What is the coefficient of the x^4 term in the expansion (x^2-1)^12?
I'm not sure how to use the binomial expansion theorem with this problem because of the x^2.
Please explain! Thank you.
Just do it the same way as you normally would.
Usually, binomial expansion is shown like (a + b) ^ 12
Here, you just substitute the variables
a = x^2 (yes, I know substituting variables with variables doesn't make sense)
b = -1
So normally,
(a + b)^12 = a^12 + 12a^11b + 66a^10b^2 + 220a^9b^3 + 495a^8b^4 + 792a^7b^5 + 924a^6b^6 + 792a^5b^7 + 495a^4b^8 + 220a^3b^9 + 66a^2b^10 + 12ab^11 + b^12
Just substitute (too lazy, I used Find & Replace, there may be mistakes)
(x^2-1)^12 = (x^2)^12 + 12(x^2)^11(-1) + 66(x^2)^10(-1)^2 + 220(x^2)^9(-1)^3 + 495(x^2)^8(-1)^4 + 792(x^2)^7(-1)^5 + 924(x^2)^6(-1)^6 + 792(x^2)^5(-1)^7 + 495(x^2)^4(-1)^8 + 220(x^2)^3(-1)^9 + 66(x^2)^2(-1)^10 + 12(x^2)(-1)^11 + (-1)^12
Oh god, this is gonna be long...but there's a pattern, so it's not so bad...
x^24 -12x^22 + 66x^20 - 220x^18 + 495x^16 - 792x^14 + 924x^12 - 792x^10 + 495x^8 - 220x^6 + 66x^4 - 12x^2 + 1
By pattern, I meant that + and - alternate because of the -1. The exponent on x also goes down by 2 each time, since it's x^2.
Hope I helped!
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Answers & Comments
Just do it the same way as you normally would.
Usually, binomial expansion is shown like (a + b) ^ 12
Here, you just substitute the variables
a = x^2 (yes, I know substituting variables with variables doesn't make sense)
b = -1
So normally,
(a + b)^12 = a^12 + 12a^11b + 66a^10b^2 + 220a^9b^3 + 495a^8b^4 + 792a^7b^5 + 924a^6b^6 + 792a^5b^7 + 495a^4b^8 + 220a^3b^9 + 66a^2b^10 + 12ab^11 + b^12
Just substitute (too lazy, I used Find & Replace, there may be mistakes)
(x^2-1)^12 = (x^2)^12 + 12(x^2)^11(-1) + 66(x^2)^10(-1)^2 + 220(x^2)^9(-1)^3 + 495(x^2)^8(-1)^4 + 792(x^2)^7(-1)^5 + 924(x^2)^6(-1)^6 + 792(x^2)^5(-1)^7 + 495(x^2)^4(-1)^8 + 220(x^2)^3(-1)^9 + 66(x^2)^2(-1)^10 + 12(x^2)(-1)^11 + (-1)^12
Oh god, this is gonna be long...but there's a pattern, so it's not so bad...
x^24 -12x^22 + 66x^20 - 220x^18 + 495x^16 - 792x^14 + 924x^12 - 792x^10 + 495x^8 - 220x^6 + 66x^4 - 12x^2 + 1
By pattern, I meant that + and - alternate because of the -1. The exponent on x also goes down by 2 each time, since it's x^2.
Hope I helped!