Pascal Triangle and Binomial Theorem Fundamentals

The first page introduces fundamental concepts of Pascal's Triangle and its connection to binomial expansions. This page covers essential formulas and practical examples for expanding binomial expressions.

Definition: The binomial theorem states that for a positive integer n, (x + y)ⁿ can be expanded using combinations of x and y terms with specific coefficients.

Example: The expansion of (x + 1)² = 1x² + 2x¹ + 1, showing how coefficients follow Pascal's Triangle pattern.

Highlight: The formula for combinations is nCr = n!/(r!(n-r)!), which corresponds to numbers in Pascal's Triangle.

Example: For (2a + 3b)⁴, the expansion includes terms like 16a⁴ + 24a³b + 36a²b² + 54ab³ + 81b⁴, demonstrating coefficient calculation using the binomial theorem.

Vocabulary:

• nCr: The number of ways to choose r items from n items
• Binomial: An algebraic expression consisting of two terms
• Pascal's Triangle: A triangular array of binomial coefficients

The page includes detailed pascal triangle and binomial theorem notes showing how to:

1. Construct Pascal's Triangle rows
2. Use combinations formula for coefficient calculation
3. Apply the theorem to expand binomial expressions
4. Solve practical problems involving binomial expansions