College Algebra
Answer/Discussion to Practice Problems
Tutorial 54: The Binomial Theorem
 Answer/Discussion
to 1a
|
Looks like we are going to need to use the definition of a binomial
coefficient to help us out on this.
Looking at the definition of binomial coefficient,
what is n?
If you said 15, you are correct!!! n is the top number, which in this case is 15.
Looking at the definition of binomial coefficient,
what is r?
If you said 2, give yourself a pat on the back!!!! r is the bottom number, which in this case is 2.
Putting those values into the definition of a binomial coefficient
we get: |
|
*n = 15, r = 2
*Eval. inside ( )
*Expand 15! until it gets to 13!
which is the larger ! in the den.
*Cancel out 13!'s
|
If you have a factorial key, you can put it in as 15! divided by
13! divided by 2! and then press enter or =.
If you don't have a factorial key, you can simplify it as shown above
and then enter it in. It is probably best to simplify it first, because
in some cases the numbers can get rather large, and it would be cumbersome
to multiply all those numbers one by one.
The final answer is 105. |
Answer/Discussion
to 1b
|
Looks like we are going to need to use the definition of a binomial
coefficient to help us out on this.
Looking at the definition of binomial coefficient,
what is n?
If you said 12, you are correct!!! n is the top number, which in this case is 12.
Looking at the definition of binomial coefficient,
what is r?
If you said 12, give yourself a pat on the back!!!! r is the bottom number, which in this case is 12.
Putting those values into the definition of a binomial coefficient
we get: |
|
*n = 12, r = 12
*Eval. inside ( )
*0! = 1
*Cancel out 12!'s |
If you have a factorial key, you can put it in as 12! divided by
0! divided by 12! and then press enter or =.
If you don't have a factorial key, you can simplify it as shown above
and then enter it in. It is probably best to simplify it first, because
in some cases the numbers can get rather large, and it would be cumbersome
to multiply all those numbers one by one.
The final answer is 1. |
Answer/Discussion
to 2a
|
Looks like we are going to need to use the Binomial
Theorem to help us out on this.
Looking at the Binomial Theorem, what is a?
If you said 2x, you are correct!!! a is the first term of the binomial, which in this case is 2x.
Looking at the Binomial Theorem, what is b?
If you said 9, give yourself a pat on the back!!!! b is the second term of the binomial, which in this case is 9.
Looking at the Binomial Theorem, what is n?
If you said 4, give yourself a high five!!!! n is the exponent on the binomial, which in this case is 4.
Putting those values into the Binomial Theorem we get: |
|
*a = 2x, b = 9,n = 4
*Use definition of binomial
coefficient
*Eval. 2x's
and 9's raised to exponents
*Eval. inside ( )
*Expand num. until it gets to
larger ! in the den.
*Cancel out !'s
*Simplify |
If you have a factorial key, you can put in the binomial coefficient
part of each term as the (top number)! divided by the (first number in
the denominator) ! divided by the (second number in the denominator)! and
then press enter or =.
If you don't have a factorial key, you can simplify it as shown above
and then enter it in. It is probably best to simplify it first, because
in some cases the numbers can get rather large, and it would be cumbersome
to multiply all those numbers one by one.
So our final answer is  . |
Answer/Discussion
to 2b
|
Looks like we are going to need to use the Binomial
Theorem to help us out on this.
Looking at the Binomial Theorem, what is a?
If you said  ,
you are correct!!! a is the first term of the
binomial, which in this case is .
Looking at the Binomial Theorem, what is b?
If you said  ,
give yourself a pat on the back!!!! b is the second term of the binomial, which in this case is .
Looking at the Binomial Theorem, what is n?
If you said 5, give yourself a high five!!!! n is the exponent on the binomial, which in this case is 5.
Putting those values into the Binomial Theorem we get: |
|
*a = x^4, b = -y^6, n = 5
*Use definition of binomial
coefficient
*Eval. x^4's
and -y^6's raised to exponents
*Eval. inside ( )
*Expand num. until it gets to
larger ! in the den.
*Cancel out !'s
*Simplify |
If you have a factorial key, you can put in the binomial coefficient
part of each term as the (top number)! divided by the (first number in
the denominator) ! divided by the (second number in the denominator)! and
then press enter or =.
If you don't have a factorial key, you can simplify it as shown above
and then enter it in. It is probably best to simplify it first, because
in some cases the numbers can get rather large, and it would be cumbersome
to multiply all those numbers one by one.
So our final answer is  . |
Answer/Discussion
to 3a
 ; fifth
term
|
|
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is n?
If you said 8, you are correct!!! n is the exponent on your binomial, which in this case is 8.
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is r?
If you said 5, give your self a pat on the back!!!! r is the number of the term to be found, which in this case is 5.
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is a?
If you said  ,
you are correct!!! a is the first term
of the binomial, which in this case is .
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is b?
If you said 2y, give yourself a pat on the
back!!!! b is the second term of
the binomial, which in this case is 2y.
Putting those values into the rth term
expansion formula we get: |
|
*n = 8, r = 5, a = x^2, b = 2y
*Use definition of binomial
coefficient
*Eval. inside ( )
*Expand 8! until it gets to 4!
which is the larger ! in the den.
*Cancel out !'s
*Simplify
|
If you have a factorial key, you can put the binomial coefficient
in as 8! divided by 4! divided by 4! and then press enter or =.
If you don't have a factorial key, you can simplify it as shown above
and then enter it in. It is probably best to simplify it first, because
in some cases the numbers can get rather large, and it would be cumbersome
to multiply all those numbers one by one.
This would tell us that the 5th term of the binomial would be  . |
Answer/Discussion
to 3b
 ;
fourth term
|
|
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is n?
If you said 10, you are correct!!! n is the exponent on your binomial, which in this case is 10.
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is r?
If you said 4, give your self a pat on the back!!!! r is the number of the term to be found, which in this case is 4.
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is a?
If you said  ,
you are correct!!! a is the first term
of the binomial, which in this case is .
Looking at the rth
term expansion formula, what is b?
If you said -1/4, give yourself a pat on the back!!!! b is the second term of the binomial, which in this case is -1/4.
Putting those values into the rth term
expansion formula we get: |
|
*n = 10, r = 4, a = y^4, b = -1/4
*Use definition of binomial
coefficient
*Eval. inside ( )
*Expand 10! until it gets to 7!
which is the larger ! in the den.
*Cancel out !'s
*Simplify
|
If you have a factorial key, you can put the binomial coefficient
in as 10! divided by 7! divided by 3! and then press enter or =.
If you don't have a factorial key, you can simplify it as shown above
and then enter it in. It is probably best to simplify it first, because
in some cases the numbers can get rather large, and it would be cumbersome
to multiply all those numbers one by one.
This would tell us that the 4th term of the binomial would be  . |
Last revised on May 16, 2011 by Kim Seward.
All contents copyright (C) 2002 - 2011, WTAMU and Kim Seward. All rights reserved.
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