TOPIC

BINOMIAL THEOREM

OBJECTIVES
Recognize patterns in binomial expansions.
Evaluate a binomial coefficient.
Expand a binomial raised to a power.
Find a particular term in a binomial expansion
Understand the principle of mathematical induction.
Prove statements using mathematical induction.

Definition:
Definition: BINOMIAL
BINOMIALTHEOREM
THEOREM
Patterns
Patternsin
inBinomial
Binomial Expansions
Expansions
AAnumber
numberof
ofpatterns,
patterns,as
asfollows,
follows, begin
begin to
to appear
appear when
when we
we write
write
n
the
binomial
expansion
of
,, where

b
the binomial expansion of
where nnisisaapositive
positiveinteger.
integer.

a b a b
a b 2 a 2 2ab b 2
a b 3 a3 3a 2b 3ab 2 b3
a b 4 a 4 4a3b 6a 2b 2 4ab3 b 4
5
a b a5 5a 4b 10a3b 2 10a 2b3 5ab 4 b5
1

and
and so
so on.
on.

In each expanded form above, the following can be observed:

n

1. The first term is a , and the exponent on a decreases by 1

in each successive term.
2. The last term is b n and the exponent on b decreases by 1
in each successive term.
3. The sum of the exponents on the variables in any term is
equal to n.
n

b
n

1
4. There are
terms in the expanded form of
.

Definition:
Binomial Coefficients
An interesting pattern for the coefficients in the binomial expansion
can be written in the following triangular arrangement
n=0
n=1
n=2
n=3
n=4
n=5
n=6

1
1
1
1 4
1
5
1
6

2
3
6
10
15

a b n

1
1
1
3
1
4 1
10
5
1
20
15

1
This triangular array of coefficients is called the Pascals Triangle.
When n is small, the use of Pascals triangle is advantageous.
However, if n is large or a specific term is desired, the use of Binomial Theorem
is more appropriate.

Definition
Definition::
THE
THEBINOMIAL
BINOMIALTHEOREM
THEOREM
The
The Binomial
Binomial Theorem
Theorem provides
provides aa formula
formula for
for expanding
expanding
n
expressions
expressionsof
of the
theform
form a b ,, where
where nn isis aanatural
naturalnumber.
number.
For
For any
any binomial
binomial a b and
and any
any natural
natural number
number nn ,,
n n 1 n n 1 n2 2
n n 1 n 2... n r 1 n r r
a b a a b
a b ...
a b ... b n
1!
2!
r!
n

The
Thespecific
specificterm
term of
of aabinomial
binomialexpansion
expansionisis
n n 1 n 2 ... n r 2 n r 1 r 1
a
b
r 1!

.
; 3rd term

3.

A. Use Binomial Theorem to expand each binomial and express the result
in simplified form.
; 4 term
4.
th

1. 3 x y
2. x 3 y

3. x 2 y

4. 3 x 2 y

; 6th term
.

B.Find the term indicated in each expansion.

1. 2 x y ,
6

3. x y
2

2 8

3 term
rd

4th term

2. 3x 2 y ,

4th term

4. x 2 y ,

6th term