THE INSTITUTE OF FINANCE MANAGEMENT

Computer Science and Mathematics Department

Business Mathematics

MTU 07101
TOPIC 1: Basics of Algebra
Contents of Basics of Algebra
1. Exponents
2. Logarithms
3. Permutation
4. Combination
5. Binomial expansions
EXPONENTS
Definition of Exponents
An exponent refers to the number of times a number is multiplied by itself. Whenever we use
expressions like 53 or 25 we are using exponents. The symbol 25 means 2×2×2×2×2. This
symbol is spoken as ‘two raised to the power five’, ‘two to the power five’ or simply ‘two to the
five’. The expression 25 is just a short hand way of writing ‘multiply 2 by itself 5 times’. The
number 2 is called the base, and 5 the exponent. Similarly, if b is any real number, then b3 stands
for b × b × b. Here b is the base, and 3 the exponent.
If n is a whole number, bn stands for b × b × b × …× b (n factors). We say that bn is written in
exponential form, and we call b the base and n the exponent, index or power of b, and bn is called
a power.

Special names are used when the exponent is 2 or 3. The expression b2 is usually spoken as ‘b
squared’, and the expression b 3 as ‘b cubed’.

Example 1: From the following expressions indicate power, base and exponent:
1. 35
2. 5-3

3. ( n+1 )k

()
2
1 3
4.
2

5. (−2 )2

1
Solution

1. 35 is the power, 3 is the base and 5 is an exponent

2. 5−3 is the power, 5 is the base and -3 is an exponent
3. ( n+1 )kis the power, ( n+1 ) is the base and k is an exponent

()
2
1 3 1 2
4. is the power, is the base and is an exponent
2 2 3
2
5. (−2 ) is the power, −2 is the base and 2 is an exponent

Operations with Exponential Expressions

1. Product Rule: To multiply two numbers in exponential form (with the same base), we add
their exponents.
m n m +n
a × a =a
2. Division Rule: To divide two numbers in exponential form (with the same base), we subtract
their exponents.
m n m−n
a ÷ a =a
3. Power Rule: To raise a number in exponential form to a power, we multiply the exponents.
n
( a m ) =anm
4. Expanded Power Rule: Multiplication of factors with different bases. The rule for this can
be stated as follows:
¿
5. Expanded Quotient Rule: Division of factors with different bases. The rule for this can be
stated as follows:

()
m m
a a
= m
b b
Special Case of Exponential Expressions
6. Negative Exponents: If a factor in the numerator or denominator is moved across the
fraction bar, the sign of the exponent is changed.
1 −m
m
=a
a
7. Zero Exponent Rule: Any base (except 0) raised to the zero power is equal to one
0
a =1 , a ≠0
8. Exponential expression in radical form:
p
p
a =( √q a )
q

9. Equal Exponential Expressions

If X m=X 2 , thenm=2

That is, two equal exponential expressions have the same base and the same exponent.

2
Example 2
Simplify the following
2
1. y 3 × y 7 4. ( ( 0.3 )3 ) 3

()
n 10
1 1 0.47
2. × 5. 6
8 8 0.47

5 16
3. ( y3 ) 6. 2
3

7. Express using positive exponent a−7

() ()
2 2
1 1
8. Simplify ×
2 4

9. Find the value of x or y.

i. ( 2 x−1) ( 3 y+1 )=( 34 ) ( 25 )

()
3 x−1
1
ii. =1
3

()()
2y −y
1 1 1 ( −5 y )
iii. ÷ =3
9 3 27

Solution

1. y 3 × y 7= y3 +7= y 10

() ()
n n +1
1 1 1
2. × =
8 8 8
3 5
3. ( y ) = y 3 ×5= y 15
2 2
4. ( ( 0.3 )3 ) 3 =( 0.3 )3× 3 =( 0.3 )2
10
0.47 10−6 4
5. 6
=0.47 =0.47
0.47

()
2 2
16 4 4
6. 2 = 2 =
3 3 3
−7 1
7. a = 7
a

() () () () () ()
2 2 2 4 2+4 6
1 1 1 1 1 1
8. × = × = =
2 4 2 2 2 2

3
9. (i)( 2 x−1) ( 3 y+1 )=( 34 ) ( 25 )
Comparing bases of the exponents, we get
x−1 5
2 =2 ⇒ x−1=5 ⇒ x=6
Also
y +1 4
3 =3 ⇒ y+1=4 ⇒ y=3

() ()
3 x−1 0
1 1
ii. =1. Here, we use the same base by writing =1
3 3

Hence

() ()
3 x−1 0
1 1 1
= ⇒ 3 x−1=0⇒ 3 x =1⇒ x=
3 3 3

()()
2y −y
1 1 1 ( −5 y )
iii. ÷ =3
9 3 27

Here we write each exponent with the same base of 3:

() () ( 271 )=( 31 )=3

2y −y
1 −2 2 y 1 −y −3
=( 3 ) =3 , =( 3 ) =3 ,
−4 y −1 y
3
9 3

Then, the expression becomes

−4 y y
−4 y y −3 −5 y 3 ×3 −5 y (− 4 y+ y+ 3) ( −5 y )
3 × 3 ÷3 =3 ⇒ −3
=3 ⇒3 =3 ⇒−4 y + y +3=−5 y
3
−3
⇒−3 y +5 y=−3⇒ 2 y=−3 ⇒ y =
2

Problem set 1
1. Simplify

( ) ( )
2 8 9 4
3 16 4
3 2f g 3 7a b c
3 5x y
a) 3.4 b) 4 x ×2 x c) d) e)
( fg6 ) −3 4 3
3a b c 20 x y
5

2. On Tuesday, you invited 2 friends to your party. On Wednesday, each of these friends
invited 2 other friends. This pattern continued Thursday and Friday. How many people
were invited on Friday? Write the answer as a power. How many people were invited in
all?
3. Nasra is a street child who really likes coconuts. Over the last 2 weeks, Nasra has
gathered 34 coconuts for herself. Assuming she continues to gather coconuts at the same
rate, how many coconuts will she have after 18 weeks of coconut gathering? Write your
answer as a whole number raised to some power.

LOGARITHMS

4
The meaning of Logarithm
The logarithm of a number to a given base is the index or the power to which the base must
be raised to produce the number, i.e., to make it equal to the given number. If b> 1 and x >0
are real numbers, then we define the logarithm to base b of x to be that power to which b
must be raised to obtain the number x.

Therefore, the logarithm to base b of a number x (written as log b x ) is that power to which b
must be raised to obtain the number x.

Definition: The symbol log b x represents the number that if we write as an exponent of b, we
achieve x. This expression is only meaningful if both a and n are positive numbers and b> 1.

Given the exponential form x=b n. This can be written as log b x=n

We read as ‘n’ is the logarithm of the number ‘x’ to base ‘b’. Consider the expression, 16 =
24

An alternative way of writing this expression is log 2 16=4

This is stated as “log to base 2 of 16 equals 4”.

• We see that the logarithm is the same as the power or index in the original expression.
• It is the base in the original expression which becomes the base of the logarithm.
The following are equivalent statement;
2
i. 64=8 equivalent to log8 64 = 2

ii. log3 27 = 3 equivalent to 33=27

Example 1: Write down the equivalent statements to:

a) log 2 x=8
b) log 2(2/4)= y

Solution

a) log 2 x=8 ≡ x=28

b) log 2
2
4() 2
= y ≡ =2 y
4

Example 2: Write the following in logarithmic form

−2
−4 1 1
i. 6 2=36 ii. 2 = iii. 27 3 =
16 9
3 x
iv. 10 =1000 v. e =2
Solution

i. 2=log 6 36

5
 ii. ( 161 )
−4=log 2

=log ( )
−2 1
iii. 27
3 9
iv. 3=log 10 1000
v. x=ln2

Example 3: Write the following in exponential form

1
i. =log 81 9 ii. log7 49 = 2 iii. log100.000001= - 6
2
iv. ln x= y v. log 100=2

Solution
1
i. 81 2 =9
ii. 49=72
iii. 0.000001=10−6
iv. x=10 y
v. 100=102

Laws of logarithms
Generally, for any real numbers, b> 0 , x >0 , y >0

1. log b b=1
2. log b b x =x

3. b log =xb
x

4. Logarithms of product
log b x +log b y=log b xy

5. Logarithms of Quotient/division
x
log b x−log b y=log b
y
6. Logarithms of power
m
log b x =mlog b x

7. Logarithm of a radical
p
p
log √ x p=log x n = log x , for any p , n ≠0
n

6
8. Law of change of base

log b x
a) log y x=
log b y
1
b) =log y x
log x y

Logarithms to the Base 10

A common logarithm has a fixed base of 10. The common log of a number n is expressed
as log 10 n or simply log n .
Common logarithms are also known as decadic logarithm and decimal logarithm.
If log n=x , then we can represent this logarithmic form in exponential form as n=10 x

Logarithm to the base e

Logarithm to the base of e is called the natural logarithm. The logarithm of x to the base e is
written as log e x or simply ln x . If ln x=2, then we write in exponent form as x=e 2
All rules of algorithm apply in similar fashion as for base 10 or any other base a .
The special cases are ln e=1 , ln 1=0 and e ln x =x .

Example 4: Evaluate the following:

1
i. log 8 ii. log 2 32 iii. log 3 81
64
Solution
1 −2
i. log 8 =log 8 8 =−2 log 8 8=−2
64
ii. log 2 32=log 2 25=5 log 2 2=5
iii. log 3 81=log 3 81=log 3 34 =4 log 3 3=4

Example 5: Write the simplified form of each of the following expressions:

i. Log6 30 + log6 10
ii. log 3 7 y−¿ ( log 3 2 y + log 3 4 ) ¿
iii. ¿
1
iv. log 21− log 28−log 15−log √ 700
2
v. log 5 ( 3 x )+ log 5 ( 15 x 2 ) −2 log 5 3

Solution
i. log 6 30+ log 6 10=log 6 30 ×10=log 6 300

7
 7y 7
ii. log 3 7 y−¿ ( log 3 2 y + log 3 4 ) =log 3 7 y−log 3 8 y=log 3 =log 3 ¿
8y 8
iii. ¿

Example 6: Solve the following equations:

i. log 5 x+ log 4=1
ii. log 3 ( 7 x +3 )=log 3 ( 5 x +9 )
iii. log y = log 4+log (2y-3)
iv. log (y+27)-logy=1
v. log10 x +log10 (x+1) =1
vi. log 6 (8−x )+log 6 (12)=2

Solution
1
i. log 5 x+ log 4=1 ⇒log 20 x=log 10⇒ 20 x=10 ⇒ x=
2
ii. log 3 ( 7 x +3 )=log 3 ( 5 x +9 ) by comparing the logarithms, gives
7 x +3=5 x +9⇒ 7 x−5 x=9−3⇒ 2 x=6⇒ x=3

12
iii. log y=log 4+ log ( 2 y −3 ) ⇒ log y=log 4 ( 2 y−3 ) ⇒ y =8 y−12⇒−7 y=−12 ⇒ y =
7

iv. log ( y +27 )−log y=1 ⇒ log ( y+y27 )=1

27
⇒ y +27=10 y⇒ 9 y =27⇒ y = =3
9

v. log 6 ( 8−x )+ log 6 ( 12 )=2 ⇒ log 6 12 ( 8−x )=2⇒ 12 ( 8−x ) =62⇒ 96−12 x=36⇒ 60=12 x
60
⇒ x= =5
12

(( ) )
2
3 a−2 a + a
Example 7: Show that log a 3− =1
a+1 5
Solution
Consider LHS

(( ) ) (( )( )) ( )( a+5 1 )
2 2
3 a−2 a + a 3 ( a+1 )−3 a+ 2 a +a ¿ log a 5
log a 3− =log a a
a+1 5 a+1 5 a+1
¿ log a a ¿ 1¿ RHS

8
 Permutations and Combinations

Introduction

The study of permutations and combinations is concerned with determining the number
of different ways of arranging and selecting objects out of a given number of objects,
without actually listing them. There are some basic counting techniques which will be
useful in determining the number of different ways of arranging or selecting objects.
Therefore, it is worth to understand the Fundamental Principle of Counting before
discussing permutations and combinations.
Fundamental Principle of Counting
There are two fundamental rules of counting or selection based on the simple principles of
multiplication and addition, the former when events occur independently one after another,
and the latter when either of the events can occur. At times we have to combine the two,
depending on the nature of the problem.We can state the principle as follows:

If one thing can be done in m ways and when it has been done in any of the m ways, a second
thing can be done in n ways, then the two things together can be done in m ×n ways.

Example 1
A boy has 4 T - shirts and 3 pants. Find the total number of possible outfits the boy has.

Solution:
According to the question, the boy has 4 t-shirts and 3 pants.
So, the total number of outfits with the boy is:
Total number of outfits = 4 x 3 = 12
The boy has 12 outfits with him.

Application of Fundamental Counting Principle

By applying the fundamental counting principle in questions related to possible
arrangements of a given set of objects, we can derive formulae for permutations and
combinations as discussed below:
Suppose 5 boys A, B, C, D, and E are to be seated on a couch in a row. Then in how many
possible ways can they be seated? Suppose that Boy A = event A, Boy B = event B and so
on. So, for event A, we have five possible options, for the event B, we have four possible
options, for the event C, we have three possible options, for the event D, we have two
possible options and one option for the event E.
By the rule of counting principle to calculate the total number of ways, we multiply the
possibilities of each event. In this case the total number of possible outcomes is
5 × 4 ×3 ×2 ×1=120
This is also known as permutation, and it is an application of the counting principle.

9
Factorial Notation
For any non-negative integer n, n!, called “n factorial,” is defined as
n !=n × ( n−1 ) × … ×2 ×1
with special case 0! = 1.
From this case it follows that
n !=n ( n−1 ) !
n !=n ( n−1 ) (n−2)!
n !=n ( n−1 )( n−2 ) … ( n−r + 1 )( n−r ) !
Therefore, the product of the first n natural numbers, that is, 1, 2, 3, …, n, is called factorial
n or n factorial and is written as n!

Example 2
The letters A,B,C can be arranged as
A B C
A C B
B A C
B C A
C A C
C B A

Therefore, the number of arranging 3 letters is 3 !=3× 2× 1=6

Exercise 1
How many ways are there to arrange 6 books on a shelf?

Permutation
In permutations we have different arrangements of certain number of objects, say r at a
time taken from n different objects without repetition of any given object in any one set
more than once.

To illustrate, there are many permutations of ABC but none will be alike ABB or AAA.
The objects in each set are different and there will be as many sets as are the
arrangements possible from a given number of objects. For example, a bookseller has
received three new books A, B, C. He can place them in his showcase in any of the
following 6 ways: ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, CBA

There are thus 6 ways of arranging three distinct objects when each arrangement is of all
the 3 objects. No repetition has been allowed in any one arrangement, each element
appears only once.

Mathematically, we can say that three distinct objects can be arranged in 3 !=6ways. We
can reason out this as follows: There 3 places to be filled, the first can be filled in 3 ways,
the second in 2 ways while for the third there is only 1 way. Hence, there are 3 ×2 ×1=6
ways in all.

10
Permutation of n different things
The number of permutations of n different things taken r at a time, where r ≤ n is given
by
n n!
Pr =
(n−r)!
Note: nPr is also denoted as nPr, or P(n, r).

Example 3:
In how many ways can three places be filled with the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G

Solution
Given n = 7, r = 3
Then, number of ways is
n! 7! 7 ! 7 ×6 ×5 × 4 !
nPr= ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 210
( n−r ) ! ( 7−3 ) ! 4 ! 4!

Example 4
There are 4 seats on a bench in how many ways can 9 people be arranged on the bench?

Solution
Given, n = 9 and r = 4
n n!
Pr =
( n−r ) !
9 9!
P4 =
( 9−4 ) !
9×8×7×6×5!
n Pr = =3024
5!
Example 5
How many three letter “words” can be formed using 8 letters if
a) Repetition is not allowed
b) If repetition is allowed

Solution
Given that n=8 and r =3
a) If no repetition is allowed, the number of ways is
n! 8! 8 ! 8 ×7 ×6 × 5!
nPr= ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 336
( n−r ) ! ( 8−3 ) ! 5! 5!

b) With repetition, the number of ways is

r 3
n =8 =8 ×8 × 8=512

Permutations of objects with some of them being alike (Similar)

11
The number of permutations of n objects of which p are alike, q are alike, r are alike with
rest are different is given by
n!
Number of permutations=
p!×q !×r !
Example 6
The letters A, A, A, D can be arranged as
A A A D
A A D A
A D A A
D A A A
It is clearly shown that n=4 and p=3 , hence the number of ways is
n! 4 ! 4 ×3 !
= = =4
p ! 3! 3!

Example 7
Find the number of arrangements that can be made out of the word “ASSASSINATION”
Solution
Given n=13 with A=3 , S=4 , N =2 and I =2. Hence number of ways is
n!
n Pr=
A !×S !×N !×I !
13!
=
3!×4!×2!×2!
n Pr =10810800

Exercise 2
1. How many ways can the following words be written?
a) MOROGORO
b) MATHEMATICS
c) DIFFERENTIATION
d) HOROHORO
2. A store has 8 regular doorways and 5 emergency doors which can be opened only
from the inside. In how many ways can a person enter and leave the store?
3. Six officials of a company are to fly for a conference in Dhaka. Company policy
states that no two can fly on the same plane. If there are 9 flights available, how many
flight schedules can be established?
4. How many different numbers of 3 digits can be formed from the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6, if digits are not repeated? What will happen if repetitions are allowed?
5. There are 6 books on Economics, 3 on Commerce and 2 on Mathematics. In how
many ways can they be placed on a shelf if books on the same subject are to be
together?

12
6. How many arrangements of the letter of the word MOBILE can be made if the
vowels are to appear only in the odd places.
7. A family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters is to be arranged in a row for photograph. In how
many ways can they be seated if all the sisters sit together?
8. Find the value of ‘r’ if 12Pr=1320.
9. In how many ways can seven supervisors and six engineers sit for a round table
discussion so that no two supervisors are sitting together?

Combination
In permutations the objects are based on the order of the arrangements where each change
in order constitutes a different arrangement. Therefore, combinations are groups which
can be made by taking some or all of things at a time.

Suppose there are 4 different things or objects, say A, B, C, D. If 3 of them are to be

selected at a time, from these 4 objects, there are the following selections; ABC, BCD,
ACD and ABD. Therefore, there are 4 ways of selecting 3 out of 4 things. The selection
ACB is the same as ABC. Such selection is known as combination. Thus in a
combination order does not matter, but simply the identity of items in the selection that
matters.

Definition: A combination is the grouping or selection of all or part of objects in a

group of n objects irrespective of the order in which the objects appear in the selection.

The number of combinations of n different things taken r, (where r ≤ n), at a time is given
by
n n!
C r=
(n−r )!r!
Note:

 n
Cr is also denoted as nCr∨C ( n , r )∨ ( nr).
 Combination and permutation are related as follows:
nCr .r !=nPr
Example 1
Two letters out of four letters A, B, C, D are selected at random. How many ways can
this be done?

Solution
Without applying the formula, there are the following combinations:
AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD.
i.e. 6 combinations or selections
Using the formula
Given: n = 4 and r = 2, then the number of ways

13
 n! 4! 4 ! 4 × 3× 2× 1
nCr= ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿6
r ! ( n−r ) ! 2! ( 4−2 ) ! 2! 2 ! 2 ×1 ×2 ×1

Example 2
In a certain organization three top leaders are to be chosen from 5 people. How many
ways can this being done?

Solution
Given, n = 5 and r = 3
n n!
C r=
(n−r )!r!
5 5!
C3 =
(5−3)!3!
5×4×3×2×1
= =10
2×1×3×2×1

In some situations, combinations are determined from more than one group. It involves a
number of subgroups that form a big group. If such a case occurs, the number of ways is
the product of combinations of all subgroups. Consider the following example.

Example 3
From a group of 6 boys and 4 girls, 5 members are to be selected for admission for a
particular course. In how many ways can this be done if there must be exactly 2 girls?
Solution
Here, there are two subgroups; boys and girls.
If 5 members are selected of which 2 are girls, then 3 will be boys.
So the number of ways is give by

( )( )
6 4
=
6!
×
4!
¿
6!
×
4 ! 6 ×5 × 4 ×3 ! 4 × 3× 2!
¿ ×
3 2 3 ! ( 6−3 ) ! 2 ! ( 4−2 ) ! 3! 3 ! 2! 2! 3 ×2 ×1 ×3 ! 2 ×1 ×2 !
¿ 20 ×6¿ 120

Exercise 3
1. In how many ways can 8 players be chosen from 10 players?
2. In how many ways can a committee of 6 men and 4 women be formed out of 15 men
and 8 women?
3. Find the numbers of ways in which a committee of 5 people can be formed out of a
group of persons containing 5 Tanzanians and 4 foreigners so that in each committee
there are not more than 3 people from any nationality?
4. In how many ways can 4 white and 3 black balls be selected from a box containing 20
white and 15 black balls?
5. From 7 BACC students and 5 BBF students a committee of 5 is to be formed. In how
many ways can this be done so as to include at-least one BACC student?

14
6. A cricket team consisting of 11 players is to be formed from 16 players of whom 4
can be bowlers and 2 can keep wicket and the rest can neither be bowler nor keep
wicket. In how many different ways can a team be formed so that the teams contain
(i) exactly 3 bowlers and 1 wicket keeper, (ii) at least 3 bowlers and at least 1 wicket
keeper?
7. In an examination, a candidate is required to answer 6 out of 12 questions which are
divided into two groups each containing 6 questions and he is not permitted to
attempt more than 4 questions from each group. In how many ways can he make up
his choice?
8. A committee consists of 5 members is to be formed out of 6 men and 4 women. How
many types of committees can be formed so that at least 2 women are always there?

15
 Binomial Expansions
A Binomial Expression is one which has two terms, added or subtracted, which are
raised to a given power.

Example (x + y) and (a + b) n are binomial expressions.

We sometimes need to expand binomial expressions as follows:

(a + b)0= 1
1
(a + b) = a+b
(a + b)2= a2+2ab+b2
(a + b)3= a3+3a2b+3ab2+b3
(a + b)4= a4+4a3b+6a2b2+4ab3+b4
(a + b) = a +5a b+10a3b2+10a2b4+5ab4+b5
5 5 4

In the expansion of ( a+ b )n then a general term looks like a r bn−r or a n−r br . In fact, these
terms would have the same coefficient due to the symmetry of the binomial expansion of
this type.

The sum of the powers will always add to n (Whatever n may be as long as it is a positive
whole number).

For example; in the following

2 2 2
(a+ b) =( a+ b ) ( a+b )=a +2 ab +b
There is only one possible way of multiplying an a with another a to produce a 2. Yet
there are two ways that we can multiply an a with a b to produce ab (first a with second b
or first b with second a).

In the expansion of
3 3 2 2 3
(a+ b) =( a+ b ) ( a+b )( a+b )=a +3 a b+ 3 a b +b
It is observed that there is only one way to obtain a3.
It is also observed that there is only one way to obtain b3.
There are three ways to produce in tern a 2 b and a b 2

So the coefficient is all about the number of ways of selecting the a ' s with the b ' s.
The mathematical formula for calculating the number of ways of selecting r
items from n items was part of the work of a French Mathematician called
Blaise Pascal. He defined the number of ways of selecting r objects from n objects as:
n n!
C r=
(n−r )!r!
He also came up with a famous number of sequence called Pascal’s Triangle that helps
to find the coefficients in a binomial expansion.

Pascal’s Triangle
Let us have a look on Pascal’s Triangle and how it can help find coefficients for low
values of n.

16
 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
Observations:
 Each row begins with one and ends with one.
 Each element in the triangle except one are the sum of the two elements in the
preceding row.
 The coefficients appearing in Pascal’s Triangle are similar to those we have generated
in the binomial expansion of ( a+ b )n.
Therefore, we can use Pascal’s triangle to generate the coefficients of a binomial
expansion but it is time consuming for larger values of n.

Properties of binomial expansion ( a+ b )n

There are n+1 terms.
i. The first term is an and the last term is bn.
ii. Progressing from the first term to the last, the exponent is ‘a’ decreases by 1 from
term to term while the exponent of ‘b’ increases by 1. In addition, the sum of the
exponent of ‘a’ and ‘b’ in each term is ‘n’.
iii. If the coefficient of each term is multiplied by the exponent of ‘a’ in that term,
and the product is divided by the number of that term, we obtain the coefficient of
the next term.
The Binomial Theorem
The binomial theorem states that, when ‘n’ is a +ve integer, then

( a+b )n =n C 0 an + n C1 a n−1 b + n C 2 a n−2 b 2 +. ..+ n C r an−r br +. .. +n C n−1 ab n−1 + n C n b n

The general term

The general term of a binomial expansion is given by

t r+1 =n C r an−r b r

where nCr is the coefficient of the (r+1)th term for r =0 ,1 , … , n

Middle terms
The middle term depends upon the value of n.
a) If n is even: then the total number of terms in the expansion of (a + b)n is n + 1

( )
th
n
(odd). Hence, there is only one middle term, i.e., +1 term is the middle term
2

17
 b) If n is odd, then the total number of terms in the expansion of (a + b)n is n + 1

( ) ( )
th th
n+1 n+3
(even). So there are two middle terms i.e., and are two middle
2 2
terms.

Example 1
4
Find the Binomial expansion of ( 2 x+ 3 y 2)

Solution
Let a=2 x , b=3 y 2 and n=4 , then
( a+b )n =a n + n C 1 an−1 b+ n C 2 an−2 b2 +. . .+ n C r an−r b r +. . .+ n C n−1 abn−1 +b n
2 3
(2 x+3 y 2 )4 =(2 x )4 + 4 C 1 (2 x )3 ( 3 y 2 ) + 4 C2 (2 x )2 ( 3 y 2 ) + 4 C 3 ( 2 x )1 ( 3 y 2 ) +(3 y 2 ) 4
which can be simplified to get both the coefficients and combinations of variables.

Example 2
4
Find the 3rd term in the expansion of ( 2 x+ 3 y 2)
Solution
Let a=2 x , b=3 y 2 and n=4 , then
Then kth term is given by
t r+1 =n C r an−r b r
where r+1 =3, r = 2, then
t 2+1 =4 C 2 (2 x ) 4−2 (3 y 2 )2
t 3= 4 C 2 4 x 2 9 y 4
This can be simplified to:
2 4 2 4
t 3=6 ( 4 ) ( 9 ) x y =216 x y

Exercise 4
1. Given the expression ( 2+3 x )20
i. Write down the 10th term of the expansion
ii. Find the coefficient of the 8th term of the expansion above.
2
6. Expand ( 1−x + x 2 ) .

( )
2 9
x 2
th
7. Find the 4 term from the end in the expansion of − 2 .
2 x

( ).
12
3 2
8. Find the coefficient of x11 in the expansion of x − 2
x

( ).
2r
1
9. Find the rth term in the expansion of x +
x
10. Determine whether the expansion of ( x − ) will contain a term containing x
18
2 2 10
?
x

( ).
12
b
11. Find the middle term in the expansion of 2 ax− 2
x

18
 ( )
9
p x
12. Find the middle term in the expansion of + .
x p
13. The coefficient of 2 x in the expansion of( 1+2 x )n is 40. Given that n is a positive
integer, find the value of n.

19