6.
8 – Pascal’s Triangle and
the Binomial Theorem
The Binomial Theorem
Strategy only: how do we expand these?
1. (x + 2)2 2. (2x + 3)2
3. (x – 3)3 4. (a + b)4
The Binomial Theorem
Solutions
1. (x + 2)2 = x2 + 2(2)x + 22 = x2 + 4x + 4
2. (2x + 3)2 = (2x)2 + 2(3)(2x) + 32 = 4x2 + 12x + 9
3. (x – 3)3 = (x – 3)(x – 3)2 = (x – 3)(x2 – 2(3)x + 32) =
(x – 3)(x2 – 6x + 9) = x(x2 – 6x + 9) – 3(x2 – 6x + 9) =
x3 – 6x2 + 9x – 3x2 + 18x – 27 = x3 – 9x2 + 27x – 27
4. (a + b)4 = (a + b)2(a + b)2 = (a2 + 2ab + b2)(a2 + 2ab + b2) =
a2(a2 + 2ab + b2) + 2ab(a2 + 2ab + b2) + b2(a2 + 2ab + b2) =
a4 + 2a3b + a2b2 + 2a3b + 4a2b2 + 2ab3 + a2b2 + 2ab3 + b4 =
a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 + b4
THAT is a LOT of work!
Isn’t there an easier way?
Introducing: Pascal’s Triangle
Take a
moment
to copy
Row 5 the first 6
Row 6
rows.
What
patterns
do you
see?
The Binomial Theorem
Use Pascal’s Triangle to expand (a + b)5.
Use the row that has 5 as its second number.
The exponents for a begin with 5 and decrease.
1a5b0 + 5a4b1 + 10a3b2 + 10a2b3 + 5a1b4 + 1a0b5
The exponents for b begin with 0 and increase.
In its simplest form, the expansion is
a5 + 5a4b + 10a3b2 + 10a2b3 + 5ab4 + b5. Row 5
The Binomial Theorem
Use Pascal’s Triangle to expand (x – 3)4.
First write the pattern for raising a binomial to the fourth power.
1 4 6 4 1 Coefficients from
Pascal’s Triangle.
(a + b)4 = a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 + b4
Since (x – 3)4 = (x + (–3))4, substitute x for a and –3 for b.
(x + (–3))4 = x4 + 4x3(–3) + 6x2(–3)2 + 4x(–3)3 + (–3)4
= x4 – 12x3 + 54x2 – 108x + 81
The expansion of (x – 3)4 is x4 – 12x3 + 54x2 – 108x + 81.
The Binomial Theorem
Use the Binomial Theorem to expand (x – y)9.
Write the pattern for raising a binomial to the ninth power.
(a + b)9 = 9C0a9 + 9C1a8b + 9C2a7b2 + 9C3a6b3
+ 9C4a5b4 + 9C5a4b5 + 9C6a3b6 + 9C7a2b7
+ 9C8ab8 + 9C9b9
Substitute x for a and –y for b. Evaluate each combination.
(x – y)9 = 9C0x9 + 9C1x8(–y) + 9C2x7(–y)2 + 9C3x6(–y)3
+ 9C4x5(–y)4 + 9C5x4(–y)5 + 9C6x3(–y)6
+ 9C7x2(–y)7 + 9C8x(–y)8 + 9C9(–y)9
= x9 – 9x8y + 36x7y2 – 84x6y3 + 126x5y4
– 126x4y5 + 84x3y6 – 36x2y7 + 9xy8 – y9
The expansion of (x – y)9 is x9 – 9x8y + 36x7y2 – 84x6y3 + 126x5y4
– 126x4y5 + 84x3y6 – 36x2y7 + 9xy8 – y9.
Let’s Try Some
Expand the following
a) (x-y5)3 b) (3x-2y)4
Let’s Try Some
Expand the following
(x-y5)3
Let’s Try Some
Expand the following
(3x-2y)4
Let’s Try Some
Expand the following
(3x-2y)4
How does this relate to probability?
• You can use the Binomial Theorem to
solve probability problems. If an event has
a probability of success p and a probability
of failure q, each term in the expansion of
(p + q)n represents a probability.
Example: 10C2 * p8 q2 represents the
probability of 8 successes in 10 tries
The Binomial Theorem
Brianna makes about 90% of the shots on goal she attempts. Find the
probability that Bri makes exactly 7 out of 12 consecutive goals.
Since you want 7 successes (and 5 failures), use the term p7q5.
This term has the coefficient 12C5.
Probability (7 out of 10) = 12C5 p7q5
12!
= 5! •7! • (0.9)7(0.1)5 The probability p of success = 90%, or 0.9.
= 0.0037881114 Simplify.
Bri has about a 0.4% chance of making exactly 7 out
of 12 consecutive goals.
