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Additional Mathematics
Chapter 6 ~ Binomial Theorem

6.1 Binomial Expansion of (1+b)n

Basic Definitions

 n! – factorial of a positive integer n.

 Example: 4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1
For positive integer n,
𝑛! = 𝑛 × (𝑛 − 1) × (𝑛 − 2) × … × 3 × 2 × 1

Example 1
(a) Without using a calculator, evaluate 5! × 3!
(𝑛+1)!
(b) Simplify
𝑛!

Solutions:
(a) 5! × 3!
= (5 × 4 × 3 × 2×1) × (3 × 2 × 1)
= 120 × 6
= 720
(𝑛+1)!
(b) 𝑛!
(𝑛 + 1)(𝑛)(𝑛 − 1) × … × 3 × 2 × 1
=
(𝑛)(𝑛 − 1) × … × 3 × 2 × 1
= (𝑛 + 1)

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6.1.1 Binomial Coefficients

𝑛
The notation ( ) is read as “n choose r”. Its definition involves the factorial as shown:
𝑟
𝑛 𝑛!
( ) = 𝑟!(𝑛−𝑟)! , where n and r are integers and 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑛.
𝑟
𝑛
What is ( )? It means choosing a combination of r items out of n items.
𝑟
For example, given 3 flavours of milk: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, there are three
combinations of two:
 vanilla and chocolate
 vanilla and strawberry
 strawberry and chocolate.

Example 2
5
(a) Evaluate ( ).
2
(b) Express each of the following in terms of n.
𝑛 𝑛
(i) ( ) (ii) ( )
3 𝑛−1
Solutions:
5
(a) ( )
2
5!
= 2!(5−2)!
5×4×3×2×1
= (2×1)(3×2×1)

5×4
= 2×1

= 10
𝑛
(b) (i) ( )
3
(𝑛)(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)(𝑛−3)…×3×2×1
= (3×2×1)((𝑛−3)×(𝑛−4)×(𝑛−5)…×3×2×1)

(𝑛)(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)
= (3×2×1)

(𝑛)(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)
= 6

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𝑛
(b) (ii) ( )
𝑛−1
(𝑛)(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)…×3×2×1
= (𝑛−1)!×(𝑛−(𝑛−1))!

(𝑛)(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)…×3×2×1
= ((𝑛−1)(𝑛−2)…×3×2×1)×1!

=𝑛

6.1.2 Pascal’s Triangle

Using the binomial expansion of (1 + 𝑏)𝑛 , we can complete the table as follows:

𝒏 Expansion (1 + 𝑏)𝑛 Binomial Coefficients(Pascal Triangle)

0 (1 + 𝑏)0 = 1 1
1 (1 + 𝑏)1 = 1 + 𝑏 1 1
2 (1 + 𝑏)2 = 1 + 2𝑏 + 𝑏 2 1 2 1
3 (1 + 𝑏)3 = 1 + 3𝑏 + 3𝑏 2 + 𝑏 3 1 3 3 1
4 (1 + 𝑏)4 = 1 + 4𝑏 + 6𝑏 2 + 4𝑏 3 + 𝑏 4 1 4 6 4 1

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Example 3
Use the Pascal’s Triangle to find the first five terms, in ascending powers of b in the
expansion of (1 + 𝑏)6 . Hence, deduce the first five terms of (1 + 𝑥 2 )6.
Solutions:
For 𝑛 = 5, the binomial coefficients will be: 1 5 10 10 5 1
How do we derive the coefficients?
Step 1: Copy the coefficient for the 𝑛 = 4.
1 4 6 4 1
Step 2: Write the first and last coefficient as “1”.
1 ___ ___ ___ ___ 1
Step 3: Add 1+4 to form the second coefficient of 5.
1 4 6 4 1

1 5 ___ ___ ___ 1

Step 4: Complete the remaining 3 coefficients: 4+6, 6+4 and 4+1.
1 4 6 4 1

1 5 10 10 5 1

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For 𝑛 = 6, the binomial coefficients will be: 1 6 15 20 15 6 1

How do we derive the coefficients?
Step 1: Copy the coefficient for the 𝑛 = 5.
1 5 10 10 5 1
Step 2: Write the first and last coefficient as “1”.
1 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 1
Step 3: Add 1+5 to form the second coefficient of 6.
1 5 10 10 5 1

1 6 ___ ___ ___ ___ 1

Step 4: Complete the remaining 4 coefficients: 5+10, 10+10, 10+5 and 5+1.
1 5 10 10 5 1

1 6 15 20 15 6 1

(1 + 𝑏)6 = 1 + 6𝑏 + 15𝑏 2 + 20𝑏 3 + 15𝑏 4 + 6𝑏 5 + 𝑏 6

Replace b with x2,
(1 + 𝑥 2 )6 = 1 + 6(𝑥 2 ) + 15(𝑥 2 )2 + 20(𝑥 2 )3 + 15(𝑥 2 )4 + ⋯
(1 + 𝑥 2 )6 = 1 + 6𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 4 + 20𝑥 6 + 15𝑥 8 + ⋯

6.1.3 Binomial Theorem

We can also find the binomial coefficient directly.
In general,
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(1 + 𝑏)𝑛 = ( ) (𝑏)0 + ( ) (𝑏)1 + ( ) (𝑏)2 + ( ) (𝑏)3 + ⋯ + ( ) (𝑏)𝑛
0 1 2 3 𝑛

4
Note: We can use the calculator nCr key to calculate too. For example, to calculate ( ), we
2
press “4” followed by “nCr” followed by “2” and “=”, you will get the answer of 6.

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Example 4
(i) Find the first four terms in the expansion of (1 − 𝑥)5 and of (1 + 2𝑥)8 in ascending
powers of x.
(ii) Hence, find the expansion of (1 − 𝑥)5 (1 + 2𝑥)8 up to the term in 𝑥 3 .
Solutions:

(i) (1 − 𝑥)5 = 1 + (5) (−𝑥)1 + (5) (−𝑥)2 + (5) (−𝑥)3 + ⋯

1 2 3
= 1 − 5𝑥 + 10𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 3 + ⋯

(1 + 2𝑥)8 = 1 + (8) (2𝑥)1 + (8) (2𝑥)2 + (8) (2𝑥)3 + ⋯

1 2 3
= 1 + 16𝑥 + 112𝑥 2 + 448𝑥 3 + ⋯
(ii) (1 − 𝑥)5 (1 + 2𝑥)8
= (1 − 5𝑥 + 10𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 3 + ⋯ )(1 + 16𝑥 + 112𝑥 2 + 448𝑥 3 + ⋯ )
= 1 + 16𝑥 + 112𝑥 2 + 448𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 − 80𝑥 2 − 560𝑥 3 + 10𝑥 2 + 160𝑥 3 − 10𝑥 3 + ⋯
= 1 + 11𝑥 + 42𝑥 2 + 38𝑥 3 + ⋯

Example 5
(i) Expand (1 + 𝑞)6 .
(ii) Hence, find the expansion of (1 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 )6 in ascending powers of x,
up to the term 𝑥 2 .
Solutions:
6 6 6 6 6 6
(i) (1 + 𝑞)6 = 1 + ( ) (𝑞)1 + ( ) (𝑞)2 + ( ) (𝑞)3 + ( ) (𝑞)4 + ( ) (𝑞)5 + ( ) (𝑞)6
1 2 3 4 5 6
= 1 + 6𝑞 + 15𝑞 2 + 20𝑞 3 + 15𝑞 4 + 6𝑞 5 + 𝑞 6
(ii) Let 𝑞 = 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ,
(1 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 )6 = 1 + 6(2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) + 15(2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 )2 + ⋯
= 1 + 12𝑥 − 6𝑥 2 + 15(4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 3 + 𝑥 4 ) + ⋯
= 1 + 12𝑥 + 54𝑥 2 + ⋯

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Example 6
Write down the first five terms of (1 + 𝑝)8 , in descending powers of x.
Solutions:
8 8 8 8 8
(1 + 𝑝)8 = ( ) (𝑝)8 + ( ) (𝑝)7 + ( ) (𝑝)6 + ( ) (𝑝)5 + ( ) (𝑝)4 + ⋯
8 7 6 5 4
= 𝑝8 + 8𝑝7 + 28𝑝6 + 56𝑝5 + 70𝑝4 + …

6.2 Binomial Expansion of (a + b)n

6.2.1 Binomial Expansion of (a + b)n

For positive n,
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑛 = ( ) (𝑎)𝑛 (𝑏)0 + ( ) (𝑎)𝑛−1 (𝑏)1 + ( ) (𝑎)𝑛−2 (𝑏)2 + ⋯
0 1 2
𝑛 𝑛
+( ) (𝑎)𝑛−𝑟 (𝑏)𝑟 + ⋯ + ( ) (𝑎)0 (𝑏)𝑛
𝑟 𝑛

Example 7
Find the first four terms, in descending powers of x, in the expansion of
(a) (𝑥 + 3)5
1
(b) (𝑥 2 − 𝑥)7
1
(c) (𝑥 + 𝑥)𝑛

Solutions:
5 5 5 5
(a) (𝑥 + 3)5 = ( ) (𝑥)5 (3)0 + ( ) (𝑥)5−1 (3)1 + ( ) (𝑥)5−2 (3)2 + ( ) (𝑥)5−3 (3)3 + ⋯
0 1 2 3
(𝑥 + 3)5 = 𝑥 5 + 15𝑥 4 + 90𝑥 3 + 270𝑥 2 + ⋯
1 7 7 1 0 7 1 1 7 1 2
(b) (𝑥 2 − 𝑥) = ( ) (𝑥 2 )7 (− 𝑥) + ( ) (𝑥 2 )6 (− 𝑥) + ( ) (𝑥 2 )5 (− 𝑥)
0 1 2
7 1 3
+ ( ) (𝑥 2 )4 (− 𝑥) + ⋯
3
1 7
(𝑥 2 − 𝑥) = 𝑥14 − 7𝑥11 + 21𝑥 8 − 35𝑥 5 + ⋯

1 𝑛 1 0 𝑛 1 1 𝑛 1 2 𝑛 1 3
(c) (𝑥 + 𝑥)𝑛 = ( ) (𝑥)𝑛 (𝑥) + ( ) (𝑥)𝑛−1 (𝑥) + ( ) (𝑥)𝑛−2 (𝑥) + ( ) (𝑥)𝑛−3 (𝑥) + ⋯
0 1 2 3

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1 1 𝑛(𝑛−1) 1 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2) 1
(𝑥 + 𝑥)𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 (𝑥) + 𝑥 𝑛−2 (𝑥 2 ) + 𝑥 𝑛−3 (𝑥 3 ) + ⋯
2! 3!
1 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛−2 𝑛(𝑛−1) 𝑛−4 𝑛(𝑛−1)(𝑛−2) 𝑛−6
(𝑥 + ) = 𝑥 + 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 +⋯
𝑥 2 6

Example 8
1 1
Given that (𝑎 − 2 𝑥)7 = 𝑏 − 2551 2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 2 , find the value of a, b and c.
Solutions:
1 7
(𝑎 − 2 𝑥)
7 1 1 7 1 2
= 𝑎7 + ( ) (𝑎)6 (− 2 𝑥) + ( ) (𝑎)5 (− 2 𝑥) + ⋯
1 2
7 21
= 𝑎7 − 2 𝑎6 𝑥 + 4 𝑎5 𝑥 2 + ⋯
Comparing coefficient:
7 1
− 2 𝑎6 = −2551 2
𝑎6 = 729
𝑎=3

𝑎7 = 𝑏
𝑏 = 37
𝑏 = 2187

21
𝑎5 = 𝑐
4
21
𝑐= (3)5
4
3
𝑐 = 1275 4

6.2.2 The General Term

In the expansion,
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑛 = ( ) (𝑎)𝑛 (𝑏)0 + ( ) (𝑎)𝑛−1 (𝑏)1 + ( ) (𝑎)𝑛−2 (𝑏)2 + ⋯
0 1 2
𝑛 𝑛
+( ) (𝑎)𝑛−𝑟 (𝑏)𝑟 + ⋯ + ( ) (𝑎)0 (𝑏)𝑛 where 0 < 𝑟 ≤ 𝑛.
𝑟 𝑛

𝑛
The general term, 𝑇𝑟+1 = ( ) (𝑎)𝑛−𝑟 (𝑏)𝑟
𝑟

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Example 9
In the expansion of (2 + 𝑥)8 in ascending powers of x, find the
(i) 4th term,
(ii) the coefficient of x5.
Solutions:
8
(i) 𝑇4 = ( ) (2)8−3 (𝑥)3
3
= 1792𝑥 3
𝑛
(ii) 𝑇𝑟+1 = ( ) (𝑎)𝑛−𝑟 (𝑏)𝑟
𝑟
𝑟=5
8
𝑇6 = ( ) (2)8−5 (𝑥)5
5
= 448𝑥 5
Coefficient of x5 = 448

Example 10
Find the indicated term in the following expansions:
𝑥
(a) (3 + 2)10, middle term
2
(b) (2𝑥 2 + 𝑥)12, the term independent of x.

Solutions:
10 (3)5 𝑥 5
(a) Middle Term: 𝑇6 = ( ) (2)
5
5
= 1913 8 𝑥 5

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(b) For term independent of x, power of 𝑥 = 0

12 (2𝑥 2 )12−𝑟 2 𝑟
𝑇𝑟+1 = ( ) (𝑥)
𝑟
12 12−𝑟+𝑟 24−2𝑟−𝑟
𝑇𝑟+1 = ( )2 𝑥
𝑟
∴ 24 − 2𝑟 − 𝑟 = 0
𝑟=8
12
𝑇8+1 = ( ) 212−8+8 𝑥 24−2(8)−8
8
𝑇8+1 = 2027520

Example 11
3 8
Find the coefficient of 𝑥 2 in the expansion (𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) (1 + 2𝑥 2 ).

Solutions:
8 3 𝑟
𝑇𝑟+1 = ( ) (𝑥)8−𝑟 (− 𝑥 2 )
𝑟
8
𝑇𝑟+1 = ( ) (𝑥)8−3𝑟 (−3)𝑟
𝑟
To find the coefficient of 𝑥 2 , we need to find the following terms in the expansion of
3 8
(𝑥 − 𝑥 2 )

1. 𝑥 2
2. the independent term
𝑥2:
8
𝑇2+1 = ( ) (𝑥)8−3(2) (−3)2
2
𝑇2+1 = 252𝑥 2

the independent term: power of 𝑥 = 0

8 − 3𝑟 = 0
8
𝑟 = 3 since 𝑟 is not an integer, there is no independent term.

3 8
∴ coefficient of 𝑥 2 in the expansion (𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) (1 + 2𝑥 2 ) = 252.

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Example 12
𝑥
Expand (2 − 2)6 in ascending powers of x up to and including term in 𝑥 3 . Hence, find an
approximate value of 1.9956 , giving your answer correct to 4 decimal places.
Solutions:
𝑥 6 𝑥 0 6 𝑥 1 6 𝑥 2 6 𝑥 3
(2 − 2)6 = ( ) (2)6 (− 2) + ( ) (2)5 (− 2) + ( ) (2)4 (− 2) + ( ) (2)3 (− 2) + ⋯
0 1 2 3
𝑥
(2 − 2)6 = 64 − 96𝑥 + 60𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 3 + ⋯

Let 𝑥 = 0.01
0.01 6
1.9956 = (2 − )
2

= 64 − 96(0.01) + 60(0.01)2 − 20(0.01)3 + ⋯

= 63.04598
= 63.0460 (4dp)

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Example 13
𝑥 𝑛
Given that the first two non-zero terms of the expansion of (1 + 2) (1 + 𝑘𝑥) are 1 and
15
− 𝑥 2 ,where n is a positive integer, find the value of k and n.
4

Solutions:
𝑥 𝑛
(1 + 2) (1 + 𝑘𝑥)

𝑥 𝑛(𝑛−1) 𝑥 2
= (1 + 𝑛 (2) + (2) + ⋯ )(1 + 𝑘𝑥)
2!

𝑥 𝑛(𝑛−1)
= (1 + 𝑛 (2) + (𝑥)2 + ⋯ )(1 + 𝑘𝑥)
8

𝑛 𝑛𝑘 𝑛(𝑛−1)
= 1 + 2 𝑥 + 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥2 + ⋯
2 8

Comparing Coefficients:
𝑛
+𝑘 =0
2

𝑛 = −2𝑘 --- (1)

𝑛𝑘 𝑛(𝑛−1) 15
+ =− … (2)
2 8 4

Sub (1) into (2):

(−2𝑘 )𝑘 (−2𝑘 )(−2𝑘 −1) 15
+ =−
2 8 4

−8𝑘 2 + 4𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 = −30
−4𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 + 30 = 0
2𝑘 2 − 𝑘 − 15 = 0
(2𝑘 + 5)(𝑘 − 3) = 0
5
𝑘 = −2 or 𝑘=3
5
Sub 𝑘 = − 2 into (1): or Sub 𝑘 = 3 into (1):

𝑛=5 𝑛 = −6 (reject)
5
∴ 𝑘 = − 2 and 𝑛 = 5

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