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Binomial Theorem

13 practice questions with full worked solutions. Free, no account needed.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0162 International

Problem 1Binomial Theorem

In the expansion of (x+1)4(x + 1)^4, the coefficient of x2x^2 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 22
  2. B. 44
  3. C. 66✓ correct
  4. D. 1212

The coefficient of x2x^2 corresponds to k=2k = 2: (42)=6\binom{4}{2} = 6.

Problem #0163 International

Problem 2Binomial Theorem

The expansion of (x1)3(x - 1)^3 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. x31x^3 - 1
  2. B. x33x2+3x+1x^3 - 3x^2 + 3x + 1
  3. C. x33x2+3x1x^3 - 3x^2 + 3x - 1✓ correct
  4. D. x3+3x23x1x^3 + 3x^2 - 3x - 1

(x1)3=x33x2+3x1(x - 1)^3 = x^3 - 3x^2 + 3x - 1.

Problem #0161 International

Problem 3Binomial Theorem

The expansion of (a+b)2(a + b)^2 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. a2+b2a^2 + b^2
  2. B. a22ab+b2a^2 - 2ab + b^2
  3. C. a2+2ab+b2a^2 + 2ab + b^2✓ correct
  4. D. 2(a+b)2(a + b)

The binomial formula gives (a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2(a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

Problem #0769 IB AA

Problem 4Binomial Formula

Find the coefficient of x3x^3 in the expansion of (2x+3)5(2x + 3)^5.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 720720✓ correct
  2. B. 10801080
  3. C. 7272
  4. D. 360360

The general term in the expansion is Tk+1=(5k)(2x)5k(3)kT_{k+1} = \binom{5}{k}(2x)^{5-k}(3)^{k} The power of xx is 5k5-k, so set 5k=3    k=25 - k = 3 \implies k = 2 Substituting k=2k = 2: (52)(2)3(3)2=1089=720\binom{5}{2}(2)^{3}(3)^{2} = 10 \cdot 8 \cdot 9 = 720

Problem #0167 International

Problem 5Binomial Theorem

The value of (60)(61)+(62)+(66)\binom{6}{0} - \binom{6}{1} + \binom{6}{2} - \cdots + \binom{6}{6} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00✓ correct
  2. B. 11
  3. C. 3232
  4. D. 6464

k=06(1)k(6k)=(11)6=0\sum_{k=0}^{6}(-1)^k \binom{6}{k} = (1 - 1)^6 = 0.

Problem #0165 International

Problem 6Binomial Theorem

The coefficient of x3x^3 in (x+2)5(x + 2)^5 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 2020
  2. B. 3232
  3. C. 4040✓ correct
  4. D. 8080

5k=3k=25 - k = 3 \Rightarrow k = 2. Coefficient: (52)22=104=40\binom{5}{2} \cdot 2^2 = 10 \cdot 4 = 40.

Problem #0164 International

Problem 7Binomial Theorem

The general term Tk+1T_{k+1} in the expansion of (2x+3)n(2x + 3)^n is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (nk)2kxk3nk\binom{n}{k} 2^k x^k 3^{n-k}
  2. B. (nk)2nkxnk3k\binom{n}{k} 2^{n-k} x^{n-k} 3^k
  3. C. (nk)(2x)nk3k\binom{n}{k} (2x)^{n-k} 3^k✓ correct
  4. D. (nk)2k3nkxnk\binom{n}{k} 2^k 3^{n-k} x^{n-k}

With a=2xa = 2x and b=3b = 3: Tk+1=(nk)(2x)nk3kT_{k+1} = \binom{n}{k}(2x)^{n-k} 3^k.

Problem #0166 International

Problem 8Binomial Theorem

The sum of all binomial coefficients in (x+1)10(x + 1)^{10} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 1010
  2. B. 100100
  3. C. 10241024✓ correct
  4. D. 20482048

The sum of coefficients of a polynomial P(x)P(x) is P(1)P(1). So k=010(10k)=(1+1)10=210=1024\sum_{k=0}^{10}\binom{10}{k} = (1 + 1)^{10} = 2^{10} = 1024.

Problem #0803 UK A-Level

Problem 9Binomial Formula

In the binomial expansion of (2+3x)5(2 + 3x)^5, find the coefficient of the term in x3x^3.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 720720
  2. B. 10801080✓ correct
  3. C. 108108
  4. D. 120120

The general term in the expansion is (5r)(2)5r(3x)r.\binom{5}{r}(2)^{5-r}(3x)^{r}.

The term in x3x^3 comes from r=3r = 3: (53)(2)53(3)3x3.\binom{5}{3}(2)^{5-3}(3)^{3}\,x^{3}.

Evaluate each factor: (53)=10,22=4,33=27.\binom{5}{3} = 10,\quad 2^{2} = 4,\quad 3^{3} = 27.

Multiply: 10×4×27=1080.10 \times 4 \times 27 = 1080.

So the coefficient of x3x^3 is 10801080.

Problem #0909 US Honors

Problem 10Binomial Formula

In the expansion of (2x+3)5(2x + 3)^5, what is the coefficient of the x3x^3 term?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 720720✓ correct
  2. B. 10801080
  3. C. 9090
  4. D. 1010

The general term is Tk=(5k)(2x)5k(3)k.T_k = \binom{5}{k}(2x)^{5-k}(3)^{k}. For the x3x^3 term, set the exponent of xx equal to 33: 5k=3    k=2.5 - k = 3 \implies k = 2. Substitute k=2k = 2: (52)(2x)3(3)2=108x39.\binom{5}{2}(2x)^{3}(3)^{2} = 10 \cdot 8x^3 \cdot 9. So the coefficient is 1089=720.10 \cdot 8 \cdot 9 = 720.

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