Binomial Theorem

The Expansion of (a + b)n
If   n   is any positive integer, then

(a+b)n=an+nC1an1b+nC2an2b2++nCmanmbm++bn
 

Where
nCm = combination of n objects taken m at a time.
 

Some Example of Binomial Expansion
(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2

(a+b)3=a3+3a2b+3ab2+b3

(a+b)4=a4+4a3b+6a2b2+4ab3+b4

(a+b)5=a5+5a4b+10a3b2+10a2b3+5ab4+b5

(a+b)6=a6+6a5b+15a4b2+20a3b3+15a2b4+6ab5+b6

(a+b)7=a7+7a6b+21a5b2+35a4b3+35a3b4+21a2b5+7ab6+b7
 

The coefficient of terms can also be found by
 

C=coefficient of previous term × exponent of a of previous termexponent of b of previous term +1

 

Properties of Binomial Expansion

  1. The first term and last term of the expansion are an and bn, respectively.
  2. There are n+1 terms in the expansion.
  3. The sum of the exponents of a and b in any term is n.
  4. The exponent of a decreases by 1, from n to 0.
  5. The exponent of b increases by 1, from 0 to n.
  6. The coefficient of the second term and the second from the last term is n.

 

Pascal's Triangle
Pascal's triangle can be used to find the coefficient of binomial expansion.

(a + b)0   :   1
(a + b)1   :   1   1
(a + b)2   :   1   2   1
(a + b)3   :   1   3   3     1
(a + b)4   :   1   4   6     4     1
(a + b)5   :   1   5   10   10   5     1
(a + b)6   :   1   6   15   20   15   6     1
(a + b)7   :   1   7   21   35   35   21   7   1
 

rth term of (a + b)n

rth term =n!(nr+1)!(r1)!anr+1br1

or

rthterm=nCmanmbm

where m = r - 1
 

For n = even, the middle term is at

r=12n+1