic shirt, blue sweater)
How many ways can you wear two of the shirts
at once?

- There are 11 bocadillos to choose from, how many combinations of

different sandwiches can you have Thursday and Friday?
Find the coefficient of the term with the ___
power
Example: What is the coefficient of term containing
In the expansion of ?

-You could expand and then answer, but there is a much easier way
1. Think of what power you need on x to match what
you want.
- We want the “(x)” term to have a 6th power.

2. The power on “y” will be the compliment.

(your two powers should add up to n)

3. The ? under n is the power of “y”

(Because we start at 0 and work our way up)

4. Evaluate the expression.

Find the coefficient of:
Find the coefficient of:

Finding the coefficient of the second term, you can switch the order, as
long as your signs are consistent.
They will not always be x and ys!
What if there is an x in both terms? What if it
wants the constant term for this?

Set up your formula, and think about how to reach what you want.
Example 2
Solutions
Last type of problem you might see
Consider
Find the coefficients of the term.

Multiplying we get (x+1)(x+2)(x+2) =

Notice there are two x squared terms, and using our usual formula
doesn´t work alone:

This gives just not

Methodology
We know that Will be multiplied by an x to the first power

and a constant (1).

So we have to consider two cases:

times the constant. r = 0
times the x to the first power. r= 1
In short, find the coefficient you are looking for
and one less than the coefficient you are looking
for. Then multiply

Gets multiplied by 1

Gets multiplied by x
- Both cases give an x to the fifth
power and then combine!
Be careful with (d). as its already to the 2nd
power
Answer
MAA HL Mock Exam Question. Today!

k
Challenge
 At this point. just write out the expansion
Bigger Challenge for both.
Topic 1 and 2 Skills Check-in (10 mins)
-You will receive a printed description of each subtopic in topic 1 and 2.
-Star/underline/mark items where you need more review
You can also mark items where you feel confident (if you´re an optimist)

-QUIZ on Friday on Binomial Theorem and simple proofs (1.6 - learn this
week)
Monday Activity
Navigate to
https://www.christosnikolaidis.com/en/maa-exercise/
You will see everything we have done in green for topic 1 & 2.

Select and complete one question in

- 1.6 Binomial Expansion
Select and complete one question in
- Any other topic from 1.1 to 2.10 in green. Your Choice.

Questions get harder as you scroll down.

Save this site to do practice problems on your own! The site even has lecture
notes you can find by clicking the dropdown for Math AA at the top.
-Rewrite either into a different form.
2 Questions you should all be able to get.