Mathematics 10

Weekly Lesson
September 23 – 27, 2024

Mindanao State University

UNIVERSITY TRAINING CENTER
Marawi City

BINOMIAL EXPANSION

Activity RABBIT
Consider the figure below. Starting from the top, there are number of ways a rabbit can
go down from the first level to the next levels.

First Level ____2______

1 1

Second level _________

____ ____ ____

Third level _________

____ ____ ____ ____

Fourth Level _________

__ __ __ __ __

a. Based from the number of each way a rabbit can go down, do you a see a pattern? If yes, what is it?

b. From what you have observed, how many number of ways a rabbit can go down in the
b.1. Fifth level ___________ b.2. Sixth Level ___________

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Mathematics 10
Weekly Lesson
September 23 – 27, 2024

BINOMIAL EXPANSION

The expansion of the expression (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑛 can be done by using the binomial 𝑥 + 𝑦 as a factor n
times. The difficulty of the tasks increases as n increases. But if patterns are established, raising any
binomial to a positive integral exponent can be done more easily.

Look at the following expansion of (𝑎 + b):

(𝑎 + 𝑏)0 = 1
(𝑎 + 𝑏)1 = 𝑎 + 𝑏
(𝑎 + 𝑏)2 = 𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2
(𝑎 + 𝑏)3 = 𝑎3 + 3𝑎2 𝑏 + 3𝑎𝑏 2 + 𝑏 3
(𝑎 + 𝑏)4 = 𝑎4 + 4𝑎3 𝑏 + 6𝑎2 𝑏 2 + 4𝑎𝑏 3 + 𝑏 4

From this expansion, the following general observations are derived as (𝑎 + b) is raised to n.
a. The expansion has n + 1 terms.
b. The exponent of a in the first term of the expansion is n. The exponent decreases by 1 from term
to another term. The exponent of b in the last term is 0.
c. The exponent of a in the first term of the expansion is 0. The exponent increases by 1 from one
term to another term. The exponent of b in the last term of the expansion is n.
d. The sum of the exponent of a and b in each term of the exponent is n. The numerical coefficients
in the expansion also follow a definite pattern.

If only the coefficients are written, they will appear in this manner:

(𝑎 + b)0 1

(𝑎 + b)1 1 1

(𝑎 + b)2 1 2 1

(𝑎 + b)3 1 3 3 1

: 1 4 6 4 1

: 1 5 10 10 5 1

: 1 6 15 20 15 6 1

This pattern of numbers is known as the Pascal’s Triangle. In honor of its proponent, Blaise Pascal.

Example: Expand the following binomial using Pascal’s Triangle.

1.) (𝑥 + 2𝑦)6
Solution:
Since n=6, then the expansion has 6+1=7 terms.
From the numerical coefficients of the Pascal’s Tringle, the coefficients of (𝑥 + 2𝑦)6 are
1,6,15,20,15,6 and 1. Thus,

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Mathematics 10
Weekly Lesson
September 23 – 27, 2024

= 1_____ + 6_____ + 15_____ + 20_____ + 15_____ + 6_____ + 1 _____

Step 1. Write the first term with a decreasing order of exponent.

= 1𝑥 6 + 6𝑥 5 + 15𝑥 4 + 20𝑥 3 + 15𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 1 + 1𝑥 0

Step 2. Write the second term with increasing order of exponent.

= 1𝑥 6 (2𝑦)0 + 6𝑥 5 (2𝑦)1 + 15𝑥 4 (2𝑦)2 + 20𝑥 3 (2𝑦)3 + 15𝑥 2 (2𝑦)4 + 6𝑥 1 (2𝑦)5 + 1𝑥 0 (2𝑦)6

= 𝑥 6 + 6𝑥 5 (2𝑦) + 15𝑥 4 (2𝑦)2 + 20𝑥 3 (2𝑦)3 + 15𝑥 2 (2𝑦)4 + 6𝑥(2𝑦)5 + (2𝑦)6

= 𝒙𝟔 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟓 𝒚 + 𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟑 + 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝒙𝒚𝟓 + 𝟔𝟒𝒚𝟔

2.) (3𝑥 + 2𝑦)5

= (3𝑥)5 + 5(3𝑥)4 (2𝑦) + 10(3𝑥)3 (2𝑦)2 + 10(3𝑥)2 (2𝑦)3 + 5(2𝑥)(2𝑦)2 + (2𝑦)5

= 𝟐𝟒𝟑𝒙𝟓 + 𝟖𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚 + 𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟎𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟕𝟐𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟑 + 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝒙𝒚𝟓 + 𝟑𝟐𝒚𝟓

OTHER SOLUTION OF BINOMIAL EXPANSION

1.) (2𝑥 + 𝑦)5

5 (5)(4) (5)(4)(3) (5)(4)(3)(2)
= (2 x) 5 + (2 x) 4 ( y ) + (2 x) 3 ( y ) 2 + (2 x) 2 ( y ) 3 + (1)(2)(3)(4) (2𝑥)(𝑦) + 𝑦 5
1 (1)(2) (1)(2)(3)
= 𝟑𝟐𝒙𝟓 + 𝟖𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚 + 𝟖𝟎𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟒𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟑 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝒚𝟒 + 𝟓𝒚𝟓

2.) (3𝑥 + 2𝑦)6

6 6•5• 6•5•4 6•5•4•3 6•5•4•3•2
= (3𝑥)6 + 1 (3𝑥)5 (2𝑦)1 + (3𝑥)4 (2𝑦)2 + 1•2•3 (3𝑥)3 (2𝑦)3 + 1•2•3•4 (3𝑥)2 (2𝑦)4 + 1•2•3•4•5 (3𝑥)(2𝑦)5 + (2𝑦)6
1•2

= 𝟕𝟐𝟗𝒙𝟔 + 𝟐𝟗𝟏𝟔𝒙𝟓 𝒚 + 𝟒𝟖𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟒𝟑𝟐𝟎𝟑 𝒚𝟑 + 𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟓𝟕𝟔𝒙𝒚𝟓 + 𝟔𝟒𝒚𝟔

Observe the repeated occurrence of the product of consecutive integers. This can be simplified using a
notation called factorial notation. For instance

2! = 2•1 Definition of n!
3! = 3 • 2•1 The factorial of a number n! (read as n
factorial) is
4! = 4 • 3 • 2•1
n! = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)(𝑛 − 2)(𝑛 − 3) … 3 • 2•1
5! = 5 • 4 • 3 • 2 • 1 where n is a positive integer

Note: By definition, 0! = 1.

Illustrative Example: Evaluate the following.

a. 5! − 4! = ( 5 • 4 • 3 • 2 • 1) − (4 • 3 • 2•1)
= 120 – 24
= 96

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Mathematics 10
Weekly Lesson
September 23 – 27, 2024

9! 9•8•7•6•5•4•3•2•1 9•8•7•6
b. = = =126
4!5! (4•3•2•1)(5•4•3•2•1) 4•3•2•1

Binomials can also be expanded by using the binomial theorem.

The Binomial Theorem

If n is a positive integer, then
(𝒙 + 𝒚)𝒏 = ∑𝒏𝒌=𝟎(𝒏𝒌) 𝒙𝒏−𝒌 𝒚𝒌 = (𝒏𝟎)𝒙𝒏 𝒚𝟎 + (𝒏𝟏)𝒙𝒏−𝟏 𝒚𝟏 + (𝒏𝟐)𝒙𝒏−𝟐 𝒚𝟐 + ⋯ + (𝒏−𝟏
𝒏
)𝒙𝟏 𝒚𝒏−𝟏 + (𝒏𝒏)𝒙𝟎 𝒚𝒏

𝑛!
where (𝑛𝑘) = 𝑘!(𝑛−𝑘)! , (𝑛0) = 1 , (𝑛𝑛) = 1

The (𝑛𝑘) in the binomial is called binomial coefficient which means the number of ways of choosing k
items from n items without regards to order.

Illustrative Examples:
Evaluate the following:
5! 5! 5•4•3•2•1
1. (52) = = = (2•1)(3•2•1) = 𝟏𝟎
2!(5−2)! 2!3!

8! 5! 8•7•6•5•4•3•2•1
2. (85) = = = = 𝟓𝟔
5!(8−5)! 5!3! (5•4•3•2•1)(3•2•1)

This alternate solution will be used in expanding binomial using the binomial theorem.

Illustrative Examples:

1. Expand (2𝑥 − 𝑦)5 .

Solution:
5 5 5 5
(2𝑥 − 𝑦)5 = ( ) (2𝑥)5 (−𝑦)0 + ( ) (2𝑥)4 (−𝑦)1 + ( ) (2𝑥)3 (−𝑦)2 + ( ) (2𝑥)2 (−𝑦)3
0 1 2 3

5 5
+ ( ) (2𝑥)1 (−𝑦)4 + ( ) (2𝑥)0 (−𝑦)5
4 5

= 1(32)𝑥 5 + 5(16)𝑥 4 (−𝑦) + 10(8)𝑥 3 (𝑦 2 ) + 10(4)𝑥 2 (−𝑦 3 ) + 5(2)𝑥(𝑦 4 ) + 1(−𝑦 5 )

= 𝟑𝟐𝒙𝟓 − 𝟖𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚 + 𝟖𝟎𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟒𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟑 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝒚𝟒 − 𝒚𝟓

Note:
(𝟓𝟎) = 𝟏 (𝟓𝟏) = 𝟓 (𝟓𝟐) = 𝟏𝟎

(𝟓𝟑) = 𝟏𝟎 (𝟓𝟒) = 𝟓 (𝟓𝟓) = 𝟏

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Mathematics 10
Weekly Lesson
September 23 – 27, 2024

2. Expand (𝑥 + 2)6 .
Solution:
6 6 6 6 6
(𝑥 + 2)6 = ( ) (𝑥)6 (2)0 + ( ) (𝑥)5 (2)1 + ( ) (𝑥)4 (2)2 + ( ) (𝑥)3 (2)3 + ( ) (𝑥)2 (2)4
0 1 2 3 4
6 6
+ ( ) (𝑥)1 (2)5 + ( ) (𝑥)0 (2)6
5 6

=1𝑥 6 + 6(2)𝑥 5 + 15(4)𝑥 4 + 20(8)𝑥 3 + 15(16)𝑥 2 + 6(32)𝑥 + 1(64)

=𝒙𝟔 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟓 + 𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟒 + 𝟖𝟎𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝒙 + 𝟔𝟒

Finding the rth term of the Binomial Expansion

If only a particular term in the expansion is desired, the following formula is used.

The rth term of (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑛 is

𝒏 n!
( ) 𝒙𝒏−(𝒓−𝟏) 𝒚𝒓−𝟏 = x n − r +1 y r −1 .
𝒓−𝟏 ( n − r + 1)!( r − 1)!

Examples:

1.) Find the 4th term of (2𝑥 − 𝑦)7 .

Solution:
𝑛=7 ; 𝑟=4 ; 𝑛−𝑟+1 =7−4+1 =4 ; 𝑟−1 =4−1 =3

𝑛!
= 𝑥 𝑛−𝑟+1 𝑦 𝑟−1
(𝑛−𝑟+1)!(𝑟−1)!

7!
= (2𝑥)4 (−𝑦)3
4! 3!
7•6•5•4!
= (16𝑥 4 )(−𝑦 3 )
4!(3•2•1)

210
= (16𝑥 4 )(−𝑦 3 )
6
= 35(16𝑥 4 )(−𝑦 3 )
= −𝟓𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚𝟑

2.) Find the 5th term of (2𝑥 + 10)6 .

Solution:
𝑛=6 ; 𝑟=5 ; 𝑛−𝑟+1 =6−5+1 =2 ; 𝑟−1 =5−1 = 4

𝑛!
= 𝑥 𝑛−𝑟+1 𝑦 𝑟−1
(𝑛−𝑟+1)!(𝑟−1)!

6!
= (2𝑥)2 (10)4
2! 4!

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Mathematics 10
Weekly Lesson
September 23 – 27, 2024

6 • 5 • 4!
= (4𝑥 2 )(10000)
(2)(4!)
= 15(4𝑥 2 )(10000)
= 𝟔𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒙𝟐
Note: The sum of the exponents of the term should be zero to become free variable.

2
3.) Find the term free of variable of (𝑦 − )10 .
𝑦
Solution:
𝑛 = 10 ; 𝑟 =?

2
=(𝑦)𝑛−𝑟+1 (− )𝑟−1
𝑦
𝑦
= (𝑦)10−𝑟+1 (− )𝑟−1
2

(10 − 𝑟 + 1) + (1 − 𝑟) = 0
10 − 𝑟 + 1 + 1 − 𝑟 = 0
12 − 2𝑟 = 0
−2𝑟 −12
=
2 −2
𝒓=𝟔

Check:
𝑛 = 10 ; 𝑟=6

𝑛!
= (𝑛−𝑟+1)!(𝑟−1)! 𝑥 𝑛−𝑟+1 𝑦 𝑟−1

10! 5 2
= (𝑦 )(− )5
5! 5! 𝑦
10 • 9 • 8 • 7 • 6 • 5! 5 32
= (𝑦 )(− 5 )
5! (5 • 4 • 3 • 2 • 1) 𝑦
−32
= 252(𝑦 5 )( )
𝑦5
= −𝟖𝟎𝟔𝟒