EXAMPLE 1: Use the binomial formula to expand the

(𝒙 − 𝟕𝒚)𝟔 .
STEP 1: Identify the 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑛. Then, substitute them in the binomial
expansion formula.

(a + b )n = æçç
n ö n 0 æ n ö n -1 æ n ö n - 2 2 ænö ænö ænö n!
÷÷a b + çç ÷÷a b + çç ÷÷a b + ... + çç ÷÷a n - r b r + ... + çç ÷÷a 0b n çç ÷÷ = ,0 £ r £ n.
è0ø è1ø è 2ø èrø ènø è r ø (n - r )!r!

STEP 2: To avoid errors in computation, you may work out term per
term.
FIRST TERM:
𝑛 𝑛!
! $ 𝑎! 𝑏" → ( . 𝑎! 𝑏"
0 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!
SECOND TERM:
𝑛 𝑛!
! $ 𝑎!#$ 𝑏 → ( . 𝑎!#$ 𝑏
1 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!

THIRD TERM:
𝑛 𝑛!
! $ 𝑎!#% 𝑏 % → ( . 𝑎!#% 𝑏 %
2 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!
FOURTH TERM:
𝑛 𝑛!
! $ 𝑎!#& 𝑏 & → ( . 𝑎!#& 𝑏 &
3 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!

FIFTH TERM:
𝑛 !#' ' 𝑛!
! $𝑎 𝑏 → ( . 𝑎!#' 𝑏 '
4 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!
SIXTH TERM:

𝑛 !#( ( 𝑛!
! $𝑎 𝑏 → ( . 𝑎!#( 𝑏 (
5 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!

SEVENTH TERM:
𝑛 " ) 𝑛!
! $𝑎 𝑏 → ( . 𝑎" 𝑏)
6 (𝑛 − 𝑟)! 𝑟!
STEP 3: Combine all algebraic terms and state your final answer.

(𝑥 − 7𝑦)! = 𝑥 ! − 42𝑥 " 𝑦 + 735𝑥 # 𝑦 $ − 6,860𝑥 % 𝑦 % + 36,015𝑥 $ 𝑦 #

− 100,842𝑥𝑦 " + 117,649𝑦 !