Pure Mathematics – Binomial Theroem p.

Binomial Theorem
Assignment
1. For any two positive integers k and n, let Tr be the rth term in the expansion of
(1 + x)kn in ascending powers of x, i.e. Tr = knCr-1xr-1.
2
(a) Suppose x = , find, in terms of k and n, the range of values of r such that
k
Tr+1 ≤ Tr.
2
(b) Suppose x = . Using the result of (a), find the greatest term in the
3
expansion of (1 + x)51.

2. For any positive integer n, let nCk be the coefficient of xk in the expansion of
(1 + x)n. By induction on m or otherwise, show that
nCn + n+1Cn + n+2Cn + … + n+mCn = n+m+1Cn+1 for any m ≥ 0.

3. For any positive integer n, let nCk be the coefficient of xk in the expansion of
(1 + x)n. Evaluate
(a) nC1 + nC2 + nC3 + … + nCn.
(b) nC1 + 2nC2 +3 nC3 + … + nnCn.
(c) nC1 + 22nC2 +32 nC3 + … + n2nCn.

n−r
4. Let f (r ) = ∑ n C k ⋅ n C r + k for positive integer r ≤ n.
k =0

(a) Show that f(r) = 2nCn+r.

n
(b) Show that ∑ n C k f (k )= 3n C n .
k =0

5. (a) Show that

n

∑ (− 1) Cr = 0 ,
r
(i) n
r =0

1
(ii) [ n+1 C r − n C r ] = 1 n+1 C r .
r n +1

(b) Let F (n ) = ∑
n
(− 1)r −1 Cr .
n
r =1 r
1
(i) Show that F (n + 1) − F (n ) = , ∀n ∈ N .
n +1
n
(− 1)r −1 n
1
(ii) Hence deduce that ∑
r =1 r
C
n r = ∑
r =1 r
.
Pure Mathematics – Binomial Theroem p.2

6. Given that n is a natural number.

(a) (i) Show that k2nCk = nkn-1Ck-1 for all k, 1 ≤ k ≤ n.
n
(ii) Hence deduce that ∑r 2
n C r = n(n + 1)2 n − 2 .
r =1

(b) Using (a), find n nC0 + (n – 2)2nC1 + (n – 4)2nC2 + … + + (n – 2n)2nCn.

2

7. Given that (2x2 – 5x + 2)n = a0 + a1x + a2x2 + … + a2nx2n where n is a positive

integer.
(a) Prove the following
(i) a0 + a1 + a2 + … + a2n = (-1)n,

(ii) a0 + a2 + a4 + … + a2n =
(− 1)n − 9 n
2
(iii) a1 + 2a2 + 3a3 + … + 2na2n = n(-1)n.
1
(b) (i) By replacing x by in the given expression, show that
x
ar = a2n – r for 0 ≤ r ≤ 2n.
(ii) Hence, or otherwise, deduce that
1
a0 + 3a1 + 5a2 + … + (4n + 1)a2n = 2(2n + 1)[a0 + a1 + … + an-1 + an]
2
= (2n + 1)(-1)n