Edexcel C4 — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleC4 (Core Mathematics 4)
TopicGeneralised Binomial Theorem
TypeFinding unknown power and constant

6. When \(( 1 + a x ) ^ { n }\) is expanded as a series in ascending powers of \(x\), the coefficients of \(x\) and \(x ^ { 2 }\) are - 6 and 27 respectively.
  1. Find the value of \(a\) and the value of \(n\).
  2. Find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\).
  3. State the set of values of \(x\) for which the expansion is valid.