BINOMIAL EXPRESSION

An algebraic expression containing two terms is called a binomial expression.

 1  3  2 1 
For example, (a + b), (2x – 3y),  x   ,  x   ,   2  etc. are binomial expressions.
y x x x
 BINOMIAL THEOREM FOR POSITIVE INDEX
Such formula by which any power of a binomial expression can be expanded in the form of
a series is known as Binomial Theorem. For a positive integer n , the expansion is given by
n
n n
(a+x) = C0a + C1a n n n–1 n
x + C2 a n-2 2 n
x + . . . + Cr a n–r r n n
x + . . . + Cnx =  n
Cr a n  r x r .
r 0
n n n n
where C0 , C1 , C2 , . . . , Cn are called Binomial co-efficients.
Similarly
(a – x)n = nC0an – nC1an–1 x + nC2 an-2 x2 – . . . + (–1)r nCr an–r xr + . . . +(–1)n nCnxn
n

    Cr a n  r x r
r n
i.e. (a – x)n = 1
r 0

Replacing a = 1, we get
(1 + x)n = nC0 +nC1x+nC2x2 + . . . + nCr xr + . . . + nCnxn
and (1 – x)n = nC0 –nC1x+nC2x2 – . . . + (–1)r nCr xr + . . . +(–1)n nCnxn
 Observations for (a+x)n :
(a+x)n = nC0an + nC1an–1 x + nC2 an-2 x2 + . . . + nCr an–r xr + . . . + nCnxn
> There are (n+1) terms in the expansion of (a +x)n.
> Sum of powers of x and a in each term in the expansion of (a +x)n is constant and equal to n.
> The general term in the expansion of ( a+x)n is (r+1)th term given as Tr+1 = nCr an-r xr
> The pth term from the end = ( n –p + 2)th term from the beginning .

> MIDDLE TERM

When n is even Only one middle term namely i.e. Tn/2 + 1.
When n is odd Two middle terms namely i.e. Tn1 and Tn3 .
2 2

> GREATEST BINOMIAL COEFFICIENT

n
If n is even, the greatest binomial coefficient is Cn/2.
n n
If n be odd, the greatest binomial coefficient C n1 and C n 1 , both being equal .
2 2
> NUMERICALY GREATEST TERM
n  1) n  1)
(i) Calculate m= Or
 x  a
1 1
 a  x
(ii) If m is integer, then tm and tm + 1 are equal and are greatest term.
(iii) If m is not integer, then t[m] + 1 is the greatest term (where [.] denotes the greatest
integer function).

> n
C x  nC y  x = y OR x+y=n

> n
Cr  n Cr 1  n 1Cr 1

n n 1
> n
Cr  Cr 1
r
 15
 2 2
Example: Consider  x  
 x
i. Find the first 4th terms of the expanssion if expanded in increasing power of x.
ii. Find the first 3rd terms of the expanssion if expanded in decreasing power of x.
iii. Find the first 4th terms of the expanssion .
iv. Find the first 9th terms of the expanssion if expanded in increasing power of x.
v. Find the first 11th terms of the expanssion if expanded in decreasing power of x.
vi. Find the number of terms in the expanssion.
vii. Find the greatest bonomial coefficient.
viii. Find the middle term of the expanssion .
ix. Find the numerically greatest term of the expanssion if x = 1.
x. Find the coefficient of x15 .
xi. Find the coefficient of x22 .
xii. Find the coefficient of x0 or the constant term.
Example: If the binomial coefficients of (2r + 4)th, (r –2)th term in the expansion of (a + bx)18
are equal find r.
Solution: This is possible only when
either 2r + 3 = r –3 ….(1) or 2r + 3 + r –3 = 18 …..(2)
from (1) r = –6 not possible
but from (2) r=6
Hence r = 6 is the only solution.
 11 11
 2 1 –7  1 
Example: Find the coefficient of (i) x in 7
ax   , (ii) and x in  ax   . Find the
 bx  bx 2 
relation between a and b if these coefficients are equal.
11 r 11 r
 2 1  2 11 r  1  11 a
Solution : The general term in  ax    Cr (ax )   = Cr r x 22 3r
11
 bx   bx  b
If in this term power of x is 7, then 22 – 3r = 7  r = 5
a6
 coefficient of x = C5 5
7 11
…(1)
b
a11 r 113r
11 r
 1  11 r  1 
The general term in  ax  2   ( 1) Cr (ax)  2  = ( 1) Cr r x
r 11 r 11
 bx   bx  b
If in this term power of x is –7, then 11 – 3r = –7  r = 6
a5
 coefficient of x = C6 6
-7 11

b
a 6 11 a 5
Now C5 5 = C6 6  a = b
11

b b
Example: Find (i) last digit (ii) last two digit (iii) last three digit of
17256 and 124100
Solution:
Example: Find the remainder when
(i) 7103 is devided by 9.
(ii) 5200 is devided by 13.
Solution:
MIDDLE TERM
9
 x3 
Example : Find the middle term in the expansion of  3x   .
 6
Solution: There will be two middle terms as n = 9 is an odd number. The middle terms will
 9  1  9  3
th th
be 
 2    terms.
and
2
4 5
5 x  4 x 
3 3
189 17 21
t5 = C4(3x)    
9
x t6 = C5(3x)      x19
9
 6 8  6 16
12
a 
Example: Find the middle term in the expansion of   bx .
x 
Solution : 7th term is the middle term
6
 a
T6+1 = C6 .   . (b x)6
12
 x
= 12C6 a6 b6
GREATEST BINOMIAL COEFFICIENT
NUMERICALY GREATEST TERM
n  1) n  1)
(i) Calculate m = Or
 x  a
1 1
 a  x
(ii) If m is integer, then tm and tm + 1 are equal and are greatest term.
(iii) If m is not integer, then t[m] + 1 is the greatest term (where [.] denotes the greatest integer
function).
BUT WHY ?
 20
 1
Example: Find the value of the greatest term in the expansion of 3 1   .
 3
r
 1
3  20Cr  
t  3 20
Cr 1 21  r 1 21
Solution: Since r 1  r 1
     1 r  = 7.686
3 1
20
tr  1 Cr 1 3 r 3
3  20Cr 1  
 3
r
 1
3  20Cr  
tr 1  3 
20
Cr r 1 19
 r 1
 3   3  1 r   6.96
tr  2  1
20
Cr 1 20  r 3 1
3  20Cr 1  
 3
i.e. r = 7
Hence t1 < t2 < t3 < t4 < t5 < t6 < t7 < t8 > t9 > t10
7
 1
Hence t8 is the greatest term and its value is 3  20C7  
 3
 1
Example: Find numerically the greatest term in the expansion of (3  5 x)11 when x = .
5
Solution :
Example: Find the coefficient of
i. x4 in (3  5 x)11
ii. x7 in x2 (3  x)15
(2  x )10
iii. x5 in
x3
iv. x6 in (2  x 2 ).(1  x)12
7 9
 3  1
v. x7 in x 2  . x
 x  x
vi. x4 in (1  x  x 2  x3 )10
iv. x50 in (1  x) 40 .(1  x  x 2 ) 41
iv. x24 in (1  x 2 )12 .(1  x12 ).(1  x 24 )
PROPERTIES OF BINOMIAL COEFFICIENT
For the sake of convenience the coefficients nC0 , nC1 , . . ., nCr , . . . ,nCn are usually denoted by
C0, C1 , . . . , Cr , . . . ,Cn respectively
 PROBLEMS RELATED TO SERIES OF BINOMIAL COEFFICIENTS
A.
Example: i. C0 + C1 + C2 +. . . . . + Cn = ?
ii. C0 - C1 + C2 - C3 +...+ (-1)nCn.
iii. C0 + C2 + C4 +. . . . . = C1 + C3 + C5 +. . . . . = ?
iv. C0 + 2C1 + 4C2 +8C3 +. . . . . + Cn = ?
v. C0 - C2 + C4 – C6. . . . . = ?
vi. C0 + C3 + C6 + C9. . . . . + = ?
Solution:
B.
Example: i. C0 .C1 + C1.C2 +C2.C3 +. . . . . . = ?
ii. C02  C12  C22  C32  .......... = ?
iii. C0 .C2 - C1.C3 +C2.C4 –C3.C5 . . . . . . = ?
Solution:
C.
Example: i. 10
C2  11C2  12C2  13C2  ..........20 terms= ?
ii. C4  16C5  17C6  18C7  ..........30 terms= ?
15

Solution:
D.
Example: i. C1 + 2C2 + 3C3 +. . . . . = ?
ii. C0 +2 C1 + 3 C2 +4 C3 +...... = ?
iii. C1 + 3C3 + 5C5 + 7C7 +. . . . . = ?
iv. C0 + 3C2 + 5C4 +. . . . . = ?
v. C1 - 3C3 + 5C5 - 7C7 +. . . . . = ?
vi. C0 +3 C1 + 5 C2 +7 C3 +...... = ?
E.
C0 C1 C2 C3
Example: i.     ......... = ?
1 2 3 4
C0 C2 C4
ii.    ......... = ?
1 3 5
C C C C
iii. 0  1  2  3  ......... = ?
1 2 3 4
F.
 r  2 n 2n ( n  3)  1
n
Example: i. Show that    Cr 

r 0 r  1 n 1
( n  1) n
ii. Show that (C0 + C1)(C1 + C2)(C2 + C3) . . . . . . (Cn-1 + Cn) = C1C2 .....Cn
n!
iii. Show that nC0 . nC3 .2n 3  nC1. n 1C3 .2n  4  nC2 . n  2C3 .2n 5  ........  nC3 .3n 3
C1 2. nC2 3. nC3
n
n(n  1)
iv. Show that n  n  n  ............ 
C0 C1 C2 2
v. If (1 + x)n = C0 + C1x + C2 x2 +.....+ Cnxn then prove that
   Ci  C j  = (n – 1)2nCn + 22n
2

0  i j  n
Example: If I is integral part of (2 + 3 )n and f is fraction part of (2 + 3 )n, then prove that
i. (I + f) (1 –f) = 1.
ii. I is an odd Integer
MULTINOMIAL EXPANSION
For  x  y 
n
General term

For  x  y  z 
n
General term


Example: Find the coefficient of x in 1  2 x  3x
4

2 10

 
100
Example: Find the no of rational terms in 2 3 5
3 5
Example: Find the no of terms in
 x  y n
 x  y  z 3
 x  y  z  w10
 x  y  z 8
1  2 x  3x 
2 8
 Solved Examples
Example 1: If roots of the equation  m C0  m C1.......m Cm  x 2 -  n C0  n C2  n C4 ....... x +
 n

C1  n C3  n C5 ....... =0 are real , find minimum value of n – m.
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) –1
Solution: Roots are real if
 
2
2n1  4(2m )2n1  0
22 n  2  2m n 1  0
2n – 2  m+ n +1
n–m3
minimum value of n – m = 3
 n n
Cr
Example 2:  (1) r 1

r 1
is equal to
r 1
1 1 1 n
(A) – (B) – (C) (D)
n 1 n n 1 n 1

n n
Cr 1 n
Solution:  (1) r 1
 = 
r  1 n  1 r 1
( 1) r 1  n1Cr 1
r 1
1
= (0  1  ( n  1))
n 1
n
=
n 1
 300 300 300
Example 3:  ar x r
 (1  x  x  x ) . If a =
2 3 100
a r then ra r is equal to
r 0 r 0 r 0

(A) 300 a (B) 100 a (C) 150 a (D) 75 a

Solution:
Example 4: Number of terms in (1 +x)101 (1 + x2 –x)100 is
(A) 302 (B) 301 (C) 202 (D) 101
Solution: (1 +x)101 (1 + x2 –x)100 = (1 +x) (1 + x3)100
= (1 + x) [C0 + C1x3 + C2x6 + …..+ C100x300 ]
= C0 + C0x + C1x3 + C1x4 + C2x6 + C2x7 + ……+ C100x300 + C100x301
Total number of terms = 101 + 101
= 202
Example 5: If coefficient of x2 y3 z4 in (x + y +z)n is A, then coefficient of x4y4z is
nA A
(A) 2A (B) (C) (D) none of these
2 2
Solution: (C)
Since x2y3z4 is occurring in the expansion of (x +y +z)n, so n should be 9 only.
9!
Now A = = 1260
2!  3!  4!
9!
Coefficient of x4y4 z is = 630 = A/2.
4!  4!
 n 1
2 n
1 r
Example 6: Let n be an odd natural number and A =  n . Then value of  n C is
r 1 Cr r 1 r

equal to
nA
(A) n( A-1) (B) n( A+1) (C) (D) nA
2
Solution:
Let n= 2m +1
n
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
A= 
C1 C2
 ...   
Cm C2 m C2 m 1
 ... 
Cm1
 2A +2 = C
r 0 r
n
r n
r n
nr n
nr
Let S =  = C = C =  C .
C
r 1 r r 0 r r 0 nr r 0 r
n
1
 2S = n  C  S = n(A+1).
r 0 r
 n
r
th
Example 7: Let r term of a series be given by tr = . Then lim  tr is
1  3r  r
2 4
n
r 1

(A) 3/2 (B) ½ (C) -1/2 (D) –3/2

Solution:
Tr can be written as
r 1 1 1 
Tr = =  2  
     
2 2
r 1  r
2 2 2 r 1 r r 1 r

1   1 1 
 r 2   r 2  1  r r 2  1  r 
T  
r 1 r 1

1   1 1  1 1   1 1    1 
=    
   
     ....  ....  0  as lim  0
2 1 1 1 5 5 11 r  r 2  1  r

1
= – .
2
 n
 2 1
Example 8: The coefficient in the third term of the expansion of  x   when expanded in
 4
decreasing powers of x is 31, then n is equal to
(A) 16 (B) 20 (C) 30 (D) 32
n  n  1
2
 1
Solution: The third term will be nC2   = 31  = 31
 4 2  16
 n(n –1) = 32 . 31  n = 32.
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
Example 9: The sum of coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x –3y2)2163 is
(A) 1 (B) –1 (C) 22163 (D) none of these
Solution: For sum of coefficient put x = 1 and y = 1.
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

 
10
Example 10: The sum of the rational terms in the expansion of 231/5
is
(A) 20 (B) 21 (C) 40 (D) 41
Solution: There will be only two rational term the first term and the second term
25 + 32 = 41.
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
Example 11: The sum of 21C10 + 21C9 + ……..+ 21C0 is equal to
(A) 220 (B) 221 (C) 219 (D) none of these
Solution: (1 + x)21 = 21C0 + 21C1x + 21C2x2 + …….+ 21C10 x10 + …….+ 21C21x21
Put x = 1  (21C0 + 21C1 + 21C2 + …….+ 21C10) + (21C11 + …….+ 21C21) = 221
 2(21C0 + 21C1 + ……..+ 21C10) = 221
 21C0 + 21C1 + ……..+ 21C10 = 220.
Hence (A) is the correct answer.
Example 12: The greatest positive integer which divides n (n +1)(n + 2)(n + 3) for all n  N, is
(A) 2 (B) 6 (C) 24 (D) 120
Solution: Since product of r consecutive integer is divisible by r!
Hence (C) is the correct answer.
Example 13: If n is a positive integer which of the following will always be integers?
I. ( 2 + 1)2n + ( 2 – 1)2n II. ( 2 + 1)2n –( 2 – 1)2n
III. ( 2 + 1)2n + 1 + ( 2 – 1)2n + 1 IV. ( 2 + 1)2n + 1 –( 2 – 1)2n + 1
(A) only I and III (B) only I and II
(C) only I and IV (D) only II and III

Solution: In I and IV only even powers of 2 occurs whereas in II and III only odd powers of
2 occurs.
Hence (C) is the correct answer.
Example 14: Coefficient of x5 in the expansion of (1 + x2)5(1 + x)4 is
(A) 61 (B) 59 (C) 0 (D) 60
Solution: (1 + x2)5(1 + x)4 = (1 + 5x2 + 10x4 + …..)(1 + x)4
 Coefficient of x5 = 5  4C3 + 10 4C1 = 20 + 40 = 60.
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
 8
 1 
Example 15: The sixth term in the expansion of  8/3  x 2 log10 x is 5600 when x is equal to
x 
(A) 10 (B) loge 10 (C) 1 (D) none of these
3
 1 
x 
5
Solution: 8
T6 = C5  8/3  2
log10 x  56x2(log10 x)5 = 5600
x 
 x2 (log10 x)5 = 100, obviously x = 10 satisfies the above equation.
Hence (A) is the correct answer.
Example 16: If (1+ x + x2)n = a0 + a1x+ a2x2 + …+a2n x2n, then the value of a0 + a3 + a6 + . . . . is
(A) a1+ a4 +a7 + . . . (B) a1+ a2 +a3 + . . .
(C) 2n +1 (D) none of these.
Solution: (1 + x + x2)n = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + a3 x3 + …
put x = w, w2 we get
0 = (a0 + a3 + a6 + …) + w (a1 + a4 + a7 + … ) + w2 (a2 + a5 + a8 + … ) … (1)
0 = (a0 + a3 + a6 + …) + w2 (a1 + a4 + a7 + … ) + w (a2 + a5 + a8 + … ) … (2)
from (1) and (2) we get,
a0 + a3 + a6 … = a1 + a4 + a7 + …
Example 17: The value of 2nCn - nC1. 2n-2Cn +nC2 . 2n-4Cn – . . . . is equal to
(A) 3n (B) 4n (C) 5n (D) none of these
Solution: Cn  nC1 2n  2Cn + nC2 2n  4Cn  …
2n

= coefficient of xn in [n C0 (1 + x)2n  n C1 (1 + x)2n2 + nC2 (1 + x)2n4 –….… ]

= coefficient of xn in [ (1 + x)2 -1]n = 2n
Example 18: If (1+ax)n = 1+8x +24x2+……. then
(A) a= 3 (B) n= 5 (C) a= 2 (D) none of these
n (n  1) 2 2
Solution: (1 + a x)n = 1 + n a x + a x + … = 1 + 8 x + 24 x2 + …  n a = 8
2
n (n  1) a2 = 48  n = 4, a = 2
Example 19: The co-efficient of xk (0  k  n) in the expansion of E = 1+(1+x) +(1+x)2+ . . .(1+x)n
is
(A) n+1Ck+1 (B) nCk (C) n+1Cn-k –1 (D) none of these
(1  x) n1  1 n1 C0  n1 C1 x  n1 C2 x 2  ...  1
Solution: E= =
(1  x)  1 x
= n+1C1 + n+1C2 x + n+1C3 x2 + …
Coefficient of x4 = n+1Ck+1
Example 20: The inequality n ! > 2n–1 is true
(A) for all n > 1 (B) for all n > 2 (C) for all n N (D) for no n N
Solution: It is not true for n = 1, 2
For n > 2, n ! > 1 . 2 . 3 ......... (n – 1)n > 2n–1
( 2  2, 3 > 2, 4 > 2, ......., n > 2)
Hence (B) is the correct answer.
Example 21: 23n – 7n – 1 is divisible by
(A) 64 (B) 36 (C) 49 (D) 25
Solution: For n = 1, 23n – 7n – 1 has value 23 – 7 – 1 = 0
For n = 2, 23n – 7n – 1 has value 26 – 14 – 1 = 49.
which is divisible by 49 and not by 36 or 64.
Hence (C) is the correct answer.
Example 22: If the coefficient of mth, (m + 1)th and (m + 2)th terms in the expansion (1  x) n are in
A.P., then
(A) n 2  4(4m  1)  4m2  2  0 (B) n 2  n(4m  1)  4m 2  2  0
(C) (n  2m) 2  n  2 (D) (n  2m) 2  n  2
Solution: We have n Cm 1 , nCm , nCm 1 in A.P.
 2 n Cm  n Cm 1  n Cm 1
2(n!) n! n!
  
m !(n  m)! (m  1)!(n  m  1)! (m  1)!( n  m  1)!
2 1 1
  
m (n  m) (n  m  1) (n  m) m(m  1)
 2( m  1) ( n  m  1)  m(m  1)  ( n  m  1)(n  m)
On simplification, we get
n 2  4mn  4m2  n  2  0  (n  2m) 2  n  2 .
Hence (C) is the correct answer.
Example 23: If (1  x  x 2 ) n  a0  a1 x  a2 x 2  ......  a2 n x 2 n , then
a0  a2  a4  ......  a2 n is equal to
3n  1 3n  1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) 3n  (D) 3n 
2 2 2 2
Solution: We have
(1  x  x 2 ) n  a0  a1 x  a2 x 2  .......  a2 n x 2 n
Putting x = 1 and – 1, we get
1  a0  a1  a2  a3  ......  a2 n
and 3n  a0  a1  a2  a3  ......  a2 n
Adding, we get
1  3n  2( a0  a2  a4  ......  a2 n )
3n  1
 a0  a2  a4  ......  a2 n  .
2
Hence (A) is the correct answer.
 100
Example 24: The coefficient of x in 53
 100 Cr ( x  3)100r 2r is
r

(A) 100
C51 (B) 100
C52 (C) 100 C53 (D) 100
C54
100
Solution:  100Cr ( x  3)100r 2r
r 0

 (( x  3)  2)100  ( x  1)100  (1  x)100

100 100

 100
Cr (  x)   ( 1) r ( 1) r
r 100
Cr x r
r 0 r 0

 Coefficient of x 53  ( 1)53 100

C53   100C53 .
Hence (C) is the correct answer.