Question Video: Finding a Certain Term in a Binomial Expansion | Nagwa Question Video: Finding a Certain Term in a Binomial Expansion | Nagwa

Question Video: Finding a Certain Term in a Binomial Expansion Mathematics • Third Year of Secondary School

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Find the second-to-last term in (2 + π‘₯)^34.

02:05

Video Transcript

Find the second-to-last term in two plus π‘₯ all raised to the power of 34.

In order to answer this question, we need to recall the binomial expansion of π‘Ž plus 𝑏 to the 𝑛th power, where 𝑛 is a natural number, as shown. The general term is equal to 𝑛 choose π‘Ÿ multiplied by π‘Ž to the power of 𝑛 minus π‘Ÿ multiplied by 𝑏 to the power of π‘Ÿ, where 𝑛 choose π‘Ÿ is equal to 𝑛 factorial divided by 𝑛 minus π‘Ÿ factorial multiplied by π‘Ÿ factorial.

We are asked to calculate the second-to-last term. This is equal to 𝑛 choose 𝑛 minus one multiplied by π‘Ž to the power of one multiplied by 𝑏 to the power of 𝑛 minus one. In this question, π‘Ž is equal to two, 𝑏 is equal to π‘₯, and the exponent 𝑛 equals 34. This means we need to calculate 34 choose 33 multiplied by two to the power of one multiplied by π‘₯ to the power of 34 minus one.

34 choose 33 is equal to 34 factorial divided by one factorial multiplied by 33 factorial. We can rewrite the numerator as 34 multiplied by 33 factorial. And as one factorial equals one, the denominator is 33 factorial. Dividing the numerator and denominator by 33 factorial gives us 34.

The second-to-last term simplifies to 34 multiplied by two multiplied by π‘₯ to the power of 33. This is equal to 68π‘₯ to the power of 33.

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