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 questions

CAIE P3 2009 June Q5
5 When \(( 1 + 2 x ) ( 1 + a x ) ^ { \frac { 2 } { 3 } }\), where \(a\) is a constant, is expanded in ascending powers of \(x\), the coefficient of the term in \(x\) is zero.
  1. Find the value of \(a\).
  2. When \(a\) has this value, find the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the expansion of \(( 1 + 2 x ) ( 1 + a x ) ^ { \frac { 2 } { 3 } }\), simplifying the coefficient.
Edexcel C34 2018 June Q4
4. (a) Find the binomial expansion of $$( 1 + p x ) ^ { - 4 } , \quad | p x | < 1$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\), giving each coefficient as simply as possible in terms of the constant \(p\). $$f ( x ) = \frac { 3 + 4 x } { ( 1 + p x ) ^ { 4 } } \quad | p x | < 1$$ where \(p\) is a positive constant. In the series expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) is twice the coefficient of \(x\).
(b) Find the value of \(p\).
(c) Hence find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the series expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), giving your answer as a simplified fraction.
Edexcel C34 2017 October Q7
  1. (a) Use the binomial series to expand
$$\frac { 1 } { ( 2 - 3 x ) ^ { 3 } } \quad | x | < \frac { 2 } { 3 }$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\), giving each term as a simplified fraction. $$f ( x ) = \frac { 4 + k x } { ( 2 - 3 x ) ^ { 3 } } \quad \text { where } k \text { is a constant and } | x | < \frac { 2 } { 3 }$$ Given that the series expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), in ascending powers of \(x\), is $$\frac { 1 } { 2 } + A x + \frac { 81 } { 16 } x ^ { 2 } + \cdots$$ where \(A\) is a constant,
(b) find the value of \(k\),
(c) find the value of \(A\).
Edexcel P4 2020 October Q2
  1. (a) Use the binomial expansion to expand
$$( 4 - 5 x ) ^ { - \frac { 1 } { 2 } } \quad | x | < \frac { 4 } { 5 }$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\) giving each coefficient as a fully simplified fraction. $$f ( x ) = \frac { 2 + k x } { \sqrt { 4 - 5 x } } \quad \text { where } k \text { is a constant and } | x | < \frac { 4 } { 5 }$$ Given that the series expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), in ascending powers of \(x\), is $$1 + \frac { 3 } { 10 } x + m x ^ { 2 } + \ldots \quad \text { where } m \text { is a constant }$$ (b) find the value of \(k\),
(c) find the value of \(m\).
OCR C4 Q4
  1. (i) Expand \(( 1 + a x ) ^ { - 3 } , | a x | < 1\), in ascending powers of \(x\) up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\). Give each coefficient as simply as possible in terms of the constant \(a\).
Given that the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) in the expansion of \(\frac { 6 - x } { ( 1 + a x ) ^ { 3 } } , | a x | < 1\), is 3 ,
(ii) find the two possible values of \(a\). Given also that \(a < 0\),
(iii) show that the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the expansion of \(\frac { 6 - x } { ( 1 + a x ) ^ { 3 } }\) is \(\frac { 14 } { 9 }\).
Edexcel C34 2016 June Q3
3. (a) Find the binomial expansion of $$( 1 + a x ) ^ { - 3 } , \quad | a x | < 1$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\), giving each coefficient as simply as possible in terms of the constant \(a\). $$f ( x ) = \frac { 2 + 3 x } { ( 1 + a x ) ^ { 3 } } , \quad | a x | < 1$$ In the series expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) is 3
Given that \(a < 0\)
(b) find the value of the constant \(a\),
(c) find the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the series expansion of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\), giving your answer as a simplified fraction.
OCR H240/01 2018 June Q8
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 \(b\).
OCR H240/01 2023 June Q8
8
  1. Find the first three terms in the expansion of \(( 4 + 3 x ) ^ { \frac { 3 } { 2 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\).
  2. State the range of values of \(x\) for which the expansion in part (a) is valid.
  3. In the expansion of \(( 4 + 3 x ) ^ { \frac { 3 } { 2 } } ( 1 + a x ) ^ { 2 }\) the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) is \(\frac { 107 } { 16 }\). Determine the possible values of the constant \(a\).
Edexcel C4 Q4
4. (a) Expand \(( 1 + a x ) ^ { - 3 } , | a x | < 1\), in ascending powers of \(x\) up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 3 }\). Give each coefficient as simply as possible in terms of the constant \(a\). Given that the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\) in the expansion of \(\frac { 6 - x } { ( 1 + a x ) ^ { 3 } } , | a x | < 1\), is 3 ,
(b) find the two possible values of \(a\). Given also that \(a < 0\),
(c) show that the coefficient of \(x ^ { 3 }\) in the expansion of \(\frac { 6 - x } { ( 1 + a x ) ^ { 3 } }\) is \(\frac { 14 } { 9 }\).
4. continued
SPS SPS FM 2024 October Q3
3. (a) Find and simplify the first three terms in the expansion, in ascending powers of \(x\), of \(\left( 2 + \frac { 1 } { 3 } k x \right) ^ { 6 }\), where \(k\) is a constant.
(b) In the expansion of \(( 3 - 4 x ) \left( 2 + \frac { 1 } { 3 } k x \right) ^ { 6 }\), the constant term is equal to the coefficient of \(x ^ { 2 }\). Determine the exact value of \(k\), given that \(k\) is positive.
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