Consider the binomial x + y. Suppose you want to take this binomial to the nth power: (x + y)n. What is the result of this expansion? Complete Try This 1 to begin exploring this idea.
n | Binomial Expression (x + y)n |
Expansion |
0 | (x + y)0 | |
1 | (x + y)1 | |
2 | (x + y)2 | |
3 | (x + y)3 | 1x3 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + 1y3 |
4 | (x + y)4 | |
26 | (x + y)26 |
Look at the exponent values on x and y.
What is the relationship between the x and y exponents for each term in the expanded form?
Save your responses in your course folder.
With a partner or group, discuss the following questions based on the information from Try This 1.
If required, save a record of your discussion in your course folder.
Each term is separated by a + for this binomial expansion. So x3, 3x2y, … are separate terms.
This question may be easier if you show the exponents 0 and 1 like this: (x + y)3 = 1x3y0 + 3x2y1 + 3x1y2 + 1x0y3.