MATH HL

EXERCISES 1.4 SOLUTIONS

BINOMIAL THEOREM
Compiled by: Christos Nikolaidis

A. Practice Questions

1. (a) ( 3+ 2 )
3
= 9 3 + 11 2 , (b) ( 3+ 2 )
4
= 49 + 20 6

2. (a) a 2 + b 2 = S 2 − 2 P (b) a 3 + b 3 = S 3 − 3SP (c) a 4 + b 4 = S 4 − 4 PS 3 − 12 SP 2 + 6 P 2

3. (a) 43110144 (b) 51963120
(c) 531441x 12 − 4251528 x 10 + 15588936 x 8 − 34642080 x 6 + L
4. (a) 10264320 (b) 43110144 (c) 531441x 24 − 425152 x 21 + 15588936 x 18 + L
5. (a) – 3041280 (b) 10264320 (c) 531441x 36 − 425152 x 32 + 15588936 x 28 + L
6. (b) 61236 and 30618

B. Past Paper questions (SHORT)

7.

[6]
10 
8. The required term is   210–7 37 (M2)
7
= 2 099 520 (A1) (C3)
[3]
9.

[6]
10.

[6]

1
 3
 8  – 1 
11. The coefficient of x3 is    (M2) (A2)
 3  2 
The coefficient of x3 is –7 (A2) (C6)
[6]
r r
7  1   7  1 
12. Tr+1 =   x 7 − r  2  =    x 7 −3r (M1)
r  ax   r  a 
7 – 3r = 1 ⇒ r = 2 (A1)
7 1 7
Now,   2 = ⇒ a2 = 9 ⇒ a = ±3 (A1) (C3)
 2 a 3
[3]
13.

[6]
14. (a) (2 + x)5 = 25 + 5(2)4(x) + 10(2)3x2 + 10(2)2x3 + 5(2)x4 + x5 (M1)(A1)
= 32 + 80x + 80x2 + 40x3 + 10x4 + x5 (A1) (C3)
Note: Award (C2) for 5 correct terms, (C1) for 4 correct terms.
(b) Let x = 0.01 = 10–2
⇒ (2.01)5 = 32 + 0.8 + 0.008 + 0.000 04 + 0.000 0001 + 0.000 000 0001(M1)(A1)
= 32.808 040 1001 (A1) (C3)
[6]
15.

[5]

2
16. Given (1 + x)5(1 + ax)6 = 1 + bx + 10x2 + ... + a6x11
⇔ (1 + 5x + 10x2 + ...)(1 + 6ax + 15a2 x2 + ...) = 1 + bx + 10x2 + ... + a6x11 (M1)
⇔ 1 + (6a + 5)x + (15a2 + 30a + 10)x2 + ... = 1 + bx + 10x2 + ... + a6 x11 (M1)
⇔ 6a + 5 = b 1

15a2 + 30a + 10 = 10 2

2 ⇒ 15a2 + 30a = 0
⇔ 15a(a + 2) = 0 (M1)
⇒ a = –2
Substitute into 1 b = –7 (A1)
Note: a ≠ 0 since a ∈ *
[4]
17.

[6]

The terms of (2 + x ) involve

4
18. x 4 , x 3 , x 2 , x1 , x 0 = 1

(
The terms of 1 + x 2 )
5
involve x 10 , x 8 , x 6 , x 4 , x 2 , x 0 = 1
The combinations that give x 3 are shown above.
 4 1 3 5
The first combination is   2 x ×  15 ( x 2 ) 0 = 8x 3 × 1 = 8x 3
3  5
 4 5 
The second combination is   2 3 x 1 ×  14 ( x 2 ) 1 = 32 x × 5x 2 = 160 x 3
1  4
Since 8x + 160 x = 168x , the coefficient of x 3 is 168.
3 3 3

[6]
The terms of (2 + x ) involve
4
19. x , x , x , x , x =1
4 3 2 1 0

5
 1 −1 −3 −5
The terms of  2 x + 5 3 1
 involve x , x , x , x , x , x
 x
The combinations that give constant term are shown above.
 4 1 3 5  1 10
The first combination is   2 x ×  ( 2 x ) 1 ( ) 4 = 8x 3 × = 80
3  4 x x3
 4 5 1 40
The second combination is   2 3 x 1 ×  ( 2 x ) 2 ( ) 3 = 32 x × = 1280
1  3 x x
Hence the constant term is 80+1280 = 1360.
[6]

3
20. (a) 2x2 + x – 3 = (2x + 3)(x – 1) A1
 3 
Note: Accept 2  x +  (x – 1). Either of these may be seen in (b) and A1 should be awarded.
 2 
(b) EITHER
(2x2 + x – 3)8 = (2x + 3)8(x – 1)8 M1
= (38 + 8(37)(2x) + ...)((–1)8 + 8(–1)7(x) + ...) (A1)
coefficient of x = 38 × 8 × (–1)7 + 37 × 8 × 2 × (–1)8= –17 496 M1 A1
Note: Under FT, final A1 can only be achieved for an integer answer.
OR
(2x2 + x – 3)8 = (3 – (x – 2x2))8= 38 + 8(–(x – 2x2)(37) + ...) M1(A1)
7
coefficient of x = 8 × ( – 1) × 3 = –17 496 M1A1
Note: Under FT, final A1 can only be achieved for an integer answer.
[5]
21. We expand up to the third term

(1 + ax )n =  1n +  1n −1 ( ax ) +  1n − 2 (ax ) 2 + L

n n n
0 1   2
n ( n − 1) 2 2
= 1 + nax + a x +L
2
n ( n − 1) 2
Hence na = 24 and a = 252 ⇔ ( n 2 − n ) a 2 = 504
2
The solution if the system is a = 3 and n = 8 .
3
 n  1 
22. (a) coefficient of x is    = 70
3
M1(A1)
 3  2 
n! 1
× = 70 (A1)
3! (n − 3)! 8
n(n − 1)(n − 2)
⇒ = 70 (M1)
48
n = 16 A1

2
16  1 
(b)    = 30 A1
 2  2 
[6]