MEI AS Mathematics The binomial expansion

Section 1: Finding binomial expansions

Solutions to Exercise level 2

1. (i) Term in x4 = 15 C4 (2 x )4 = 1365  16 x 4 = 21840 x 4

Coefficient of x4 is 21840

(ii) Term in x23 = 25

C23 (3)2 (− x )23 = 25 C2 (3)2 ( − x )23
= 300  9  − x 23 = −2700 x 23
Coefficient of x23 is -2700.

4
 1 x6
(iii) Term in x² = 10 C4 x   = 210 4 = 210 x 2
6

x x
2
Coefficient of x is 210.

 10 
2. (i) zero  19 C10 = ( 19 C9 ) = 92378 
 10 

(ii) 1 (= 10 – 9)

3  9 8  7  6 5 4 9 8  7  6 5 4 3 
(iii)  9 C6 = C7 = 
7  1 2  3  4  5  6 9
1 2  3  4  5  6  7 

3. f( x ) = sin4 x + 4 sin3 x cos x + 6sin2 x cos2 x + 4 sin x cos3 x + cos4 x

( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )
4 3 2 2 3 4
 f(45) = 1
2
+4 1
2
1
2
+6 1
2
1
2
+4 1
2
1
2
+ 1
2

= 16 ( )
4
1
2

=4

4. (1 + x )4 = 1 + 4 x + 6 x 2 + ...
(1 − x )7 = 1 − 7 x + 21x 2 ...
( )(
(1 + x )4 (1 − x )7 = 1 + 4 x + 6 x 2 + ... 1 − 7 x + 21x 2 + ... )
= (1 − 7 x + 21x 2 ) + 4 x (1 − 7 x ) + 6 x 2 + ...
= 1 − 7 x + 21x 2 + 4 x − 28 x 2 + 6 x 2 + ...
= 1 − 3 x − x 2 + ...

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 MEI AS Maths Binomial 1 Exercise solutions

15  14 2
5. (i) (1 − x )15 = 1 − 15x + x + ... = 1− 15x + 105x 2 + ...
1 2

(ii) Putting x = 0.01: (1 − 0.01)15 = 1 − 15  0.01 + 105  0.012 + ...

0.9915 = 1 − 0.15 + 0.0105 + ... = 0.8605

0.8605 − 0.9915
(iii) Percentage error =  100 = 0.051%
0.9915

9 2 3
 x  x  98  x  987  x 
6. (i) 1 +  = 1 + 9   +   +   + ...
 2  2  1 2  2  1 2  3  2 
= 1 + 92 x + 9 x 2 + 21
2
x 3 + ...

9
 0.1
(ii) Putting x = 0.1: 1 +  = 1 + 2  0.1 + 9  0.1 + 2  0.1 + ...
9 2 21 3

 2 
1.05 = 1 + 0.45 + 0.09 + 0.0105 + ... = 1.5505
9

1.5505 − 1.059
(iii) Percentage error =  100 = −0.053%
1.059

7. f( x ) = (8 − 12 x + 6 x 2 − x 3 )(1 − 2x + 1
x2
)
16 8 12
= 8 − 12 x + 6 x 2 − x 3 − + 24 − 12 x + 2 x 2 + 2 − + 6 − x
x x x
8 28
= − + 38 − 25x + 8 x 2 − x 3
x 2
x
Check: f(1) = (2 − 1)3 (1 − 11)2 = 0
and f(1) = 8 − 28 + 38 − 25 + 8 − 1 = 0 as expected.
f(2) = (2 − 2)3 (1 − 21 )2 = 0
and f(2) = 2 − 14 + 38 − 50 + 32 − 8 = 0 as expected.

8. (i) (1 + x 2 )8  1 + 8 x 2 + 28 x 4 + 56 x 6

(ii) Put x = 0.1,  (1 + x 2 )8 = 1.018

1.018  1 + 8(0.01) + 28(0.0001) + 56(0.000001)
= 1.082856
= 1.083 (to 3 d.p.)

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