Finding the Coefficient of Expansion for a General Term in a Polynomial

[Air]

Homework Statement

a) Find the coefficient of x^5 in (1+x+x^2)^4.

b) Find the coefficient of x^2 in (2+2x+x^2)^n.


2. The attempt at a solution
a) (1)^0(x)^3(x^2)^1 & (1)^1(x)^1(x^2)^2.
Coefficient of first: \frac{4!}{(0!)(3!)(1!)} = 4
Coefficient of second: \frac{4!}{(1!)(1!)(2!)}=16
Therefore coefficient of x^5 is 4+12 = 16.

b) This is the part I'm struggling on. May I have help here. It's a general term (power of n which is confusing me).

 

[tiny-tim]

b) Find the coefficient of x^2 in (2+2x+x^2)^n.

This is the part I'm struggling on. May I have help here. It's a general term (power of n which is confusing me).

Hi Air!

(btw, "Coefficient Of Expansion" means something specific in materials physics)

Well, it's either x² or x x;

if you use the same formulas as before, what do you get?

 

[Air]

Hi Air!

(btw, "Coefficient Of Expansion" means something specific in materials physics)

Well, it's either x² or x x;

if you use the same formulas as before, what do you get?

So would that be:

(2)^0(2x)^0(x^2)^1 and (2)^1(2x)^2(x^2)^0

What am I to do with the (2)? It can be used many times?

("Coefficient Of Expansion" was just a random title I thought of which might be suitable for this, had no idea that it's something in materials physics )

 

[tiny-tim]

So would that be:

(2)^0(2x)^0(x^2)^1 and (2)^1(2x)^2(x^2)^0

No, it's …

(2)^{n-1}(2x)^0(x^2)^1 and … ?

 

[Air]

No, it's …

(2)^{n-1}(2x)^0(x^2)^1 and … ?

Hmmm... I'm not sure how it's possible to get (2x)^2 and (x^2)^0 together as the powers have to be consecutive, don't they?

 

[tiny-tim]

… the powers have to be consecutive, don't they?

erm … I've no idea what you mean … but the answer is, no!

 

[Air]

erm … I've no idea what you mean … but the answer is, no!

Would it be this:

(2)^{n}(2x)^2(x^2)^0

I'm sure about the (2x)^2(x^2)^0 because it would get (4x^2)(1) which would give a coefficient of value 4 but is the power of 2 correct?

 

[tiny-tim]

Would it be this:

(2)^{n}(2x)^2(x^2)^0

I'm sure about the (2x)^2(x^2)^0 because it would get (4x^2)(1) which would give a coefficient of value 4 but is the power of 2 correct?

Hint: the exponents (that's the itsy-bitsy thingys) have to add to n, don't they?

(Yours are adding to n+2.)

 

[HallsofIvy]

Would it be this:

(2)^{n}(2x)^2(x^2)^0

I'm sure about the (2x)^2(x^2)^0 because it would get (4x^2)(1) which would give a coefficient of value 4 but is the power of 2 correct?

Don't be sure- that term won't be in an n^th power. In (2+2x+x^2)^n, every term is of the form C_ijk(2)ⁱ(2x)^j(x²)^k with i+ j+ k= n and C is the "tri"-nomial coefficient:
C_{ijk}= \frac{n!}{i!j!k!}

One way to get x² would be (2)^n-2(2x)²(x²)⁰ but another would be (2^n-1)(2x)⁰(x²)¹. And don't forget the "tri"-nomial coefficient for each of those.

 

[Air]

Oh, I see. Thanks. That makes sense.

But I have another question:
As this question is (2+2x+x^2)^n, does that mean it's even possible to find the coefficient of x^{235} (for instance) as n can be any value?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Yes, it certainly should be. As I said before, Cijk(2)i(2x)^j(x[sup2)k with i+ j+ k= n and C is the "tri"-nomial coefficient.

In order to get x²³⁵, you would have to have j+ 2k= 235. There are many values of n large enough to include that. Of course, with x² any positive n is sufficient.