2.

GENERAL TERMS AND MIDDLE TERMS

If n is any natural number and a, b are any numbers, then

(a + b)n = nC0 an + nC1 an – 1 b + nC2 an – 2 b2 + … + nCr an – r br + … + nCn bn.
n n n n n–1 n
In the binomial expansion of (a + b) , we find that the first term is C0 a , second term is C1 a b, the third term is C2
n –2 2 n n–r r
a b and so on. On looking at the pattern of sucessive terms, we find that (r + 1)th term is Cr a b . It is denoted by Tr + 1.
n n–r r
Thus, Tr + 1 = Cr a b . This is called the general term.
n n–r r
Hence, general term = Tr + 1 = Cr a b.

Particular cases
n rn n–r r
(i) In the expansion of (a – b) , T = (– 1) C a b.
r+1 r
n T n r
(ii) In the expansion of (1 + x) , r + 1= Cr x .
n T rn r
(iii) In the expansion of (1 – x) , r + 1 = (– 1) Cr x .
REMARKS
r n n
1. Coefficient of x in the expansion of (1 + x) is Cr.
n n
2. rth term from the end in the expansion of (a + b) is rth term from the beginning in the expansion of (b + a) .
n
Alternatively, as the total number of terms in the expansion of (a + b) is n + 1,
∴ rth term from end has ((n + 1) – r) i.e. (n – r + 1) terms before it, therefore, it is (n – r + 2)th term from beginning.

2.2 Middle term or terms

n
Since the binomial expansion of (a + b) contains (n + 1) terms, therefore
(i) if n is even then the number of terms in the expansion is odd, so there is only one middle
term and [ (𝑛/2)+1 ]th term i.e. T(n/2)+1is the middle term

(ii) if n is odd then the number of terms in the expansion is even, so there are two middle terms and [ (𝑛+1)/2 ]th , [
((n+1)/2)+1 ]th term i.e. T(n+1/2) ,T(n+3/2) are the middle terms