1. Nov 2, 2008

I know how to expand binomials with the aid of pascals triangle and also with the aid of the nCr function on the calculator. I'm not quite sure about this formula though

see the part in the brackets where n is above k. What does that mean? Someone told me that represents nCk. Is that true? Are you supposed to use that nCr function when using the binomial theorem to expand binomials? I was under the impression that the formula worked out the coefficients without using that nCr function.

2. Nov 2, 2008

lurflurf

yes the part in the brackets where n is above k is nCk
also expressible as
n!/[(n-k)!n!]

3. Nov 2, 2008

Thanks alot. I thought that formula was some complex way of getting the binomial coefficients without using the nCr button on the calculator. On a test I had a question that asked me to expand a degree 5 binomial using the binomial theorem and I was thinking the teacher wouldn't make us waste our time using that nCr button so many times. I used it anyway so I musta got the question right.

4. Nov 2, 2008

mathman

You have a typo? should read n!/[(n-k)!k!]

5. Nov 4, 2008

lurflurf

yes

yes the part in the brackets where n is above k is nCk
also expressible as
n!/[(n-k)!k!]