Difference between revisions of "1965 AHSME Problems/Problem 14"

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Notice that the given equation, <math>(x^2 - 2xy + y^2)^7</math> can be factored into <math>(x-y)^{14} = \sum_{k=0}^{14} \binom{14}{k}(-1)^k\cdot x^{14-k}\cdot y^k</math>.  
 
Notice that the given equation, <math>(x^2 - 2xy + y^2)^7</math> can be factored into <math>(x-y)^{14} = \sum_{k=0}^{14} \binom{14}{k}(-1)^k\cdot x^{14-k}\cdot y^k</math>.  
  
Notice that if we plug in <math>x = y = 1</math>, then we are simply left with the sum of the coefficients from each term. Therefore, the sum of the coefficients is <math>(1-1)^2 = 0, \boxed{\textbf{(A)}}</math>.
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Notice that if we plug in <math>x = y = 1</math>, then we are simply left with the sum of the coefficients from each term. Therefore, the sum of the coefficients is <math>(1-1)^7 = 0, \boxed{\textbf{(A)}}</math>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AHSME 40p box|year=1965|num-b=13|num-a=15}}
 
{{AHSME 40p box|year=1965|num-b=13|num-a=15}}
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{{MAA Notice}}
  
 
[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]
 
[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]

Latest revision as of 17:01, 18 July 2024

Problem 14

The sum of the numerical coefficients in the complete expansion of $(x^2 - 2xy + y^2)^7$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad  \textbf{(B) }\ 7 \qquad  \textbf{(C) }\ 14 \qquad  \textbf{(D) }\ 128 \qquad  \textbf{(E) }\ 128^2$

Solution

Notice that the given equation, $(x^2 - 2xy + y^2)^7$ can be factored into $(x-y)^{14} = \sum_{k=0}^{14} \binom{14}{k}(-1)^k\cdot x^{14-k}\cdot y^k$.

Notice that if we plug in $x = y = 1$, then we are simply left with the sum of the coefficients from each term. Therefore, the sum of the coefficients is $(1-1)^7 = 0, \boxed{\textbf{(A)}}$.

See Also

1965 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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