1958 AHSME Problems/Problem 49

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Problem

In the expansion of $(a \plus{} b)^n$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) there are $n \plus{} 1$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) dissimilar terms. The number of dissimilar terms in the expansion of $(a \plus{} b \plus{} c)^{10}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 11\qquad  \textbf{(B)}\ 33\qquad  \textbf{(C)}\ 55\qquad  \textbf{(D)}\ 66\qquad  \textbf{(E)}\ 132$

Solution

Expand the binomial $((a+b)+c)^n$ with the binomial theorem. We have:

\[\sum\limits_{k=0}^{10} \binom{10}{k} (a+b)^k c^{10-k}\]

So for each iteration of the summation operator, we add k+1 dissimilar terms. Therefore our answer is:

\[\sum\limits_{k=0}^{10} k+1 = \frac{11(1+11)}{2} = 66 \to \boxed{\textbf{D}}\]


See also

1958 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 48
Followed by
Problem 50
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