All Topics

Biology Chemistry Physics Math Binomial Theorm

BINOMIAL THEOREM
Properties of the Binomial Expansion
There are (n + 1) terms in the expansion of (a + b)n, the first and the last ter
m being an and bn respectively. If nCx = nCy, then either x = y or x + y = n
nCr = nCn - r =. e.g. 12C9 = 12C3.
The general term (which is (r + 1)th term) is = nCr an - r br. It is usually den
oted by Tr+1.
In the summation notation, the binomial theorem is written as
.
n is called the index of the binomial. The values of the binomial coefficients a
re symmetrically placed about the middle value if the index n is even, and about
two middle values (which are equal) if the index is odd.
Middle term
(i) When n is even
Middle term of the expansion is the term i.e., nCn/2 an/2 bn/2 in the expansion
of (a + b)n.
(ii) When n is odd
Middle terms of the expansion are the term and the term.
These are given by, in the expansion of (a + b)n.
Note:

The binomial co-efficients in the expansion of (a+x)n, equidistant from the begi
nning and from the end are equal.
The binomial coefficient of the rth term from the end = binomial coefficient of
the
(n - r +2)th term from the beginning.
If there are two middle terms, then the binomial co-efficients of two middle ter
ms will be equal and those two co-efficients will be greatest.
Greatest Binomial Coefficient
|Tr + 1| > |Tr| if . .... (2)
Note: .
Thus Tr+1 will be the greatest term, if r has the greatest value as per relation
(2).
Tips to Remember
(a) for the binomial expansion of (a + x)n.
(b) (n + 1)Cr = nCr + nCr-1
(c) When n is even,
(x + a)n + (x - a)n = 2(xn + nC2 xn-2 a2 + nC4 xn-4 a4 + .... +nCn an).
When n is odd,
(x + a)n + (x - a)n = 2(xn + nC2 xn-2 a2+ ... +nCn-1 x an-1).
When n is even,
(x + a)n - (x - a)n = 2(nC1 xn-1a + nC3 xn-3a3 + ... +nCn-1 x an-1).
When n is odd
(x + a)n - (x - a)n = 2(nC1xn-1a + nC3xn-3 a3 + ... +nCn an).
Properties of Binomial Coefficients
For the sake of convenience, the coefficients nCo, nC1,....nCr,.....nCn are usua
lly denoted by Co, C1,... Cr ... Cn respectively.
Put x = 1 in (A) and get, 2n = Co + C1 +......+Cn
or Co + C1+ ..... + Cn = 2n. ....(D)
Also putting x = - 1 in (A) we get,
0 = Co - C1 + C2 - C3 +.......
C0 + C2 + C4 + ........= C1 + C3 + C5 +....
But from (D) Co + C2 + C4 + ....... + C1 + C3 + C5 +.......=2n.
Hence Co + C2 + C4 + ......... = C1 + C3 + C5 +.......= 2n-1.
For x = 2, (A) gives nC0 + 2 nC1 + 22 nC2 + ... + 2n nCn = 3n .
For Problem related to series of binomial coefficients in which each term is a p
roduct of two binomial coefficients.
If sum of lower suffices of binomial expansion in each term is the same
i.e. nC0 nCn + nC1 nCn-1 + nC2 nCn-2 + ....+ nCn nC0
i.e. 0 + n = 1 + (n - 1) = 2 + (n - 2) =....= n + 0.
Then the series represents the coefficient of xn in the multiplication of the fo
llowing two series
(1 + x)n = C0 + C1x + C2x2 + . . + Cnxn
and (x + 1)n = C0xn + C1xn-1 + C2xn-2 + . . + Cn.