Difference between revisions of "1986 AIME Problems/Problem 11"
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& = 1 + (1 - y) + (1 - y)^2 + (1 - y)^3 \cdots + (1 - y)^{17}\end{align*}.</cmath> | & = 1 + (1 - y) + (1 - y)^2 + (1 - y)^3 \cdots + (1 - y)^{17}\end{align*}.</cmath> | ||
− | We want the coefficient of the <math>y^2</math> term of each power of each binomial, which by the binomial theorem is <math>{2\choose 2} + {3\choose 2} + \cdots + {17\choose 2}</math>. The [[Hockey Stick | + | We want the coefficient of the <math>y^2</math> term of each power of each binomial, which by the binomial theorem is <math>{2\choose 2} + {3\choose 2} + \cdots + {17\choose 2}</math>. The [[Hockey Stick Identity]] gives us that this quantity is equal to <math>{18\choose 3} = 816</math>. |
== See also == | == See also == |
Revision as of 09:15, 10 March 2009
Problem
The polynomial may be written in the form , where and the 's are constants. Find the value of .
Solution
Solution 1
Using the geometric series formula, . Since , this becomes . We want , which is the coefficient of the term in (because the in the denominator reduces the degrees in the numerator by ). By the binomial theorem that is .
Solution 2
Again, notice . So
We want the coefficient of the term of each power of each binomial, which by the binomial theorem is . The Hockey Stick Identity gives us that this quantity is equal to .
See also
1986 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 10 |
Followed by Problem 12 | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
All AIME Problems and Solutions |