Chapter 10: Problem 48
Find the indicated term in the expansion of the given expression. Third term of \((x-5)^{5}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The third term of the expansion is \(250x^3\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Formula
To find a specific term in an expansion, we use the Binomial Theorem, which states: \((a + b)^n = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k} a^{n-k} b^k\). Here, \(a = x\), \(b = -5\), and \(n = 5\).
02
Determine the Term Number
Since we are interested in the third term, we use the expression \(k+1 = 3\) to find \(k\). Solving for \(k\), we have \(k = 2\).
03
Apply the Binomial Coefficient
Use \(k = 2\) in the Binomial Theorem to find the third term: \(\binom{5}{2} x^{5-2} (-5)^2\).
04
Calculate the Binomial Coefficient
Calculate \(\binom{5}{2}\), which equals \(\frac{5 \times 4}{2 \times 1} = 10\).
05
Compute the Exponent Values
Calculate \(x^{5-2} = x^3\) and \((-5)^2 = 25\).
06
Put It All Together
Multiply all parts of the third term: \(10 \times x^3 \times 25 = 250x^3\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Binomial Coefficient
The binomial coefficient is a fundamental part of the Binomial Theorem. It is represented as \( \binom{n}{k} \), which is called "n choose k" and is used to determine the coefficient of a specific term in a binomial expansion. The formula for the binomial coefficient is \( \binom{n}{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!} \), where \( n! \) (n factorial) is the product of all positive integers from 1 to \( n \). This concept is crucial for finding specific terms in the expansion of expressions like \((x - 5)^5\).
- It determines how many ways you can choose \( k \) elements from a total of \( n \) elements.
- The binomial coefficient helps in calculating the value that multiplies the variables in each term of the polynomial expansion.
- For example, in the binomial expansion of \((x-5)^5\), if you need the third term, you calculate the coefficient using \( \binom{5}{2} \).
Polynomial Expansion
Polynomial expansion refers to the process of expanding expressions that are raised to a power, such as \((x - 5)^5\). Using the Binomial Theorem, we expand such polynomials into a sum of terms, making it easier to solve or simplify the expression. For the expansion of a binomial \((a + b)^n\), every term in the expansion has a distinct coefficient, power of \( a \), and power of \( b \).
- The coefficients are determined using binomial coefficients.
- Each term in the expanded form can be expressed as \( \binom{n}{k} a^{n-k} b^k \).
- In \((x - 5)^5\), if we build the expression term by term, we start from \( (x)^5 \) down to \( (-5)^5 \).
Exponentiation
Exponentiation is the mathematical operation involving a base and an exponent or power. In the context of binomial expansions, exponentiation is used to express powers of different elements, such as \( x \) and constants like \( -5 \). The expanded polynomial terms like \( x^{5-2} \) and \((-5)^2\) are examples of exponentiation.
- The base is the number or variable that is repeatedly multiplied.
- The exponent indicates how many times the base is multiplied by itself.
- For instance, in \( x^3 \), \( x \) is multiplied three times: \( x \times x \times x \).
- Similarly, \((-5)^2\) means \(-5 \times -5\), resulting in 25.