The Binomial Theorem

The Binomial Theorem

Here is a truly basic result from combinatorics kindergarten.

Example

There are times when we are interested not in the full expansion of a power of a binomial, but just the coefficient on one of the terms. The gives that the coefficient of \(x^5y^8\) in \((2x-3y)^{13}\) is \(\binom{13}{5}2^{5}(-3)^8\).

Now you No calculator settles this one, but the pieces of it are computable. Try one below, or type your own.

⌨ Type ✎ Draw it

Your maths problem

π Solve

Practice (1)

Try each one on paper first. Reveal the answer to check; verified ones can be opened in the solver for every step.

1. Explain how you can use to give yet another proof of the identity \[\begin{aligned}\end{aligned}\].

   Work through it Hint

Keep your own working

A free account adds notes on every lesson, a record of what you have finished, your solved problems in one place, and a tutor you can ask about this page. The maths itself is open to everyone, signed in or not.

Sign Up Login

Symbols used here

Tap any symbol for the full definition, a picture, and what every letter in it means.

\binom{n}{k}binomial coefficient, "n choose k"
Number of k-element subsets of n things: n!/(k!(n−k)!).iimaginary unit
i² = −1.n!factorial
n × (n−1) × … × 1; the number of orderings of n things. 0! = 1.\sum_{k=1}^{n} a_ksummation
Add a_k for k = 1 up to n.\prod_{k=1}^{n} a_kproduct
Multiply a_k for k = 1 up to n.\emptysetempty set, cardinality
The set with no elements; the number of elements of A.

Questions people ask

Permutation or combination?

Ask whether order matters. A lock code is a permutation (order matters); a hand of cards is a combination (it does not).

What is a graph in this sense?

Dots (vertices) joined by lines (edges), not a plot. Road maps, social networks and molecules are graphs; questions like "is there a route" and "how few colours" are graph theory.

Parts of this page are adapted from Keller & Trotter, Applied Combinatorics (CC BY-SA 4.0). Condensed and re-explained here; errors are ours.

More in Combinatorics & Graph Theory

The counting principlesPigeonhole principle and inclusion, exclusionBinomial coefficients and Pascal's triangleRecurrences and generating functionsGraphs: vertices, edges, degreesPaths, cycles, trees, Euler and HamiltonColouring and planar graphs