Binomial Theorem

Syllabus JEE MAINS BINOMIAL THEOREM AND ITS SIMPLE APPLICATIONS And Mathematical Induction
Binomial theorem for a positive integral index, general term and middle term, properties of Binomial coefficients and simple applications. Principle of Mathematical Induction and its simple applications.

Quick Revision Binomial Theorem

1.

Binomial Expression An expression containing two terms, is called a binomial expression. For example a + b/x, x + 1/y, 2 n a y etc. are binomial expressions. Expansion of (x + a) is called Binomial Theorem. Expression containing three terms is called trinomial. For example x + y + z. And in general expression containing more than two terms is called multinomial.

2.

Binomial Theorem for Positive Integral Index The rule by which any power of binomial can be expanded is called the binomial theorem. If n is a positive integer and x, y
( x y )n
n

C then
n

C0 x n 0 y 0

C1x n 1y1

C2 x n 2 y 2 ........

Cr x n r y r

......

Cn 1xy n

Cn x 0 y n

36

Binomial Theorem

i.e., ( x y )n
r 0

C r .x n r .y r

.....(i)

Here nC0 , nC1, nC2 ,......nCn are called binomial coefficients and n Cr The number of terms in the expansion of (x y )n are (n + 1). 3. Some Important Expansions (1) Replacing y by y in (i), we get,
( x y)n
n

n! for 0 r ! (n r )!

n.

C0 x n 0 .y 0
n

C1x n 1.y1

C2 x n 2 . y 2 .... ( 1)r nCr x n r .y r

.... ( 1)n nCn x 0 .y

i.e., ( x y )n
r 0

( 1)r n C r x n r .y r

.....(ii)

The terms in the expansion of ( x

y )n are alternatively positive and negative, the last term is

positive or negative according as n is even or odd. (2) Replacing x by 1 and y by x in equation (i) we get,
n

(1 x)n

C0 x 0

C1x1

C2 x 2 ......

Cr x r

......

Cn x n i.e., (1 x )n
r 0

Cr x r

This is expansion of (1 x )n in ascending power of x. 4. General Term

( x y)n
n

C0 x n y 0

C1x n 1y1

C2 x n 2 y 2 .....

Cr x n r y r

....

Cn x 0 y n

The first term = nC0 x n y 0 The second term = nC1x n 1y1 . The third term = nC2 x n 2 y 2 and so on

The term nCr x n r y r is the (r 1) th term from beginning in the expansion of ( x y )n . Let Tr
1

denote the (r + 1)th term

Tr

n 1

Cr x n r y r

This is called general term, because by giving different values to r, we can determine all terms of the expansion.

37

Binomial Theorem

In the binomial expansion of ( x y)n , Tr In the binomial expansion of (1 x)n , Tr In the binomial expansion of (1 x)n , Tr Note : In the binomial expansion of (x

( 1)r nCr x n r y r
n

Cr x r

( 1)r n Cr x r

y )n , the pth term from the end is (n p 2) th term from beginning.

Replacing x by 1 and y by x in (i) we get,

n

(1 x)n

C0 x 0

C1x1

C2 x 2

...... ( 1)r n Cr x r

.... ( 1)n n Cn x n i.e., (1 x )n

r 0

( 1)r n C r x r

( x y )n
(x y )n

( x y)n
( x y )n

2 [ n C0 x n y 0

C2 x n 2 y 2
n

C 4 x n 4 y 4 .......] and
n

2 [ n C1x n 1.y1

C3 x n 3 .y 3

C5 x n 5 y 5

.......]

The coefficient of (r

1)th term in the expansion of (1 x )n is n Cr .

The coefficient of x r in the expansion of (1 x )n is nCr . Note : If n is odd, then ( x y)n ( x y)n and ( x y)n ( x y)n , both have the same number of terms equal to
n 1 . 2 n 1 terms and ( x 2
n terms. 2

If n is even, then ( x

y )n

(x

y )n has

y )n

( x y)n has

5.

Middle term of the expansion If n is even

T T
n 1 2

is the middle term. So the middle term

T
n 3 2

n 1 2

n n/2 n/2 = Cn/2 x y

If n is odd

n 1 2

and

are middle terms. So the middle terms are

n 1 n 1 2 y 2

n n 1 2

n 1 2

n 1 n 1 2 y 2

and

n n 3 2

n 1 2

38

Binomial Theorem

6.

Independent Term or Constant Term. Independent term or constant term of a binomial expansion is the term in which exponent of the variable is zero. Condition : (n r) [Power of x] + r . [Power of y] = 0, in the expansion of [ x y]n .
1 x
n

7.

To Determine a Particular Term in the Expansion.. In the expansion of x occurs in Tr 1 , then r is given by n
r( ) m

, if x m

Thus in above expansion if constant term which is independent of x, occurs in Tr determined by

n r( ) 0

then r is

8.

Binomial Coefficient & Their Properties n n n n n r n n In the expansion of (1 + x) ; i.e. (1 + x) = C0 + C1x +.........+ Cr x +.......+ Cn x n n n The coefficients C0, C1, Cn of various powers of x, are called binomial coefficients and they are written as C0, C1, C2,......,Cn

Hence n 2 r n (1 + x) = C0 + C1x + C2x +........+ Crx + .......+ Cnx Where C0 = 1, C1 = n, C2 =

n(n 1)..........(n r 1) , Cn= r! n(n 1) 2!

.....(1)

Cr

Now, we shall obtain some important expressions involving binomial coefficients sum of coefficient : putting x = 1 in (1), we get
39

Binomial Theorem

C0 + C1 + C2 +............+ Cn = 2

.....(2)

Sum of coefficients with alternate signs : putting x = 1in (1) We get C0 C1 + C2 C3 +...........= 0 .....(3)

Sum of coefficients of even and odd terms : from (3) , we have C0 + C2 + C4 +.............= C1 + C3 + C5 +....... i.e. sum of coefficients of even and odd terms are equal. from (2) and (4) C0 + C2 +.........= C1 + C3 +..........= 2 n1 .....(4)

Sum of products of coefficients : Replacing x by 1/x in (1) We get

1 1 x
n

C0

C1 x

C2 x2

.........

Cn xn

.........

.....(5)

Multiplying (1) by (5), we get

(1 x )2n x
n

2 (C0 + C1x + C2x +........)

(C 0

C1 x

C2 x2

.......)

r Now, comparing coefficients of x on both the sides, we get C0Cr + C1Cr+1 +.........+ Cnr Cn = 2n Cnr =
2n! (n r )! (n r )!

.....(6)

Sum of squares of coefficients : putting r = 0 in (6)

2n!

2 2 2 we get C0 + C1 + C2 +........+ Cn = n! n! putting r = 1 in (6), we get C0 C1 + C1 C2 + C2 C3 +..........+ Cn1 Cn = putting r = 2 in (6), we get 2n
2n! (n 2)! (n 2)!

2n

Cn1 =

2n! (n 1)! (n 1)!

.....(7)

C0 C2 + C1 C3 + C2 C4 +..........+ Cn-2 Cn =

Cn2 =

.....(8)
40

Binomial Theorem

Differentiating both sides of (1) w.r.t. x, we get n1 2 n1 n(1+ x) = C1 + 2C2x + 3C3x +.........+ nCn x Now putting x = 1 and x = 1 respectively n1 C1 + 2C2 + 3C3 +........+ nCn = n.2 and C1 2C2 + 3C3.........= 0 .....(9) .....(10)

adding (2) and (9) C0 + 2C1 + 3C2 +..........+ (n+1) n1 Cn = 2 (n+2) .....(11)

Integrating (1) w.r.t. x between the limits 0 to 1, we get,

(1 x )n n 1
1 1

C0 x
0

C1

x2 2

C2

x3 3

........

Cn x n 1 n 1

C0+

C1 2

C2 3

.........

Cn n 1

2n 1 1 n 1

....(12)

Integrating (1) w.r.t. x between the limits -1 to 0, we get,

(1 x )n n 1
1 0

C0 x
1

C1

x2 2

C2

x3 3

........

Cn x n 1 n 1

9.

Numerically Greatest term of Binomial Expansion n n n1 n (a + x) = C0a + C1a x +...........+ Cnx .

Tr 1 Tr
n n

Cr Cr 1

x a

n r 1 r

x a

Take

n r r

x a

As

Tr

Tn

n 1 a 1 x

41

Binomial Theorem

So greatest term will be Tr+1 where r =

n 1 a 1 x

[.] denotes greatest integer function.

n 1 a itself is a natural number, then Tr = Tr + 1 1 x

Note : If

and both the terms are numerically greatest. 10. ) Method for finding terms free from radicals or rational terms in the expansion of
(a 1 / p b 1 / q )N a, b prime numbers: Find the general term Tr
0 r N
N 1

Cr (a1 / p )N r (b1 / q )r

Cr a

N r p

.b q

Putting the values of

, when indices of a and b are integers.

Number of irrational terms = Total terms Number of rational terms.

Mathematical Induction
1. First principle of Mathematical induction The proof of proposition by mathematical induction consists of the following three steps : Step I : (Verification step) : Actual verification of the proposition for the starting va lue i. Step II : (Induction step) : Assuming the proposition to be true for k, k true for the value (k + 1) which is next higher integer. i and proving that it is

Step III : (Generalization step) : To combine the above two steps. Let p(n) be a statement involving the natural number n such that (i) p(1) is true i.e. p(n) is true for n = 1. p(m + 1) is true, whenever p(m) is true i.e. p(m) is true p(m + 1) is true. Then p(n) is true for all natural numbers n.

42

Binomial Theorem

2.

Second principle of Mathematical induction The proof of proposition by mathematical induction consists of following steps : Step I : (Verification step) : Actual verification of the proposition for the starting value i and (i + 1). Step II : (Induction step) : Assuming the proposition to be true for k 1 and k and then proving that it is true for the value k + 1; k i + 1.

Step III : (Generalization step) : Combining the above two steps. Let p(n) be a statement involving the natural number n such that (i) p(1) is true i.e. p(n) is true for n = 1 and (ii) p(m + 1) is true, whenever p(n) is true for all n, where i n m . Then p(n) is true for all natural numbers. For a b, The expression
an bn

is divisible by

(a) a + b, if n is even.

(b) a b, if n is odd or even.

3.

Divisibility problems To show that an expression is divisible by an integer (i) If a, p, n, r are positive integers, then first of all we write a pn
r

a pn . a r

(a p )n . a r .

(ii) If we have to show that the given expression is divisible by c. Then express, ap some power of (ap
ap [k (ap

[1 (ap 1] , if some power of (a p

2) has c as a factor.

1) has c as a factor. ap

[2 (ap

2)] , if

k )], if some power of (a p

k ) has c as a factor.

43