How do you expand (a+2b)^4?

1 Answer
Jul 16, 2017

a^4+8a^3b+24a^2b^2+32ab^3+16b^4

Explanation:

"we can expand using the appropriate row of coefficients"
"from "color(blue)"Pascal's triangle"

"for " n=4" the coefficients are"

color(white)(xxxxxx)1color(white)(x)4color(white)(x)6color(white)(x)4color(white)(x)1

"with decreasing powers of "a" from "a^4toa^0

"and increasing powers of "2b" from "(2b)^0to(2b)^4

rArr(a+2b)^4

=1.a^4(2b)^0+4.a^3(2b)^1+6.a^2(2b)^2+4.a(2b)^3
color(white)(=)+1.(2b)^4

=a^4+8a^3b+24a^2b^2+32ab^3+16b^4