Binomial Series

In this chapter you should be able to use the expansion of (1 + x) n , where

n is a rational number and | x | < 1 (finding a general term is not
included, but adapting the standard series to expand e.g (2 − 1 2 x ) −1 is
included).

If n is a positive integer, the binomial expansion

n(n− 1) 2 n(n− 1)(n− 2) 3
(1+ x)n = 1 + nx + x + x + .......+ xn is a finite series
1.2 1.2.3
consisting of n + 1 terms.

Consider the infinite geometric series, 1− x + x2 − x3 + x4 − ........ which has the

1
finite sum 1+ x
, provided |x| < 1. Thus, we write (1 + x) −1 = 1 - x +
x 2 − x 3 + ....... provided |x| <1 which can also be stated as the expansion
of (1 + x) −1 . This result can be obtained by putting n = -1 in the
following binomial expansion for any negative integer.

n(n − 1) 2 n(n − 1)(n − 2) 3

(1 + x)n = 1 + nx + x + x + ....... provided |x| <1, which is called
1.2 1.2.3
the binomial series.

Furthermore, the binomial expansion is also valid if n is a fraction or a

p
rational number, i.e n = . We have
q
p p p p p
p ( − 1) ( − 1)( − 2)
(1 + x) q = p
1+ x +
q q 2
x +
q q q
x 3 + ....... provided |x| < 1.
q 1.2 1.2.3

Expand the following in ascending powers of x up to and including the

term x 3 . State the range of x for which the expansion is valid.

1
1.
(1 + 2x)2

2 3
1 − 4x + 12x − 32x ; | x |< 1 2

3 2 3
2. (1 + 3x) 2 1 + 9 2 x + 27 8 x − 27 16 x ; |x|

1
<
3
1
3.
1 − 3x

1 + 3 2 x + 27 8 x 2 + 135 16 x 3 ; | x |< 1
3

1
4. (4 + x 2 ) 2
2 4 6
x x x
2+ − + ;| x | < 4
4 64 512

3x + 2 2 3
5. − 1 2 − 9 8 x − 31 32 x − 129 128 x ; | x |< 1 and | x |< 4 ⇒ | x | < 1
(x − 1)(x + 4)
6. Expand 1 − x up to and including the term in x 4 . Use your series to
obtain a value for 0.98 , giving seven decimal places in your answer.
0.9899495

1
7. Expand (1 + x) 3 in ascending powers of x, up to and including the third
term and state the range of values of x for which your expansion is
valid. Hence evaluate 3 9 up to three places of decimals.
2.080

8. Give the first three terms in the expansion, in descending powers of x

1

of  x + 2  . State the range of values of x for which your expansion is

2

 x
valid. Hence evaluate 4.5 to four decimal places.
2.1211