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Binomial Series Summary

1. Expansion of | |
n
x f ) ( 1+
This is given by

( )
| |
( )
| |
( )
| | .. .......... ) (
! 4
) 3 )( 2 )( 1 (
) (
! 3
) 2 )( 1 (
) (
! 2
) 1 (
) ( 1
4 3 2
+

+

+

+ + x f
n n n n
x f
n n n
x f
n n
x nf

Example: ( ) ... .......... ) 3 (
! 3
) 4 )( 3 )( 2 (
) 3 (
! 2
) 3 )( 2 (
) 2 )( 3 ( 1 3 1
3 2 2
+

+

+ + =

x x x x
... .......... 108 27 6 1
3 2
+ + + + = x x x
Note:
(i) For , n ,
+
n the structure intended for expansion must strictly adhere to the form
| |
n
x f ) ( 1+ . For instance, ( )3
1
2 8 x + must be reorganized as
3
1
3
1
4
1 8 |

\
|
+
x
at the very beginning
before proceeding with the actual binomial series expansion.
(ii) The expansion of | |
n
x f ) ( 1+ is valid for . 1 | ) ( | < x f


2. Typical applications of the binomial series expansion

(a) To provide an estimation of specific surd values:
Example:
2
3
1
288
1
12
1
2 ) 8 ( x x x + ; by substituting ,
8
1
= x we can arrive at a value for : 63
3

18432
1
96
1
2
64
1
288
1
8
1
12
1
2
8
63
3
1
+ = |

\
|
+ |

\
|
= |

\
|

( )
18432
36673
63
2
1
3
=
Hence,
9216
36673
63
3
= (shown)
(b) To compute the approximate equations of tangents to points on a sophisticated curve:
Example: if we are aware that ,
8
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
4
1
x x
x
x
y + |

\
|
+

=
Then x x x
dx
d
dx
dy
4
1
2
1
8
1
2
1
1
2
+ =
|

\
|
+
Hence, at the point ,
2
1
,
3
1
4
|

\
|
gradient of the tangent to the curve
4
1
1
1
|

\
|
+

=
x
x
y is approximately
equal to
12
5
3
1
4
1
2
1
=
|

\
|
+ , and the equation of this tangent is simply given by
,
3
1
12
5
2
1
4
|

\
|
= x y ie |

\
|
+ + =
4
2
1
36
5
12
5
x y (shown)


3. Finding the formula of the general term in the expansion
Example: In the expansion of
2
2
2 2
4
1
16
1
) 4 (

|
|

\
|
+ = +
x
x , coefficient of
n
x
2

( ) ( )
n n n
n
n
n
n
|

\
| +
|

\
|
=
|

\
|
|

\
|
=
4
1
!
) 1 )........( 4 )( 3 ( 2 1
16
1
4
1
!
) 1 ( )......... 4 )( 3 )( 2 (
16
1


=
( ) ( ) ( )
2
4
) 1 ( 1
) 16 ( 4
) 1 ( 1
4
1
!
)! 1 ( 1
16
1
+
+
=
+
=
|

\
| +
|

\
|
n
n
n
n n n
n n
n
n
(shown)


4. Ascending series expansion
Example:
2
1
2
4
1
1

|

\
|
+
x
may resemble the required format | |
n
x f ) ( 1+ , but if an ascending series is to
be achieved through expansion, then
2
4
1
) (
x
x f = will not be appropriate as the main variable x
resides purely in the denominator. A transformation has to be made:
( )
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
1 4
4
1
4
1
1


+ |

\
|
= |

\
|
+ x
x x

( )
(
(
(
(

+
|

\
|

\
|

\
|

+
|

\
|

\
|

+
|

\
|
+ = ....... ) 4 (
! 3
2
5
2
3
2
1
) 4 (
! 2
2
3
2
1
) 4 (
2
1
1 2
3 2 2 2 2
x x x x

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