The Binomial Expansion

Question 1

What is Pascal’s Triangle?

Answer 1

• helps you find the coefficients of the binomial expansion

Question 2

How do you expand an expression e.g. (a + b)⁴

Answer 2

• use pascal’s triangle to find coefficients
• the 1st term in the bracket starts with the power n and decreases to 0
• the 2nd term in the brackets starts with the power 0 and increases to n

(a + b)⁴ = a⁴+4a³b+6a²b²+4ab³+b⁴

Question 3

How do you find the coefficients without using Pascal’s triangle?

Answer 3

Question 4

What is another way of calculating ₇C₅ ?

Answer 4

• ₇C₂
• binomial coefficients are symmetrical

Question 5

How do you calculate binomial probabilities?

Answer 5