Binomial Questions From Past Papers

1.

Find the coefficient of x in the expansion of (3x 2)

2.

Given that
5

6 11

(1 + x) (1 + ax) 1 + bx + 10x + ............... + a x ,

find the values of a, b

*.

3 4

3.

Find the coefficient of a b in the expansion of (5a + b) .

4.

1
7
x + 2
ax

The coefficient of x in the expansion of

is 3 . Find the possible values of a.

5.

x 2 .
x
Determine the constant term in the expansion of

6.

(a)
(b)

Find the expansion of (2 + x) , giving your answer in ascending powers of x.

5

By letting x = 0.01 or otherwise, find the exact value of 2.01 .

Mark Scheme

1.

8

5
3
Required term is 5 (3x) (2)
5
Therefore the coefficient of x is 56 243 8
= 108864

(A1)(A1)(A1)
(A1)
[4]

2.

6 11

Given (1 + x) (1 + ax) = 1 + bx + 10x + ... + a x

2
2 2
2
6 11

(1 + 5x + 10x + ...)(1 + 6ax + 15a x + ...) = 1 + bx + 10x + ... + a x

2
2
2
6 11

1 + (6a + 5)x + (15a + 30a + 10)x + ... = 1 + bx + 10x + ... + a x

6a + 5 = b

15a + 30a + 10 = 10

(M1)
(M1)

15a + 30a = 0
15a(a + 2) = 0
a = 2

Substitute into 1 b = 7(A1)

Note: a 0 since a

(M1)

*
[4]

3.

7

7
3
4
(5a + b) = ...+ 4 (5a) (b) + ...
7 65 4
3
3 4
3
3 4
= 1 2 3 4 5 (a b ) = 35 5 a b
So the coefficient is 4375

(M1)
(M1)(A1)
(A1)
[4]

4.

r
r
7 7 r 1 7 1 7 3r
x 2 = x
r
ax r a
Method 1: Tr+1 =
7 3r = 1
r=2
(A1)

(M1)

7 1 7
2 =
3
Now, 2 a
2
a = 9
a = 3

(A1) (C3)
7

1
1

7
x + 2 = x 1 + 3
ax
ax

Method 2:
2
7 1

2
Coefficient of x = a
21 7
=
2
3 which leads to a = 3
Thus, a

5.

(M1)
(A1)
(A1) (C3)
[3]

The constant term will be the term independent of the variable x.

9
3
9
9 6 2
2

2
9
8 2
x 2 = x + 9 x 2 + ... + x 2 + ... + 2
x

x
x
3 x

(R1)
(M1)

9 6 2
8
x 2 = 84 x 6 6
x
3 x
= 672
(A1)

(A1)
[4]

6.

(a)

3 2

2 3

(2 + x) = 25 + 5(2) (x) + 10(2) x + 10(2) x + 5(2)x + x

2

(M1)(A1)

= 32 + 80x + 80x + 40x + 10x + x

(A1) (C3)
Note: Award (C2) for 5 correct terms, (C1) for 4 correct terms.
(b)

Let x = 0.01 = 10

(2.01) = 32 + 0.8 + 0.008 + 0.000 04 + 0.000 0001 + 0.000 000 0001

= 32.808 040 1001

(M1)(A1)
(A1) (C3)
[6]