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2011 Paper 1 Q6
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

Use the binomial expansion to show that the coefficient of \(x^r\) in the expansion of \((1-x)^{-3}\) is \(\frac12 (r+1)(r+2)\,\).

  1. Show that the coefficient of \(x^r\) in the expansion of \[ \frac{1-x+2x^2}{(1-x)^3} \] is \(r^2+1\) and hence find the sum of the series \[ 1+\frac22+\frac54+\frac{10}8+\frac{17}{16}+\frac{26}{32}+\frac{37}{64} +\frac{50}{128}+ \cdots \,. \]
  2. Find the sum of the series \[ 1+2+\frac94+2+\frac{25}{16}+\frac{9}{8}+\frac{49}{64} + \cdots \,. \]


Solution: Notice that the coefficient of \(x^r\) is \((-1)^r\frac{(-3) \cdot (-3-1) \cdots (-3-r+1)}{r!} = (-1)^r \frac{(-1)(-2)(-3)(-4) \cdots (-(r+2))}{(-1)(-2)r!} = (-1)^r(-1)^{r+2}\frac{(r+2)!}{2r!} = \frac{(r+2)(r+1)}2\).

  1. The coefficient of \(x^r\) is \begin{align*} && c_r &=\frac{(r+1)(r+2)}{2} - \frac{(r-1+1)(r-1+2)}{2} + 2 \frac{((r-2+1)(r-2+2)}{2} \\ &&&= \frac{r^2+3r+2}{r} - \frac{r^2+r}{2} + \frac{2r^2-2r}{2}\\ &&&= \frac{2r^2+2}{2} = r^2+1 \end{align*} \begin{align*} && S & = 1+\frac22+\frac54+\frac{10}8+\frac{17}{16}+\frac{26}{32}+\frac{37}{64} +\frac{50}{128}+ \cdots \\ &&&= \sum_{r=0}^{\infty} \frac{r^2+1}{2^r} \\ &&&= \frac{1-\tfrac12+2 \cdot \tfrac14}{(1-\tfrac12)^3} \\ &&&= 8 \end{align*}
  2. \(\,\) \begin{align*} && S &= 1+2+\frac94+2+\frac{25}{16}+\frac{9}{8}+\frac{49}{64} + \cdots \\ &&&= \sum_{r=0}^{\infty} \frac{(r+1)^2}{2^r} \\ &&&= 2 \sum_{r=0}^{\infty} \frac{(r+1)^2}{2^{r+1}} \\ &&&= 2 \sum_{r=1}^{\infty} \frac{r^2}{2^{r}} \\ &&&= 2 \left (\sum_{r=0}^{\infty} \frac{r^2+1}{2^{r}} - \sum_{r=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2^{r}} \right) \\ &&&= 2 (8 - 1) = 14 \end{align*}