Exercise 2: Binomial Expansion

( )
1
1. Find the binomial expansion of 1 − 2 x 2 − 2 in ascending powers of x, up to and
including the term in x 4 . State the range of x for which the expansion is valid.
1
Hence by putting x = , find the approximate value of 7 in the form of an
3
3 4 1 162
improper fraction. [Ans : 1 + x + x , x <
2
, ]
2 2 61

2
2. Express f ( x ) = in partial fractions. Hence, or otherwise, obtain the
2 − 3x + x 2
expansion of f ( x) in ascending powers of x , giving the first four non-zero terms
in the expansion. State the values of x for which the expansion is valid, and write
down an expression for the coefficient of xn.
−2 2 3 7 2 15 3  1 
n

[Ans : + ; 1+ x + x + x ; 2 −   ]
( x − 1) ( x − 2) 2 4 8 2

1− x
3. Expand in ascending powers of x, up to and including the term in x 2 . Can
1+ 2x
a student substitute x = −1 into the expansion to estimate the value of 2 ?
Explain your answer.
1 k
By putting x = in your expansion, show that 2 = , where k is an integer
9 1296
to be determined.
5 39 2 1
[Ans : 1 − x + x ; No, the expansion is valid for x < ; k = 1859 ]
2 8 2

4. Expand ( 2 + x ) −2 as a series of ascending powers of x, up to and including the

term in x 3 , expressing the coefficients in their simplest form. State the range of
values of x for which the expansion is valid. Find also the coefficient of x25 in the

k
form where k and m are constants to be found.
2m
1 1 3 1 −26
[Ans : − x + x 2 − x3 ; x < 2 ; 27 ]
4 4 16 8 2
5. (i) Obtain the expansion of (27 + x) 3 in ascending powers of x , up to and
1

including the term in x 2 , stating the values of x for which the expansion is
valid.

(ii) Hence, show that, if t 3 and higher powers of t are neglected,

1 2 77 2
(27 + 2t + t 2 ) 3 = 3 + t + t
27 2187

(iii) Deduce the expansion of (27 − 2t + t 2 ) 3 in ascending powers of t , up to and

1

including the term in t 2 .

x x2 2 77 2
[Ans : 3 + − ; 3− t + t ]
27 2187 27 2187
Solution to Exercise 2 on Binomial Expansion

1 (− 1 )(− 23 )
1. (1 − 2 x 2 ) − 2 = 1 − (−2 x 2 ) + 2 (−2 x2 )2 + ...
1

2 2
3
≈ 1 + x 2 + x4
2
1 1 1
Valid for 2 x 2 <1 , i.e. x < or − <x< .
2 2 2
1
Substitute x =
3
2 −1 1 3 1
(1 − ) 2 ≈1 + + ( )
9 9 2 81
1
−
7  2 61
  ≈
9  54
3 61
≈
7 54
54 162
∴ 7 ≈ 3( )=
61 61
2 2 A B
2. f ( x) = = ≡ +
2 − 3x + x 2
( x − 1)( x − 2) x −1 x − 2
Using cover up rule,
Put x = 1 , A = −2
Put x = 2 , B = 2.
2 −2 2
Hence f ( x ) = ≡ + .
( x − 1)( x − 2) ( x − 1) ( x − 2)

f ( x) ≡ − 2( x − 1) −1 + 2( x − 2)−1
 −1  x 
−1

= −2 ( −1) ( 1 − x ) + 2 ( −2 ) 1 −  
 
−1 −1
   2  

 x  x 2  x 3 
= 2 1 + x + x + x + L  − 1 + +   +   + L
2 3

 2  2   2  
3 7 15
≈ 1 + x + x 2 + x3
2 4 8

Expansion is valid for x < 1 and x < 2 ⇒ x <1 .

n
1
Coefficient of x = 2 −   .
n

2
 1− x 1
3. = (1 − x) 2 (1 + 2 x) −1
1+ 2x
 1 ( )
1 −1 

= 1 + (− x ) + 2 2 (− x )2 + .... 1 + (−1)(2 x ) +

(−1)(−2) 
(2 x) 2 + ....
 2 2!  2! 
 
 1
 2
1
(
=  1 − x − x 2 + ...  1 − 2 x + 4 x 2 + ...
8 
)
1 1
= 1 − 2 x + 4 x 2 − x + x 2 − x 2 + ....
2 8
5 39 2
≈ 1− x + x
2 8
1
No, the expansion is valid for x <
2
1 1− x 1 − 19 6 5  1  39  1 
2
Subst x = , = = 2 ≈ 1 −   +   + ....
9 1 + 2 x 1 + 2 19( ) 11 29 8 9
11  5 39  1859
2≈ 1 − + =
6  18 648  1296

−2
 x
4. (2 + x) −2 = 2−2  1 + 
 2
1 
2 3
 x  (−2)(−3)  x  (−2)(−3)( −4)  x 
= 1 + (−2)   +   +   +L 
4  2 2!  2  3! 2 
1 1 3 1
≈ − x + x 2 − x3
4 4 16 8
x
Expansion is valid for <1⇒ x < 2 .
2
r
 1  (−2)(−3)( −4)L (−2 − r + 1)  x 
The general term is    
4 r! 2
(−1) (2)(3)(4) L (r + 1) − r − 2 r
r
= 2 x
r!
= (r + 1)(−1) r 2− r − 2 x r
To find the coefficient of x 25 , let r = 25.

25 −25− 2 −26
The coefficient of x 25 = (25 + 1)(−1) 2 = where k = −26 and m = 27.
227
 1
1
5. (i) (27 + x) =
1
 x 3
27 3 1 + 
3

 27 
 1 x
 
= 3 1 +   +
1
3 ( − 32 )  x 2 + ....
 
 3  27  2!  27  
 
x x2
≈ 3+ −
27 2187
x
Expansion is valid for <1 ⇒ x < 27
27

1 1
(ii) (27 + 2t + t 2 ) 3 =  27 + (2t + t 2 )  3
 
1 1
≈ 3 + (2t + t 2 ) − (2t + t 2 ) 2 + .....
27 2187
2 1 4 2
= 3 + t + t2 − t + .....
27 27 2187
2 77 2
= 3+ t + t
27 2187

(iii) Replace ‘t’ with ‘-t’

1 2 77 2
(27 − 2t + t 2 ) 3 ≈ 3 − t+ t
27 2187