Generalised Binomial Theorem

237 questions · 29 question types identified

Expand and state validity

Questions that ask to expand a binomial expression (with fractional or negative exponent) and then state the range/set of values for which the expansion is valid.

33
13.9% of questions
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7 Find the first 4 terms in the binomial expansion of \(\sqrt { 4 + 2 x }\). State the range of values of \(x\) for which the expansion is valid.
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Factoring out constants first

Expand expressions like (a+bx)^n where a≠1 by first factoring to get a^n(1+cx)^n before applying the binomial theorem.

28
11.8% of questions
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1 Expand \(( 2 + 3 x ) ^ { - 2 }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\), simplifying the coefficients.
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Finding unknown power and constant

Given a partial expansion with unknown n and k in (1+kx)^n, use coefficient information to determine both values.

15
6.3% of questions
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6 Given the binomial expansion \(( 1 + q x ) ^ { p } = 1 - x + 2 x ^ { 2 } + \ldots\), find the values of \(p\) and \(q\). Hence state the set of values of \(x\) for which the expansion is valid.
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Multiply by polynomial

Use a given expansion and multiply by a polynomial (or rational function with simple numerator) to find the expansion of a product, typically by direct multiplication of series.

13
5.5% of questions
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3
  1. Find the first three terms in the expansion of \(( 1 - 2 x ) ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), where \(| x | < \frac { 1 } { 2 }\).
  2. Hence find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) in the expansion of \(\frac { x + 3 } { \sqrt { 1 - 2 x } }\).
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Factoring out constants before expansion

Questions where the expression must first be rewritten by factoring out a constant (e.g., √(9+8x) = 3√(1+8x/9)) before applying binomial expansion and substitution.

12
5.1% of questions
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5
  1. Find the binomial expansion of \(( 1 + x ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 3 } }\) up to the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\).
    1. Show that \(( 8 + 3 x ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 3 } } \approx 2 + \frac { 1 } { 4 } x - \frac { 1 } { 32 } x ^ { 2 }\) for small values of \(x\).
    2. Hence show that \(\sqrt [ 3 ] { 9 } \approx \frac { 599 } { 288 }\).
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Form (1+bx)^n expansion

Questions where the expression is already in the form (1+bx)^n and can be expanded directly using the binomial theorem.

12
5.1% of questions
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1 Expand \(( 1 + 3 x ) ^ { - \frac { 5 } { 3 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\).
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Non-zero terms only

Find the first n non-zero terms in an expansion where some powers of x are missing (e.g., only even powers appear).

10
4.2% of questions
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5. $$f ( x ) = \left( 8 + 27 x ^ { 3 } \right) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 3 } } , \quad | x | < \frac { 2 } { 3 }$$ Find the first three non-zero terms of the binomial expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in ascending powers of \(x\). Give each coefficient as a simplified fraction.
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Finding unknown constant from coefficient

Questions where the product involves an unknown constant (typically 'a' or 'k') that must be determined by equating a specific coefficient in the expansion to a given value.

10
4.2% of questions
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8
  1. Find the first three terms in the expansion of \(( 4 - x ) ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\).
  2. The expansion of \(\frac { a + b x } { \sqrt { 4 - x } }\) is \(16 - x \ldots\). Find the values of the constants \(a\) and \(b\).
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Series expansion of rational function

Expand a rational function like 1/(a+bx)^n or k/(a+bx)^n in ascending powers of x up to a specified term.

9
3.8% of questions
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1 Find the coefficient of the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the expansion of \(\frac { 1 } { ( 2 + 3 x ) ^ { 2 } }\).
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Direct single expansion substitution

Questions that expand a single binomial expression (e.g., (1+x)^n or (a+bx)^n) and substitute a specific value to approximate a surd or root directly.

9
3.8% of questions
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  1. (a) Find the first four terms, in ascending powers of \(x\), of the binomial expansion of
$$( 1 + 8 x ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }$$ giving each term in simplest form.
(b) Explain how you could use \(x = \frac { 1 } { 32 }\) in the expansion to find an approximation for \(\sqrt { 5 }\) There is no need to carry out the calculation.
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Approximation for small x

Show that an expression is approximately equal to a polynomial for small values of x, often involving simplification to find a constant k.

8
3.4% of questions
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2 Find $$\lim _ { x \rightarrow 0 } \left[ \frac { \sqrt { 4 + x } - 2 } { x + x ^ { 2 } } \right]$$ (3 marks)
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Substitute expression for variable

Use a given expansion and substitute a different expression (like x³, or x+x³) for the variable to find the expansion of a related function.

8
3.4% of questions
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5
  1. Expand \(( 1 - 3 x ) ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 3 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\).
  2. Hence find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the expansion of \(\left( 1 - 3 \left( x + x ^ { 3 } \right) \right) ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 3 } }\).
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Two unknowns from two coefficient conditions

Questions with two unknown constants determined by two independent coefficient conditions (two coefficients given specific values or relationships).

8
3.4% of questions
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6 When \(( a + b x ) \sqrt { 1 + 4 x }\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants, is expanded in ascending powers of \(x\), the coefficients of \(x\) and \(x ^ { 2 }\) are 3 and - 6 respectively. Find the values of \(a\) and \(b\).
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Direct quotient expansion

Expand a quotient √((1±ax)/(1±bx)) directly by expanding numerator and denominator separately, then multiplying the series.

8
3.4% of questions
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2 Expand \(\sqrt { \frac { 1 + 2 x } { 1 - 2 x } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\), simplifying the coefficients.
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Coefficient of x^n in product

Find the coefficient of a specific power of x in the expansion of a product of expressions, without necessarily expanding fully.

7
3.0% of questions
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3 Find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the binomial expansion of \(( 3 + x ) \sqrt { 1 + 4 x }\).
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Expansion with algebraic manipulation

Simplify or manipulate an expression algebraically first (e.g., rationalizing, factoring) before applying binomial expansion.

7
3.0% of questions
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5
  1. Simplify \(( \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) + \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) ) ( \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) - \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) )\), showing your working, and deduce that $$\frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) + \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) } = \frac { \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) - \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) } { 2 x }$$
  2. Using this result, or otherwise, obtain the expansion of $$\frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) + \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) }$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\).
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Product of separate expansions

Expand a quotient that can be written as a product (numerator)(denominator)^(-n) where both parts are expanded separately then multiplied.

7
3.0% of questions
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2. (a) Expand \(( 1 - 3 x ) ^ { - 2 } , | x | < \frac { 1 } { 3 }\), in ascending powers of \(x\) up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\), simplifying each coefficient.
(b) Hence, or otherwise, show that for small \(x\), $$\left( \frac { 2 - x } { 1 - 3 x } \right) ^ { 2 } \approx 4 + 20 x + 85 x ^ { 2 } + 330 x ^ { 3 }$$
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Product with linear term

Questions where a simple linear term (a+bx) or (a-bx) is multiplied by a binomial expansion (1+cx)^n, requiring straightforward multiplication of the linear factor with the first few terms of the expansion.

6
2.5% of questions
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1 Find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the expansion of \(( 3 - x ) ( 1 + 3 x ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 3 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\).
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State validity only

Questions that only ask to state or identify the range/set of values for which a given binomial expansion is valid, without requiring the expansion itself.

5
2.1% of questions
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1 State the values of \(| x |\) for which the binomial expansion of \(( 3 + 2 x ) ^ { - 4 }\) is valid. Circle your answer. $$| x | < \frac { 2 } { 3 } \quad | x | < 1 \quad | x | < \frac { 3 } { 2 } \quad | x | < 3$$
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Arithmetic/geometric progression coefficients

Given that coefficients form an arithmetic or geometric sequence, find unknown constants or verify relationships.

4
1.7% of questions
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4 When \(( 1 + a x ) ^ { - 2 }\), where \(a\) is a positive constant, is expanded in ascending powers of \(x\), the coefficients of \(x\) and \(x ^ { 3 }\) are equal.
  1. Find the exact value of \(a\).
  2. When \(a\) has this value, obtain the expansion up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\), simplifying the coefficients.
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Factor and rescale

Use a standard expansion like (1-y)^n and factor constants from the denominator or argument, then rescale to find the expansion of expressions like 1/(3-2x) from 1/(1-x).

4
1.7% of questions
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1.(a)For \(| y | < 1\) ,write down the binomial series expansion of \(( 1 - y ) ^ { - 2 }\) in ascending powers of \(y\) up to and including the term in \(y ^ { 3 }\)
(b)Show that when it is convergent,the series $$1 + \frac { 2 x } { x + 3 } + \frac { 3 x ^ { 2 } } { ( x + 3 ) ^ { 2 } } + \ldots + \frac { r x ^ { r - 1 } } { ( x + 3 ) ^ { r - 1 } } + \ldots$$ can be written in the form \(( 1 + a x ) ^ { n }\) ,where \(a\) and \(n\) are constants to be found.
(c)Find the set of values of \(x\) for which the series in part(b)is convergent.
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Composite substitution expansion

Expand (1+f(x))^n where f(x) is not linear (e.g., x², x³, or x+x³), requiring substitution before expansion.

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1.3% of questions
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1
  1. Expand \(( 1 - x ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\) as far as the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\).
  2. Hence expand \(\left( 1 - 2 y + 4 y ^ { 2 } \right) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\) in ascending powers of \(y\) as far as the term in \(y ^ { 2 }\).
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Single unknown from one coefficient condition

Questions with one unknown constant determined by a single coefficient condition (coefficient equals zero, two coefficients equal, or coefficient equals a specific value).

3
1.3% of questions
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3
  1. Expand \(( a + x ) ^ { - 2 }\) in ascending powers of \(x\) up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\).
  2. When \(( 1 - x ) ( a + x ) ^ { - 2 }\) is expanded, the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) is 0 . Find the value of \(a\).
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Coefficient comparison between expansions

Compare coefficients between two different expansions or use coefficient information from one to find properties of another.

2
0.8% of questions
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2.In the binomial expansion of $$( 1 - 4 x ) ^ { p } , \quad | x | < \frac { 1 } { 4 }$$ the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) is equal to the coefficient of \(x ^ { 4 }\) and the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) is positive.
Find the value of \(p\) .
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Product or quotient of expansions

Questions that require combining two binomial expansions (multiplying or dividing) before substitution to approximate a surd involving a product or quotient of roots.

2
0.8% of questions
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11. a. Find the binomial expansion of \(( 4 - x ) ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\). Given that the binomial expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \sqrt { \frac { 1 + 2 x } { 4 - x } } , | x | < \frac { 1 } { 4 }\), is $$\frac { 1 } { 2 } + \frac { 9 } { 16 } x - A x ^ { 2 } + \cdots$$ b. Show that the value of the constant \(A\) is \(\frac { 45 } { 256 }\)
c. By substituting \(x = \frac { 1 } { 4 }\) into the answer for (b) find an approximate for \(\sqrt { 10 }\), giving your answer to 3 decimal places.
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Form (a+bx)^n requiring factorisation

Questions where the expression is in the form (a+bx)^n with a≠1, requiring factorisation to (a^n)(1+bx/a)^n before applying the binomial theorem.

2
0.8% of questions
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2. (a) Use the binomial theorem to expand $$( 8 - 3 x ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 3 } } , \quad | x | < \frac { 8 } { 3 }$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\), giving each term as a simplified fraction.
(b) Use your expansion, with a suitable value of \(x\), to obtain an approximation to \(\sqrt [ 3 ] { } ( 7.7 )\). Give your answer to 7 decimal places.
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Expansion of (a+bx^m)^n

Expand expressions where the variable appears as x^m (m>1) rather than x, such as (1+x²)^n or (8+27x³)^(1/3).

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0.4% of questions
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2 Expand \(\left( 2 + x ^ { 2 } \right) ^ { - 2 }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 4 }\), simplifying the coefficients.
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Algebraic simplification first

Simplify the quotient algebraically (e.g., multiply by conjugate or rewrite) before applying binomial expansion to a single expression.

1
0.4% of questions
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1.(a)Show that \(\sqrt { \frac { 1 + x } { 1 - x } }\) can be written in the form \(\frac { 1 + x } { \sqrt { 1 - x ^ { 2 } } }\) for \(| x | < 1\)
(b)Hence,or otherwise,find the expansion,in ascending powers of \(x\) up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 5 }\) ,of \(\sqrt { \frac { 1 + x } { 1 - x } }\)
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Product with quadratic or higher term

Questions where a quadratic term (like 1+x²) or higher polynomial is multiplied by a binomial expansion, requiring more complex term collection.

0
0.0% of questions