Binomial Theorem
The Expansion of (a + b)n
If n is any positive integer, then
(a+b)n=an+nC1an−1b+nC2an−2b2+⋯+nCman−mbm+⋯+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
Properties of Binomial Expansion
- The first term and last term of the expansion are an and bn, respectively.
- There are n+1 terms in the expansion.
- The sum of the exponents of a and b in any term is n.
- The exponent of a decreases by 1, from n to 0.
- The exponent of b increases by 1, from 0 to n.
- 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
or
where m = r - 1
For n = even, the middle term is at