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A Level · Cambridge (CIE) · 9709

Binomial coefficients

Select the required term without expanding every part of a power.

Pure Mathematics 1 · Binomial coefficients revision · 1.6

Pure Mathematics 1 (Paper 1) · Mathematics 9709, 2026–2027. This short revision lesson covers coefficients in positive-integer binomial expansions; it does not replace the full section 1.6 pathway. Written solutions use self-check criteria, not an official mark scheme. Specialist accuracy review has not been completed.

Before you begin

  • Apply powers to a whole product, including a negative coefficient.
  • Calculate combinations and distinguish a term from its numerical coefficient.

Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.

Quick readiness check

What is (−3x)², and why?

What you will learn

  • Use combinations to identify a term.
  • Distinguish a coefficient from the full term.

Why combinations appear

In (a+b)ⁿ, each factor contributes either a or b. A term with r copies of b arises by choosing those r factors from n, giving the multiplier C(n,r). The remaining n−r factors contribute a.

For a positive integer n, the expansion has n+1 terms. To find the coefficient of a particular power of x, identify r and include every numerical factor attached to x.

Keep the whole term together

In (a+bx)ⁿ the term containing xʳ is C(n,r)aⁿ⁻ʳbʳxʳ. The coefficient omits xʳ but includes bʳ. A negative b changes the sign of odd-powered terms.

C(n,r) = n!/[r!(n−r)!]

Sources for this lesson

Pause and explain

Which expression gives the coefficient of x³ in (2 − 3x)^5?

Put the idea to work

Worked example

Find the coefficient of x² in (3+2x)⁴.

Show the worked solution
  1. Choose r=2, so C(4,2)=6.
  2. The remaining constant factor is 3²=9.
  3. Include 2² from (2x)²: 6×9×4=216.

Answer 216

From guided practice to a new situation

Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.

1 · Guided

Find the coefficient of x² in (1 − 4x)^5, then write the complete x² term.

Give me a hint

Select two variable factors. Keep the numerical coefficient separate from the power of x.

Compare my reasoning
  1. The required term uses r = 2: C(5,2) × 1³ × (−4x)².
  2. C(5,2) = 10 and (−4)² = 16, so the numerical product is 160.
  3. The coefficient is 160. Restoring the variable factor gives the complete term 160x².

Coefficient: 160; complete term: 160x².

Look for these in your work

  • Choose r = 2 from the requested exponent.
  • Include the squared numerical factor and its positive sign.
  • Distinguish the number 160 from the term 160x².
2 · Independent

Find the coefficient of x³ in (3 − 2x)^4. Explain its sign and check it by multiplying (3 − 2x)² by itself.

Give me a hint

For the direct calculation, choose three variable factors and one constant factor. In the check, look for powers adding to 3.

Compare my reasoning
  1. The direct coefficient is C(4,3) × 3 × (−2)³ = 4 × 3 × (−8) = −96.
  2. Squaring once gives (3 − 2x)² = 9 − 12x + 4x².
  3. In the product of these two quadratics, the x³ contributions are (−12x)(4x²) and (4x²)(−12x). Their coefficients total −48 − 48 = −96.

−96; three negative variable factors give a negative coefficient.

Look for these in your work

  • Include the remaining constant factor 3.
  • Cube the entire coefficient −2.
  • Check both contributions to x³ in the product.
3 · Transfer

In (2 + 3x²)^4, find the coefficients of x⁴ and x³. Explain why the fourth term of the expansion is not the x⁴ term.

Give me a hint

The variable power in the r term is 2r. Count term positions from r = 0.

Compare my reasoning
  1. For x⁴, solve 2r = 4 to get r = 2. The coefficient is C(4,2) × 2² × 3² = 216.
  2. All variable powers are even: 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8. There is no x³ term, so its coefficient is 0.
  3. The x⁴ term has r = 2 and is third when ordered by increasing powers. The fourth term has r = 3 and contains x⁶.

x⁴ coefficient: 216; x³ coefficient: 0. The fourth term contains x⁶.

Look for these in your work

  • Match 2r to the requested exponent before selecting a combination.
  • Explain an absent power rather than treating it as a missing calculation.
  • Distinguish exponent, selection index r and term position r + 1.

Common mistakes

  • Do not forget to raise the coefficient of x to the selected power.
  • The coefficient is a number, not a number followed by x².
Recall without your notes

What can you explain now?

Find the coefficient of x in (2−x)³.

Compare with the explanation

−12

The linear term is C(3,1)×2²×(−x)=−12x.

After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.

Your review choice appears on Today. Sign in to sync it across devices.

Make it stick

Without notes, explain the roles of C(n,r), a^(n−r) and b^r in the coefficient of x^r in (a + bx)^n. Then explain what changes when the variable factor is bx², and when a negative b gives a negative term.

If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.

Keep learning Mathematics

Course scope and assessment

312 sequenced lessons provide 936 guided, independent and application problems covering the 160 objectives in sections 1.1–1.8, 2.1–2.6, 3.1–3.9, 4.1–4.5, 5.1–5.5 and 6.1–6.5. The map lists all 38 sections across six alternative components; all eight Pure Mathematics 1 sections and all six Pure Mathematics 2 sections, from Paper 2 Algebra through Numerical solution of equations, currently have full teaching sequences. Paper 3 Algebra, section 3.1, links the six shared foundation lessons plus six lessons on partial fractions and rational binomial expansions; Paper 3 logarithms, trigonometry and numerical equations use the shared lessons, with the Paper 1 graph foundation linked into trigonometry. Paper 3 differentiation combines the shared methods with its inverse-tangent derivative lesson. Paper 3 Integration links four shared standard and identity lessons plus seven advanced lessons, covering all six section 3.5 requirements. Eight Vectors lessons cover all six section 3.7 requirements, with 2D and 3D line and solid applications. Nine Differential equations lessons cover all four section 3.8 requirements, including Paper 3 integration techniques, initial conditions, equilibrium solutions and conditional model interpretations. Eleven Complex numbers lessons cover all eight section 3.9 requirements, with seven Argand diagrams and explicit argument and boundary checks. All nine Pure Mathematics 3 sections now have teaching linked to every mapped requirement. Nine Forces and equilibrium lessons cover all seven section 4.1 requirements, with six force diagrams, signed incline-friction intervals, reaction-dependent pull and push limits and separate-body third-law checks. Nine Kinematics lessons cover the four official section 4.2 requirements, with the graph requirement mapped to three relationships. Six motion diagrams support directed quantities, graph slopes and signed areas, Paper 1 time-calculus methods, reversal distances, constant-acceleration stages and shared-clock particle meetings. Six Momentum lessons cover both section 4.3 requirements, including signed system totals, conservation assumptions, outgoing velocities, coalescence, unknown masses and successive impacts. Four diagrams show system momentum through the stipulated events, and supplied kinetic-energy checks distinguish conservation of momentum from changes in kinetic energy. Twelve Newton’s laws lessons cover all four section 4.4 requirements, with vertical support and release stages, rough horizontal and incline motion, inferred parameters, hanging and surface pulley systems, rigid tow-bar thrust and slack-string transitions. Seven force diagrams support the separate-particle balances. Nine Energy, work and power lessons cover all five section 4.5 requirements, with angle-dependent work, kinetic and reference potential energy, signed net-work balances, smooth curved slides, rough and driven slopes, ideal connected-system energy and instantaneous power on hills. Five diagrams distinguish the energy inputs, losses and valid positive-speed force model. All five Mechanics sections now have teaching and staged practice linked to their mapped requirements. Thirteen Representation of data lessons cover all five section 5.1 requirements, including choice and limitations of displays, ordered and back-to-back stems, raw summaries and box plots, unequal-width density histograms, cumulative-frequency interpolation, descriptive moment calculations, grouped estimates, coding, combining two datasets and correcting totals. Six accessible diagrams retain repeated observations and distinguish numerical spread, frequency area and estimated readings. Ten Permutations and combinations lessons cover both official section 5.2 requirements, with selection and ordered roles, repeated objects, adjacency blocks, non-adjacency gaps, leading-zero cases, labelled multi-row seating and mixed restrictions. Six accessible diagrams show outcome trees, ordered versus unordered choices, repeated copies, blocks, gaps and distinct row seats. Eleven Probability lessons cover all four section 5.3 requirements, with equiprobable elementary outcomes, selection-based probabilities, complements and disjoint regions, independence tests, restricted sample spaces, two-way tables, replacement and removal trees, reversed conditions and unknown parameters. Seven accessible diagrams show dice outcomes, random subsets, event regions, a conditioned grid, a count table and two probability trees. Twelve Discrete random variables lessons cover all three official section 5.4 requirements, with complete probability tables, moment and parameter checks, binomial assumptions, exact probabilities and moments, geometric first-success probabilities, tails, expectation and integer reliability thresholds. Six accessible diagrams distinguish outcome grouping, weighted moments, fixed trials, discrete probability bars, waiting conventions and integer tail deadlines. Twelve Normal distribution lessons cover all three official section 5.5 requirements, with continuous-area interpretation, MF19 cumulative tables, full standardisation, tail and interval regions, conditional probabilities, percentiles, one- and two-parameter inference, binomial suitability, continuity corrections and approximate integer thresholds. Seven accessible diagrams show model areas, table reading, aligned scales, intervals, quantiles, matched binomial and normal shapes and whole integer cells. All five Statistics 1 sections now have teaching and staged practice linked to their mapped requirements. Fourteen Poisson distribution lessons cover all five official section 6.1 requirements, with homogeneous event-count assumptions, exposure scaling, exact masses and tails, conditional count events, moments, parameter inference, probability duration targets, disjoint and overlapping windows, rare-count binomial approximations, matched normal approximations and continuity corrections. Nine accessible diagrams show event exposures, unit conversions, discrete bars, complete tail complements, population moments, shared windows, approximate count models and integer cells. Exact checks distinguish approximate and exact close-target decisions. Fourteen Linear combinations lessons cover the six listed results in official section 6.2, with affine moments, signed scales and constant cases, expectation without independence, independent squared variance contributions, fixed and random fees, independent copies versus reused values, affine normal events, independent normal sums and differences, weighted and conditional areas, coefficient inference, exact independent Poisson sums and overlapping exposure limits. Nine accessible diagrams distinguish scale changes, variance contributions, component costs, copy mechanisms, aligned normal scales, summed areas, Poisson count pairs and unsupported distribution claims. Fourteen Continuous random variables lessons cover both official section 6.3 requirements, with density validity and units, support-aware intervals, complements and conditional regions, first and second moments, percentiles by direct density areas, symmetry checks, parameter inference, infinite-support power and exponential integrals, divergent-moment limits and combined applications. Nine accessible diagrams distinguish density height from probability, normalisation, negative-density failures, central and conditional areas, mean versus median, percentile locations and partial infinite tails. Explicit cumulative distribution function knowledge is not required. Eighteen Sampling and estimation lessons cover all eight official section 6.4 requirements, with population and frame definitions, random-number selection, sampling-quality limits, independent sample-mean moments, normal means, CLT conditions, SE scaling, raw, summarised and coded unbiased estimates, known-variance and large-sample mean intervals, repeated-sampling interpretation, precision planning, proportion intervals, sparse-outcome limits and contextual applications. Ten accessible diagrams distinguish selection frames, number rejection, repeated sample means, population versus mean density, CLT models, variance divisors, interval targets, illustrative coverage, integer size checks and proportion margins. Eighteen Hypothesis tests lessons cover all five official section 6.5 requirements, with pre-specified alternatives, inclusive count tails, explicit equal-tail conventions, integer critical regions and actual significance, exposure-aware Poisson tests, continuity-corrected count approximations, normal and large-sample mean tests, confidence-interval connections, error classifications, fixed-region binomial, Poisson and normal error probabilities and sample-size power comparisons. Nine accessible diagrams show the testing procedure, exact count regions, unequal Poisson tails, discrete significance jumps, corrected count boundaries, matching mean intervals and alternative error distributions. All shared lessons are counted once in the course total. All 38 sections now link teaching and practice. Eight earlier overview lessons remain available, but do not count as full section coverage. This is a content-availability measure, not full programme completion or exam readiness. Written practice is self-checked, not officially marked. Check the 2028–2030 syllabus separately if sitting an examination from 2028; this teaching map uses 2026–2027 requirements.

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