Using Pascal's Triangle to Solve a sqrt Binomial

**aMUSEment** · May 22nd 2010, 01:47 PM

I need an answer to these expressions using the Pascal method... I was doing very well on my work until I ran into these two questions:

$ (\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b})^6 $

and

$ (x + 1/x)^4 $

If anyone could help me on these, it'd be greatly appreciated.

**e^(i*pi)** · May 22nd 2010, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by aMUSEment

I need an answer to these expressions using the Pascal method... I was doing very well on my work until I ran into these two questions:

$ (\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b})^6 $

and

$ (x + 1/x)^4 $

If anyone could help me on these, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Pascal's triangle only works for the coefficients of each term and I've never heard of Pascal's method. The easiest way would be the binomial theorem

$(a+b)^n = \sum_{k=0}^n {n \choose k}a^{n-k}b^k$

Where ${n \choose k} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!}$

Taking your first example (n=6) I will take the first two terms

$(a^{\frac{1}{2}} + b^{\frac{1}{2}})^6 = {6 \choose 0} (a^{\frac{1}{2}})^3 (b^{\frac{1}{2}})^0 + {6 \choose 1} (a^{\frac{1}{2}})^{6-1} (b^{\frac{1}{2}})^1$

Simplifying that we get $a^3 + 6a^{\frac{5}{2}}b^{\frac{1}{2}}$

Have a go at the rest of it and post if you don't understand

Thread: Using Pascal's Triangle to Solve a sqrt Binomial

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Using Pascal's Triangle to Solve a sqrt Binomial

Similar Math Help Forum Discussions

[SOLVED] binomial coefficients/Pascal triangle shortcut with a negative?

Pascal's Triangle

Pascal's triangle - Binomial coefficients

Pascal's triangle

Sigma notation & Pascal's Triangle/Binomial Theorem.

Search Tags