David Roman

Mathematics Extension 1 ‐ Year 11 Assessment

Pascal’s Triangle/Binomial Theorem Investigation
Part A – Pascal’s Triangle

1. The triangle of numbers below forms part of the famous “Pascal’s Triangle”.

1 Row0

1 1 Row1

1 2 1 Row2

1 3 3 1 Row3

1 4 6 4 1 Row4

i) Look for the patterns from row to row and explain how to write down the next row of the

triangle.

ii) Write down Pascal’s Triangle to 𝑅𝑜𝑤 .

We call this triangle “Pascal’s Triangle” because of the mathematician Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), but

the following two images depict similar triangles that were in use much earlier. The one on the left is

from a Chinese paper from 1303 A.D. and the one on the right is from a 16th century German book for

merchants. (Images: AGNESI to ZERO, Key Curriculum Press)

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2. Using basic operations and exploring the rows and/or diagonals, are there any other patterns or

interesting relationships that you can find?

You should be able to find at least four. Give the name of the pattern and a representation of where it

can be found in the triangle.

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Part B – Binomial Expansion

1. Expand and simplify each of the following. Show all working for the expansions.

i) ( a  b)1

ii) (a  b) 2

iii) (a  b) 3

iv) (a  b) 4

2. Now, go back and look at Part A. Write down the third row of Pascal’s Triangle. Find and write

down the connection between the expansion of (a  b) 3 and the third row of Pascal’s Triangle.

3. Now look at the fourth line and state the connection between the expansion of (a  b) 4 and the

fourth row of Pascal’s Triangle.

4. Use the results of question 2 and 3 to expand:

i) ( a  b) 5

ii) (a  b) 6

iii) (a  b) 7

5. Use Pascal’s triangle to expand:

i) 𝑥 7

ii) 𝑦 9

iii) 𝑎 6

iv) What did you notice about the sign in the third question?

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6. Now expand without using Pascal’s Triangle.
i) 5𝑥 7

ii) 5𝑥 7

iii) 5𝑥 7

iv) What can you say about the effect the co-efficient of x has on the outcome compared to

previous questions which were monic?

7. Now expand the following using Pascal’s Triangle.

i) 6𝑥 2

ii) 7𝑥 5

iii) 4 3𝑥

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Part C – Pascal’s Triangle and Probability
1. Write down the possibilities when two coins are tossed. How many possibilities are there?

2. Find the total of row 2 of Pascal’s Triangle

3. Find the probability of tossing two coins and obtaining:

i) No tails

ii) One tail

iii) Two tails

4. How do these probabilities relate to Pascal’s Triangle? Write a sentence or two on this.

5. Write down the possibilities when three coins are tossed. How many possibilities are there?

6. Find the probability of tossing three coins and obtaining:

i) No heads.

ii) One head.

iii) Two heads.

iv) Three heads.

7. Use Pascal’s Triangle to find the following probabilities.

i) Tossing 6 coins and obtaining 5 tails.

ii) Tossing 8 coins and obtaining 5 heads.

iii) Tossing 3 coins and obtaining 2 tails.

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Part D – The Combination

In Part C, we can refer to the desired questions as “n choose r,” like in example question 7 part iii:

“In tossing 6 coins, choosing 4 tails. So, 6 choose 4. “

The following is from: http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/math/algtrig/ats5/lcomb.htm

Permutation: A set of objects in which position (or order) is

important.

To a permutation, the trio of Brittany, Alan and Greg is DIFFERENT

from Greg, Brittany and Alan. Permutations are persnickety

(picky).

Combination: A set of objects in which position (or order)

is NOT important.

To a combination, the trio of Brittany, Alan and Greg is THE SAME

AS Greg, Brittany and Alan.

1. Consider having 3 objects.

i) Use the calculator to explore the outcomes when choosing none of the objects, 1 of the

objects, 2 of the objects, 3 of the objects as a combination.

ii) How do your findings relate to Pascal’s triangle?

2. Now imagine you have 5 objects.

i) Use the calculator to explore the outcomes when choosing none of the objects, 1 of the

objects, 2 of the objects, 3 of the objects, 4 of the objects, 5 of the objects, as a combination.

ii) How do your findings relate to Pascal’s Triangle?

3. Use this connection to produce row 17 of Pascal’s Triangle.

4. How can this information help with obtaining probabilities like in Part C?

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Part E – Wisdom of the Crowd

Attached to this assignment are some colour copies of the jar of Maltesers .

You have already had a guess at how many there are in it. Ultimately we will see how close you are but

we are looking into a phenomenon called the “Wisdom of the Crowd”.

1. Calculate the average for the Year 11 and Year 12 guesses. I will provide these.

2. I will provide you with another bank of responses from year 7 shortly. Calculate the average of that

group.

3. I will also provide you with a bank of responses from teachers. Calculate the average of that group.

4. Compare the three averages and comment on how similar or dissimilar they are to the each other.

5. Now we need some more responses, but these are your own. Using friends, social media etc. you

need to collect as many guesses as possible, at least 50 more. Record these results in table and

calculate the average of all the results you have.

6. Research the “Wisdom of the Crowd” and provide a short overview of it.

7. Knowing the answer, did your results come close to the final answer? Comment on how accurate

your results were compared to what the “Wisdom of the Crowd” theory suggests.

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Marking Rubric
*Where descriptive responses are required the more descriptive and accurate the response, the

higher marks it will gain.

Available Your
Question Descriptors
Marks Result
Part A
1 mark for some understanding
1i 2
2 marks for good explanation
1 mark for row 5,
1ii 1 mark for row 6, 3
1 mark for row 7
2 1 for each pattern and 1 for each description 8
Part B
1i 1 mark correct expansion 1
1ii 1 mark correct expansion 1
1 mark for some understanding
1iii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
1iv 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for a basic connection
2 2
2 mark for a good understanding and connection
1 mark for a basic connection
3 2
2 mark for a good understanding and connection
1 mark for some understanding
4i 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
4ii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
4iii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
5i 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
5ii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
5iii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
5iv 2
2 mark for a good understanding
6i 1 mark correct answer 1
1 mark for some understanding
6ii 2
2 marks for correct answer

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 1 mark for some understanding
6iii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
6iv 2
2 mark for a good understanding
1 mark for some understanding
7i 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
7ii 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
7iii 2
2 marks for correct answer
Part C
1 mark for some possibilities
1 2
2 marks for all outcomes
2 1 mark for Total of row 2 1
3i 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
3ii 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
3iii 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
1 mark for some understanding
4 2
2 mark for a good understanding
1 mark for some possibilities
5 2 marks for all outcomes 3
1 mark for total possibilities
6i 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
6ii 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
6iii 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
6iv 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
7i 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
7ii 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
7iii 1 mark for Correct Answer 1
Part D
1 mark for some understanding
1i 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
1ii 2
2 mark for a good understanding
1 mark for some understanding
2i 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
2ii 2
2 mark for a good understanding
1 mark for some understanding
3 2
2 marks for correct answer
1 mark for some understanding
4 2
2 mark for a good understanding

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Part E
1 1 mark for average 1
2 1 mark for average 1
3 1 mark for average 1
1 mark for some comparison
4 2
2 mark for a good comparison
1 mark for responses
5 1 mark for at least 50 3
1 mark for average
1 mark for basic understanding
6 2 marks for strong understanding 3
3 marks for a thorough understanding
1 mark for basic understanding
7 2 marks for strong understanding 3
3 marks for a thorough understanding

1 mark for well presented, name, question and page numbers

Presentation 1
clearly indicated

Total 95

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