AS Level Math

P1 (9709/1)
BINOMIAL
THEOREM

Past Paper Questions

Easy
Medium
Hard
Insanely Difficult
 3

2 The coefficient of x4 in the expansion of x + a
6 is p and the coefficient of x2 in the expansion of
ax + 3
4 is q. It is given that p + q = 276.

Find the possible values of the constant a. [4]

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© UCLES 2023 9709/12/M/J/23 [Turn over

 2

1 The coefficient of x4 in the expansion of 3 + x
5 is equal to the coefficient of x2 in the expansion of
@ A
a 6
2x + .
x

Find the value of the positive constant a. [4]

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© UCLES 2022 9709/12/M/J/22

 4
P Q5
4 k2 2
3 The coefficient of x in the expansion of 2x + is a. The coefficient of x2 in the expansion of
x
4
2kx − 1
is b.

(a) Find a and b in terms of the constant k. [3]

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© UCLES 2022 9709/11/M/J/22

 5

(b) Given that a + b = 216, find the possible values of k. [3]

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© UCLES 2022 9709/11/M/J/22 [Turn over

 10

8 (a) It is given that in the expansion of 4 + 2x
2 − ax
5 , the coefficient of x2 is −15.

Find the possible values of a. [4]

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© UCLES 2021 9709/12/O/N/21

 11

(b) It is given instead that in the expansion of 4 + 2x
2 − ax
5 , the coefficient of x2 is k. It is also
given that there is only one value of a which leads to this value of k.

Find the values of k and a. [4]

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© UCLES 2021 9709/12/O/N/21 [Turn over

 6
0 a 16
5 In the expansion of 2x2 + , the coefficients of x6 and x3 are equal.
x
(a) Find the value of the non-zero constant a. [4]

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0 a 16
(b) Find the coefficient of x6 in the expansion of 1 − x3
2x2 + . [1]
x

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© UCLES 2020 9709/11/O/N/20

 5

4 (a) Expand 1 + a
5 in ascending powers of a up to and including the term in a3 . [1]

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(b) Hence expand 1 + x + x2
5 in ascending powers of x up to and including the term in x3 ,
simplifying your answer. [3]

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© UCLES 2020 9709/13/M/J/20 [Turn over

 2

1 (i) Expand 1 + y
6 in ascending powers of y as far as the term in y2 . [1]

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 6
(ii) In the expansion of 1 + px − 2x2
the coefficient of x2 is 48. Find the value of the positive
constant p. [3]

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© UCLES 2019 9709/13/O/N/19

 3

1 The coefficient of x3 in the expansion of 1 − px
5 is −2160. Find the value of the constant p. [3]

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© UCLES 2019 9709/12/F/M/19 [Turn over

 2
0 x 16
1 The coefficient of x2 in the expansion of 2 + + a + x
5 is 330. Find the value of the constant a.
2
[5]

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© UCLES 2018 9709/12/M/J/18

 3

1 (i) Find the first three terms in the expansion, in ascending powers of x, of 1 − 2x
5 . [2]

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(ii) Given that the coefficient of x2 in the expansion of 1 + ax + 2x2
1 − 2x
5 is 12, find the value of
the constant a. [3]

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© UCLES 2018 9709/11/M/J/18 [Turn over

O/N 2016 P12 Q4
M/J 2016 P12 Q4
M/J 2016 P11 Q1
O/N 2014 P12 Q3
O/N 2013 P13 Q8
O/N 2011 P12 Q1
M/J 2011 P12 Q2