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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part One: Expanding Binomials

Expanding Binomials: The following examples will illustrate how to

expand a binomial to the nth power.

Example 1: Expand (2a-3b)5

One way to expand this would be to write it as (2a-3b)(2a-3b)(2a-3b)(2a-3b)(2a-3b),
then do all the algebra in multiplying everything together! This would obviously
take a very long time. Fortunately there is a formula we can use to find each
term in the expansion separately.

tk +1 = n Ck x n k y k
With this term formula, it is possible to find any term in the expansion of a
binomial. Using the formula isnt hard, all that is involved is substituting your
numbers and simplifying.
There are a few simple rules to follow:
n is the power of the binomial. In this case its 5.
x represents the first term of the binomial (including sign) 2a
y represents the second term of the binomial (including sign) -3b
k represents one less than the term you want. If you want the first term, k = 0.
For the second term, k = 1. For the third term, k = 2.

*The total number of terms in the expansion is n + 1

First term: C (2a) (-3b) =(2a) = 32a

Second Term: C (2a) (-3b) = 5(2a) (-3b)= 5(16a )(-3b)= -240a b
Third Term: C (2a) (-3b) =10(2a) (-3b) =10(8a )(9b )= 720a b
Fourth Term: C (2a) (-3b) =10(2a) (-3b) =10(4a )(-27b )= -1080a b
Fifth Term: C (2a) (-3b) = 5(2a)(-3b) = 5(2a)(81b )= 810ab
Sixth Term: C (2a) (-3b) =(2a) (-3b) = -243b
5

5-0

5-1

5-2

5-5

5-4

5-3

Full Expansion = 32a

- 240a4b +720a3b2 -1080a2b3 + 810ab4 - 243b5

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part One: Expanding Binomials

Example 2: Expand: (3x + )3

First term:

3-0

C0(3x)

3(9x 2 ) 27 2
31 1
2 1
(3
x
)
C
=
3(3x)
=
=
x
3 1


4
4
4
4

Second Term:
Third Term:

1
3
3
=(3x) = 27x
4

3(3x) 9
1
1 1
= x
3 C2 (3x)
= 3(3x) =
16
16
4
4
3-2

1
1
0 1
3 C3 (3x)
=(3x) =
4
4 64
27 2 9
1
27x 3 +
x + x+
4
16
64

Fourth Term:

3-3

Full Expansion:

Example 3: Expand: (2x3 3y2)4

First term: C (2x ) (-3y ) =(2x ) =16x
Second Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) = 4(2x ) (-3y )= 4(8x )(-3y )= -96x y
Third Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) = 6(2x ) (-3y ) = 6(4x )(9y )= 216x y
Fourth Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) = 4(2x )(-3y ) = 4(2x )(-27y )= -216x y
Fifth Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) =(2x ) (-3y ) = 81y
Full Expansion: 16x - 96x y + 216x y - 216x y + 81y
4

3 4-0

3 4-1

3 4-2

2 0

3 4

2 1

3 3

2 2

3 2

2 2

3 4-3

12

2 3

3 4-4

2 4

12

3 1

3 0

2 3

2 4

Example 4: Expand: (2x2 3/x)4

First term:

2 4-0

C0(2x )

Second Term:
Third Term:

-96x
2 4-1 -3
2 3 -3
6 -3
= -96x 5
4 C1(2x )
= 4(2x ) = 4(8x ) =
x
x
x
x
2

Fourth Term:
Fifth Term:

-3
2 4
8
=(2x ) =16x
x

2 4-2

C2(2x )

216x 4
-3
2 2 -3
4 9
= 216x 2
= 6(2x ) = 6(4x ) 2 =
2
x
x
x
x
3

2 4-3

4 C3 (2x )

2 4-4

C4(2x )

Full Expansion: 16x

-216x
-216
-3
2 1 -3
2 -27
=
= 4(2x ) = 4(2x ) 3 =
3
x
x
x
x
x
4

81
-3
2 0 -3
=(2x ) = 4
x
x
x

- 96x 5 + 216x 2 -

216 81
+ 4
x
x

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part One: Expanding Binomials

Questions:
1) Expand (2a-3b)4

2) Expand (3a - )3

3) Expand (2x3 3y2)3

3
2
4) Expand 2x + y

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part One: Expanding Binomials

1) First term:

C0(2a)4-0(-3b)0 =(2a)4 =16a4

Second Term: C (2a) (-3b) = 4(2a) (-3b)= 4(8a )(-3b)= -96a b

Third Term: C (2a) (-3b) = 6(2a) (-3b) = 6(4a )(9b )= 216a b
Fourth Term: C (2a) (-3b) = 4(2a)(-3b) = 4(2a)(-27b )= -216ab
Fifth Term: C (2a) (-3b) =(-3b) = 81b
Full Expansion: 16a - 96a b + 216a b - 216ab + 81b
4-1

4-2

4-3

2) First term:

4-4

1
3
3
=(3a) = 27a
4

3-0

C0(3a)

Second Term:
Third Term:

1
1
1
27a2
3-1
2
2

C
(3a)
=
3(3a)
=
3(9a
)
=
3 1

4
4
4
4
2

3-2

C2(3a)

1
1
1 9a
1
= 3(3a) = 3(3a) =
4
4
16 16
3

Fourth Term: 3 C3(3a) 1 =(3a)0 1 = - 1

64
4
4
2
Full Expansion: 27a3 27a + 9a 1
4
16 64
3-3

3) First term:

C0(2x 3 )3-0(-3y 2 )0 =(2x 3 )3 = 8x 9

Second Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) = 3(2x ) (-3y ) = 3(4x )(-3y ) = -36x y

Third Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) = 3(2x )(-3y ) = 3(2x )(9y )= 54x y
Fourth Term: C (2x ) (-3y ) =(-3y ) = -27y
Full Expansion: 8x - 36x y + 54x y - 27y
3 3-1

3 3-2

2 1

3 2

2 1

2 2

3 1

2 2

3 3-3

2 3

2 3

4) First term:

2 1

2 3-0

C0(2x )

3
2 3
6
y =(2x ) = 8x

1

Second Term:

36x 4
3
2 23
4 3
C
(2x
)
=
3(2x
)
=
3(4x
)
=
3 1
y
y
y
y



2 3-1

Third Term:

2 3-2

C2(2x )

54x 2
3
2 1 3
2 9
=
3(2x
)
=
3(2x
)
=
y
y
y2
y2



3

Fourth Term: 3 C3(2x ) 3 = 3 = 273

y
y y
4
2
Full Expansion: 8x 6 + 36x + 54x2 + 273
y
y
y
2 3-3

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part Two: Particular Terms

Finding a Particular Term: Given some information about a term,

you will be expected to solve various question types.
Example 1: Given (3x 4)8, determine the middle term of the expansion.
The k-value of the middle term is found by dividing n by 2. 8 2 = 4
8

C4(3x)8-4(-4)4 = 70(81x 4 )(256)= 1451520x4

Example 2: Given (5x 2y)9 Find the coefficient of the term containing x5
In order to find the k-value, first plug everything you know into the formula.
(Use an empty box for k, since thats what were trying to figure out.
9(-2y)
9 C (5x)
By inspection, we can see that to get a term with x5, we need to put a 4 in the
space.
9-4
4
5
4
5
4
5 4
9 C4 (5x) (-2y) =126(5x) (-2y) =126(3125x )(16y )= 6300000x y

Example 3: Given (2x4 2y2)5 find the coefficient of the term containing x12
In order to find the k-value, first plug everything you know into the formula:
4 5(-2y 2 )
5 C (2x )
By inspection, we can see that to get a term with x12, k must equal 2.
4 5-2
2 2
4 3
2 2
12
4
12 4
5 C2 (2x ) (-2y ) =10(2x ) (-2y ) =10(8x )(4y )= 320x y

Example 4: Given the binomial 3x 3 + 13 , find the constant term

x

In order to find the k-value, first plug everything you know into the formula:
k

1
6 Ck (3x )
3
x
The constant term occurs when the xs completely cancel out.
Do a quick table to see what value of k is needed.
3 6-k

k=0

1
(x 3 )6 3 = x18
x
1

15

k =1

1 x
(x ) 3 = 3 = x12
x x

k=2

x12
1
(x 3 )4 3 = 6 = x 6
x
x

k=3

x9
1
(x 3 )3 3 = 9 =1
x
x

3 5

Now fill in
the term
formula and
solve with
k = 3.

3 6-3 1
6 C3 (3x )
3
x

1
= 20(3x 3 )3 3
x
1
= 20(27x 9 ) 9
x
= 540

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part Two: Particular Terms
5
Example 5: A term in the expansion of (x + a)7 is 21504x
. Find the value of a.
y4
To find the k-value, first set up
the term formula as follows:
7

( x)

(a)

By inspection, we can see that to

get a term with x5, k must equal 2.

Now that we know k = 2,

set the given term equal
to the term formula. This
will set things up so you
can solve for a.
21504x 5
k
=7 Ck (x)7-k ( a)
y4

21504x 5
2
=7 C2(x)7-2 ( a)
y4
21504x 5
= 21x 5a2
y4
21504x 5 = 21x 5a2 y 4
21504
= a2
21y 4
21504
= a2
21y 4
32
=a
y2

Questions:
1) Given (2x 6)10, determine the middle term of the expansion.

2) Given (3x + 2y)8, determine the middle term of the expansion.

3) Given (5z + 9y)6 Find the coefficient of the term containing z2

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part Two: Particular Terms
4) Given (8x6 7y3)9 Find the coefficient of the term containing x36

5) Given (4z5 + 3y3)5 Find the coefficient of the term containing y12

6) If a term in the expansion of

7) Given

3 1
x + 3
x

2 m
2x +
y

2
is 54x2 , the value of m is
y

8
, find the constant term

8) A term in the expansion of ( mx - 4 )8 is 1451520x 4 . The value of m is

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part Two: Particular Terms
2 3
x - x

9) Determine the sixth term in the expansion of

10) In the expansion of ( x + y )14 , what is the numerical coefficient of the term containing x 3 y 11

11) Given (8x 6 - 7y 3 )9 , determine the position of the term containing x36

12) The fifth term in the expansion of

4 3
a - a

contains

a4 .

Determine the value of n.

13) The term -1080a 2 b3 occurs in the expansion of ( 2a - 3b )n . Determine the value of n.

14) Find and simplify the fourth term in the expansion of ( 2a - 3b )6

15) How many terms are in the expansion of x 3 + 1

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part Two: Particular Terms
1) The k for the middle term is 10 2 = 5

10

C5 (2 x)105 (6)5

C4 (3x)8 4 (2 y ) 4

= 70(3 x) 4 (2 y ) 4

= 252(32 x5 )(7776)

= 70(81x 4 )(16 y 4 )

= 62705664 x5

= 90720 x 4 y 4

4) First find the k-value of the

term containing x36

C (5 z )6- (9 y )

By inspection, we'll get z 2

when k = 4
6

= 252(2 x)5 (6)5

3) First find the k-value of the term

containing z2

2) The k for the middle term is 8 2 = 4

C4 (5 z )6 4 (9 y ) 4

C (8 x 6 )9- (7 y 3 )

C (4 z 5 )5- (3 y 3 )

By inspection, we'll get y12

By inspection, we'll get x 36

when k = 3

= 15(5 z )2 (9 y ) 4

5) First find the k-value of

the term containing y12

when k = 4

C3 (8 x 6 )93 (7 y 3 )3

C4 (4 z 5 )5 4 (3 y 3 )4

= 84(8 x 6 )6 (7 y 3 )3

= 5(4 z 5 )(3 y 3 )4

= 15(25 z 2 )(6561y 4 )

= 84(262144 x36 )(343 y 9 )

= 5(4 z 5 )(81y12 )

= 2460375 z 2 y 4

= 7552892928 x36 y 9

6) Use the formula t = C x n-k yk to

k+1 n
k

7)
solve this question. First place
everything you know into the
equation, leaving k blank for now. k = 0

m
y

By inspection, we get a term
t

+1

=3 C

( 2x )

2 3-

containing x when k = 2.
y2
t2+1 =3 C2 ( 2x 2 )

3-2

m
y

m
t2+1 =3 C2 ( 2x 2 )
y
2
2
6x m
t3 =
y2

1
( x 3 )8-k 3
x

1
( x 3 )8 3 = x 24
x
1

k =1

21
1 x
( x3 )7 3 = 3 = x18
x
x

2

k=2

x18
1
( x3 )6 3 = 6 = x12
x
x

k =3

x15
1
( x 3 )5 3 = 9 = x 6
x
x

k=4

x12
1
( x3 )4 3 = 12 = 1
x
x

1
C4 ( x 3 ) 8 4 3
x

1
Now plug in the known term in the left side = 70( x )
3
2
2
2
x
54 x
6x m
=
70 x12
= 12
y2
y2
x
54 = 6m2
= 70

3 4

9 = m2
m=3

= 1620 z 5 y12

8) Use the formula

tk+1 =n Ck x n-k yk to solve this

question.
First place everything you
know into the equation,
leaving k blank for now.

+1

=8 C

(mx ) ( -4 )
8-

By inspection, we get a term

containing x4 when k = 4.

t4+1 =8 C4 (mx )

( -4 )
4
4
t4+1 =8 C4 (mx ) ( -4 )
8-4

t5 =17920m4 x 4
Now plug in the known term in
the left side

1451520x 4 =17920m4 x 4
1451520 =17920m4
81= m4
m=3

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Permutations and Combinations: Lesson 4

Part Two: Particular Terms
9) Use the formula t = C ( x )n-k ( y )k . 10) Use the formula t = C ( x )n-k ( y )k .
k+1 n
k
k+1 n
k
For the sixth term, k = 5

First predict what k has to be in order to get

tk+1 =n Ck ( x )

the required term: t

n-k

t5+1 =9 C5 ( x 2 )

(y)

9-5

3
-
x

3
-
x
243
t6 =126x 8 - 5
x
t6 = -30618x 3
t6 =126 ( x

2 4

t11+1 =14 C11 ( x )

14-11

12)

Use the formula

t4+1 =n C4 ( a

tk+1 =n Ck ( x )

n-k

t5 =6 C4 ( a4 )

6-4

By inspection, we'll get x

when k = 3

36

3
t5 =15 ( a ) -
a
81
t5 =15a8 - 4
a
t5 = -1215a4

13)
Use the formula
k

(y)

( -3b )
5-3
3
t4 =5 C3 ( 2a) ( -3b )

n-k

(y)

To get the fourth term, k = 3.

t3+1 =6 C3 ( 2a)

( -3b )
3
3
t4 = 20 ( 2a) ( -3b )
6-3

5-3

Use the formula tk+1 =n Ck ( x )

To get back a2, the value of n must

be 5

t3+1 =5 C3 ( 2a)

14)

First predict what k has to be in

order to get the required term:
To get back b3, there is only one
option for k. It has to be 3.

t3+1 =n C3 ( x )

3
-
a

3
-
a

4 2

This corresponds to the fourth term of

the expansion

n-3

(y)

By inspection, we can see that n = 6 will

give the correct exponent for a.

C (8x 6 )9- (-7y 3 )

(y)

11

To get the fifth term, k = 4.

First find the k value of the term

containing x36

n-k

(y)

t12 = 364x 3 y11

11)

tk+1 =n Ck ( x )

(y)

14-

If the empty box is filled with the number 11,

you will get the required term.

4 n-4

(x)

=14 C

+1

t4 = 20 ( 8a3 )( -27b3 )

t4 = -4320a3b3

t4 =10 ( 4a2 )( -27b3 )

t4 = -1080a2b3

15)

The number of terms in an expansion is one

more than the value of n.
Therefore, there are 8 terms.

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