Binomial Theorem (AL 1989-2010)

1.

Let n be a positive integer. Denote the coefficient of x k in the expansion of (1 2 x) n by a k .

n

Prove that (a)

ak 3n , (b)
k 0

2.

kak 2n3n1 , (c)

k 1

(3k 1)a
k 0

(2n 1)3n

(10I-1)

(7 marks)

It is known that for any positive integer n, the coefficient of x k in the expansion of (1 x) n is C kn .
(a) Prove that Ckn Ckn1 Ckn11 for all k 0,1,..., n 1 .
n

(b) Using (1 x) n1 (1 x) n (1 x) 2n1 , prove that

k 0

2008

(c) Using (a) and (b), or otherwise, evaluate

(C
k 0

3.

2009
k

n 1
k

C kn C n2 n 1 .

2009
C k2009
1 )C k 1 .

(09I-1)

(7 marks)

Denote the coefficient of x k in the expansion of (1 x) n by C kn .

(a) Let m be a non-negative integer with m n . Using (1 x) m (1 x) n (1 x) mn , prove that
m

C
k 0

m
k

C rn k C rm n for all r m, m 1,..., n .

99

(b) Using (a), or otherwise, evaluate

99
k

99
k

k 0
99

k 0

4.

C k100
1
.

(08I-1)

(6 marks)

101
k

For any positive integer n, denote the coefficient of x k in the expansion of (1 x) n by C kn .

(a) Prove that
(i)

n(1 x)n1 C 1n 2C 2n x 3C 3n x 2 nCnn x n1 ,

(ii)

(1 x ) n 1
Cn
Cn
Cn
1

C 0n x 1 x 2 2 x 3 n x n1 .
n1
n1
2
3
n1

(b) Using (1 x)n1 (1 x)n1 (1 x) 2 n , prove that

(C 1n ) 2 2(C 2n ) 2 3(C 3n ) 2
n(C nn ) 2
n( 2n)!

. (07I-1)
n
n1
n2
1
(n 1)(n! ) 2
5.

(7 marks)

Let C kn be the coefficient of x k in the expansion of (1 x) n .

(a) Using the identity (1 x 2 ) n (1 x) n (1 x) n , prove that the coefficient of x n in the expansion
of (1 x 2 ) n is

(1)
k 0

(C kn ) 2 .

(b) Evaluate
2005

(i)

(1)

(C k2005) 2

(1)

(C k2006) 2

k 0
2006

(ii)

k 0

(06I-2)

(7 marks)

6.

For any positive integer n, let C rn be the coefficient of x r in the expansion of (1 x) n . Evaluate
(a) C1n C2n C3n ... Cnn ,
(b) C1n 2C2n 3C3n ... nCnn ,
(c)

7.

8.

C1n 2 2 C2n 32 C3n ... n 2 Cnn .

(03I-2)

(6 marks)

Let n be positive integer.

(1 x) n 1
(a) Expand
in ascending powers of x.
x
(b) Using (a) or otherwise, show that
C2n 2C3n 3C4n ... (n 1)Cnn (n 2)2 n1 1 . (00I-3)

(5 marks)

For any positive integer n, let C kn be the coefficient of xk in the expansion of (1 + x)n.
(a) Show that Ckn Ckn1 Ckn11 .
(b) By induction on m or otherwise, show that Cnn Cnn1 Cnn2 ... Cnnm Cnn1m1
for any m 0. (99I-2)

9.

(5 marks)

(a) Let k and n be positive integers.

If k > 1, show that when (1 k) n is divided by k, the remainder is 1.
(b) If today is Tuesday, what day of the week is 896 days after? (96I-2)

(4 marks)

10. Let n be an integer and n >1. By considering the binomial expansion of (1 x) n , or otherwise,
(a) show that C1n 2C2n 3C3n ... nCnn 2 n1 n ;
(b) evaluate

1
2
3
(1) n1 n

...
. (95I-2)
(n 1)! 2!(n 2)! 3!(n 3)!
n!

(5 marks)

11. (a) Let m and n be positive integers . Using the identity

(1 x) n m1 (1 x) n
(1 x) n (1 x) n 1 ... (1 x) n m
, where x 0,
x
show that Cnn Cnn1 ... Cnn m Cnn1m1 .
m 4

(b) Using (a), or otherwise, show that

r (r 1)(r 2)(r 3) 24(C

r 5

m 5
5

1) .

Hence evaluate r (r 1)(r 2)(r 3) for k 4. (94I-7)

(7 marks)

r 0

12. Let k and n be non-negative integers. Prove that

k 1 n 1
C k 1 , where 0 k n ;
(a) C kn
n 1
n 1

(b)

(1)
k 0

C kn 1 0 ;

(1) k n
1
Ck
. (90I-4)

n 1
k 0 k 1
n

(c)

(6 marks)