1 problem found
Use the binomial expansion to show that the coefficient of \(x^r\) in the expansion of \((1-x)^{-3}\) is \(\frac12 (r+1)(r+2)\,\).
Solution: Notice that the coefficient of \(x^r\) is \((-1)^r\frac{(-3) \cdot (-3-1) \cdots (-3-r+1)}{r!} = (-1)^r \frac{(-1)(-2)(-3)(-4) \cdots (-(r+2))}{(-1)(-2)r!} = (-1)^r(-1)^{r+2}\frac{(r+2)!}{2r!} = \frac{(r+2)(r+1)}2\).