Singapore International School (Hong Kong)

Secondary 3 Dual Mathematics

Topic 13: Binomial Theorem (0606)

Name: _________________________ Class: S3- ___ Date: ________________

Learning Objective:

• Use the Binomial Theorem for expansion of (𝑎 + 𝑏)! for positive integer n.
𝑛
• Use the general term & ) 𝑎!"# 𝑏 # , 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑛 (knowledge of the greatest term and
𝑟
properties of the coefficients is not required)
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1. Binomial Expansion of (𝟏 + 𝒃)𝒏

We have learnt about polynomial in earlier topics. A polynomial consisting of only two unlike
terms is called a binomial. e.g. 2𝑥 + 𝑦, 𝑎 − 5𝑏 and 1 + 𝑥 are all binomials.

We have also learnt how to expand the square of a binomial using identities such as:
(𝑎 + 𝑏)% = 𝑎% + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 %
(𝑎 − 𝑏)% = 𝑎% − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 %
In this topic, we will learn to expand (𝑎 + 𝑏)! , where n is a positive integer. The expansion of
(𝑎 + 𝑏)! is called the binomial expansion.

Investigation: Pascal’s Triangle

(i) Complete the expansion of (1 + 𝑏)! for 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

𝑛 = 0: (1 + 𝑏)& =

𝑛 = 1: (1 + 𝑏)' =

𝑛 = 2: (1 + 𝑏)% =

𝑛 = 3: (1 + 𝑏)( = (1 + 𝑏)(1 + 𝑏)%

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 𝑛 = 4: (1 + 𝑏)) =

(ii) Write the coefficient of each term from the above expansions into the table below.

𝑛 = 0: 1

𝑛 = 1: 1 1

𝑛 = 2: 1 2 1

𝑛 = 3: 1 1

𝑛 = 4:

𝑛 = 5:

𝑛 = 6:

(iii) The triangle in (ii) is called Pascal’s Triangle. Let’s observe some patterns in Pascal’s
Triangle.

(a) What is the total number of terms in the nth row?

(b) What is the first number in each row?

(c) What is the last number in each row?

(d) Describe the symmetry in Pascal’s Triangle.

(e) How can you find the number in each row using the numbers in the previous row?

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(iv) Write down the coefficients of each term for 𝑛 = 5 and 𝑛 = 6 in (ii).

(v) Hence, expand (1 + 𝑏)* .

Example 1
Using Pascal’s Triangle, write the terms in the expansion (1 + 𝑏)+ . Hence, deduce the expansion
of (1 − 𝑥)+ .

2. Binomial Coefficients

From the previous investigation, we observe that Pascal’s Triangle can be used to expand
(1 + 𝑏)! if n is small. A more efficient method to find the coefficients of terms in the binomial
expansion is needed. These coefficients are also known as binomial coefficients.

Investigation: Using the nCr notation

(i) Using our knowledge from the previous topic on combinations, fill in the table below.

4 4 4 4 4
Combination notation C0 C1 C2 C3 C4

Values

(ii) Compare these values with the coefficients in the expansion of (1 + 𝑏)) . What do you
notice?

(iii) Notice that the coefficient of the first term T1 is 4C0 and not 4C1. Thus, in the expansion of
(1 + 𝑏)) , what is the coefficient of the (𝑟 + 1)th term?

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 In general, the Binomial Theorem for (𝟏 + 𝒃)𝒏 , where n is a positive integer, states that:

𝒏 𝒏 𝒏 𝒏
(𝟏 + 𝒃)𝒏 = & ) + & ) 𝒃 + & ) 𝒃𝟐 + ⋯ + & ) 𝒃𝒏
𝟎 𝟏 𝟐 𝒏

𝒏
The (𝒓 + 𝟏)th term is: 𝑻𝒓-𝟏 = & ) 𝒃𝒓
𝒓

Example 2
Expand the following expressions in ascending powers of x. Simply each term.

(a) (1 + 4𝑥)(

(b) (1 − 2𝑥))

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Example 3
Find in ascending powers of x, the first 4 terms in the binomial expansion of

(a) (1 + 2𝑥)/

(b) (1 − 𝑥 % )*

(c) Hence find the expansion of (1 + 2𝑥)/ (1 − 𝑥 % )* up to the terms in 𝑥 ( .

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Example 4
In the expansion of (1 + 2𝑏)! in ascending powers of b, the coefficient of the third term is 84.
Find the value of n.

Example 5
In the expansion of (1 + 𝑘𝑥)/ , where 𝑘 > 0, the coefficient of 𝑥 ( is four times the coefficient of
𝑥2 . Find the value of k.

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3. Binomial Theorem

In the previous sections, we have learnt to find the expansion of (1 + 𝑏)! . What about the
binomial expansion (𝑎 + 𝑏)! ?

Investigation: Binomial Theorem

Compare (𝑎 + 𝑏)! with the expansion of (1 + 𝑏)! for 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

(1 + 𝑏)& = 1 (𝑎 + 𝑏)& = 1

(1 + 𝑏)' = 1 + 𝑏 (𝑎 + 𝑏)' = 𝑎 + 𝑏

(1 + 𝑏)% = 1 + 2𝑏 + 𝑏 % (𝑎 + 𝑏)% = 𝑎% + 2𝑏 + 𝑏 %

(1 + 𝑏)( = 1 + 3𝑏 + 3𝑏 % + 𝑏 ( (𝑎 + 𝑏)( = 𝑎( + 3𝑎% 𝑏 + 3𝑎𝑏 % + 𝑏 (

(1 + 𝑏)) = 1 + 4𝑏 + 6𝑏 % + 4𝑏 ( + 𝑏 ) (𝑎 + 𝑏)) = 𝑎) + 4𝑎( 𝑏 + 6𝑎% 𝑏 % + 4𝑎𝑏 ( + 𝑏 )

(i) What do you notice about the corresponding coefficients in the two expansions?

(ii) What do you notice if you add the power of a and the power of b in each term? What is the
sum equal to?

𝑛
(iii) In the expansion of (1 + 𝑏)! , the (𝑟 + 1)th term is: 𝑇#-' = & ) 𝑏 # .
𝑟
In the expansion of (𝑎 + 𝑏)! , what is the (𝑟 + 1)th term?

In general, the Binomial Theorem for (𝒂 + 𝒃)𝒏 , where n is a positive integer, states that:

𝒏 𝒏 𝒏 𝒏 𝒏
(𝒂 + 𝒃)𝒏 = & ) 𝒂𝒏 + & ) 𝒂𝒏"𝟏 𝒃 + & ) 𝒂𝒏"𝟐 𝒃𝟐 + ⋯ + & ) 𝒂𝒏"𝒓 𝒃𝒓 + ⋯ + & ) 𝒃𝒏
𝟎 𝟏 𝟐 𝒓 𝒏

𝒏
The (𝒓 + 𝟏)th term is: 𝑻𝒓-𝟏 = & ) 𝒂𝒏"𝒓 𝒃𝒓
𝒓

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Example 6
Using the Binomial Theorem to expand the following expressions.

(i) (5 + 2𝑥)( .

(
(ii) (𝑥 % − 1)* .

Example 7
Find the 5th term in the expansion of (2 − 5𝑥)2 in ascending powers of x.

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Example 8
1 + %
terms in the expansion of &𝑝 − ) are 𝑟 − 96𝑥 + 𝑠𝑥 . Find the values of each of the
The first 3 terns %
integers p, r and s.

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Example 9
' %&
In the expansion of &2𝑥 + )1) , find

(i) the term containing 𝑥 + ,

(ii) the term independent of x.

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Example 10
' !
The third term of the binomial expansion &1 + )) is twice the fourth term. Calculate the value
of 𝑛. Hence, evaluate the middle term of the expansion.

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Example 11
' *
(a) Find the first 4 terms in the expansion of &2 + 1) in ascending
descending powers of x.

' *
(b) Find the term independent of x in the expansion of (𝑥 % − 3) &2 + 1) .

Summary

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Self-practice
Add. Math Textbook Exercise 14.1 Q1, 6, 11 and 12
Add. Math Textbook Exercise 14.2 Q2 and 7
Add. Math Textbook Miscellaneous Exercise 14 Q1, 3 and 12

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(Working space for self-practice)

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(Working space for self-practice)

------------------------------------------------ End of Topic 13 ------------------------------------------------

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