Binomial expansion
Binomial expansion
a. The binomial expansion
n(n 1) n(n 1)(n 2)
(1 ax) n 1 nax (ax) 2 (ax) 3 .... . can be used to give exact expression if n is
2! 3!
a positive integer, or an approximate expansion for any other rational number.
b. The expansion
n(n 1) n(n 1)(n 2)
(1 ax) n 1 nax (ax) 2 (ax) 3 .... . , were n is negative or a fraction, is only
2! 3!
valid if ax ‹1.
Assignment on Binomial Expansion
Expand the following functions as series of ascending powers of x up to and including the term in x3. In
each case give the range of values of x for which the expansion is valid.
1
x
1
2 1 1
1) (1 2 x) 2
2) (3 x) 1 3) 1 4) 5)
2 (1 x) 2 1 x
x2 2 x 1 1 x
6) (1 x) (1 x) 7) 8) 9) 10)
x 1 (1 3x) (2 x)(1 2 x) 1 x
1
1 x
1 1 1
x2 1 x 1
11) 1 12) 1 H int : 1
9 x x x 1 x
3
1
13) Expand 1 as a series of descending powers of p, as far as and including the term containing
p
-4
p . State the range of values of p for which the expansion is valid.
1
14) By substituting 0.08 for x in (1 x) 2 and its expansion find 3 correct to four significant figures.
1
1
15) By substituting for x in (1 x) 2 and its expansion find 10 correct to six significant figures.
10
16) Use a suitable binomial expansion to find 1.01 correct to five decimal places.
3
17) Use a suitable binomial expansion to find 8.4 correct to seven significant figures.
1 2x
18) Expand as a series of ascending powers of x up to and including the term in x2. By
1 2x
1
substituting x = find an approximation for 51, stating the number of significant figures to
100
which your answer is accurate.
1 1 1
19) If x is so small that x2 and higher powers of x may be neglected show that x.
( x 1)( x 2) 2 4
Deepak Chandra Mondol,
Teacher of O& A-Level Mathematics.01911321535;
Binomial expansion
20) By neglecting x3 and higher powers of x, find a quadratic function that appropriates to the function
1 2x
in the region close to x = 0.
1 2x
2 1 3
21) (a) Show that
1 2 x 2 x (1 2 x)(2 x)
3
(b) Use binomial series to find a linear approximation for .
(1 2 x)(2 x)
1
22) If terms containing x4 and higher powers of x can be neglected, show that 2(1 x).
( x 1)( x 2 1)
12 20 88
23) Show that 4 x x 2 provided that x is small enough to neglect power higher
(3 x)(1 x) 2
3 9
than 2.
Answers
x 2 x3 1 1 1 x x2 x3 x 3x 2 5 x 3
1) 1 x , x ; 2) ,3 x 3; 3) 1 ,2 x 2;
2 2 2 2 3 9 27 81 4 32 128
x 3x 2 5 x 3 x 5 x 2 3x 3
4) 1 2 x 3x 2 4 x 3 ,1 x 1; 5) 1 ,1 x 1; 6) 1 ,1 x 1;
2 8 16 2 8 16
21 2 27 3 1 1
7) 2 3x 3x 2 3x 3 ,1 x 1; 8) 2 2 x x x , x ;
4 8 3 3
1 3x 13x 2 51x 3 1 1 x2 x3 x2
9) , x ; 10) 1 x ,1 x 1; 11) 1 ,3 x 3;
2 4 8 16 2 2 2 2 9
3 6 10 15
12) x x 2 x 3 ,1 x 1; 13) 1 2 3 4 , p 1; 14) 1.732
p p p p
15) 3.162 28 16) 1.004 99 17) 2.032 793
7x2 3 15 x
18) 1 2 x 2 x 2 , 51 7.1414; 20) 1 3x ; 21) ;
2 2 4
Deepak Chandra Mondol,
Teacher of O& A-Level Mathematics.01911321535;
