Binomial expansion question that I cannot fathom

  • Thread starter Thread starter Originaltitle
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Binomial Expansion
AI Thread Summary
To determine the coefficient of p^4q^7 in the expansion of (2p-q)(p+q)^{10}, first recognize that the total power of p and q must equal 11. The approach involves finding the coefficients of p^3q^7 from the first term and p^4q^6 from the second term of the expansion. The coefficients are calculated using the binomial expansion formula, specifically focusing on the contributions from each term. After obtaining these coefficients, they are multiplied by 2p and -q respectively, and then combined to find the final coefficient for p^4q^7. This method clarifies how to handle the coefficients in the context of the binomial expansion.
Originaltitle
Messages
16
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



It says: Determine the coefficient of p4q7 in the expansion of (2p-q)(p+q)10.

I can find the coefficient of p4q6 in the expansion of (p+q)10 but how am I to find it for (2p-q)(p+q)10?



Homework Equations



Binomial expansion formula.

The Attempt at a Solution



[Coefficient of p4q6 in the expansion of (p+q)10 = (10C6) x (p)4 x (q)6.]
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Originaltitle said:

Homework Statement



It says: Determine the coefficient of p4q7 in the expansion of (2p-q)(p+q)10.

I can find the coefficient of p4q6 in the expansion of (p+q)10 but how am I to find it for (2p-q)(p+q)10?



Homework Equations



Binomial expansion formula.

The Attempt at a Solution



[Coefficient of p4q6 in the expansion of (p+q)10 = (10C6) x (p)4 x (q)6.]

Write
(2p-q)(p+q)^{10} = 2 p (p+q)^{10} - q (p+q)^{10}, then find the coefficients of p^4 q^6 in each term separately.
 
But they're asking for the coefficient of p^4q^7, not p^4q^6. BUT 4 + 7 = 11 and 11 is not the power on the original bracket. The powers on p and q must add up to 11, but they can't over here.
 
Originaltitle said:
But they're asking for the coefficient of p^4q^7, not p^4q^6. BUT 4 + 7 = 11 and 11 is not the power on the original bracket. The powers on p and q must add up to 11, but they can't over here.

I have told you how I would do the problem if I had to.
 
You did but they're not asking for what you're doing. They're asking for the coeff. of p^4q^7, not p^4q^6 which is what you're finding.
 
Originaltitle said:
You did but they're not asking for what you're doing. They're asking for the coeff. of p^4q^7, not p^4q^6 which is what you're finding.

Use Ray Vickson's method. For the binomial ##(p+q)^{10}##, find the coefficient of ##p^3q^7## for the first product, and ##p^4q^6## for the second product.

What happens when you multiply the first product by ##2p##, and the second by ##q##? Now do the subtraction.
 
Thanks.
 
Back
Top