Finite Math Examples

${(a - 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 1

Pascal's Triangle can be displayed as such:

$1$

$1 - 1$

$1 - 2 - 1$

$\dots$

$1 - 5 - 10 - 10 - 5 - 1$

$1 - 6 - 15 - 20 - 15 - 6 - 1$

$1 - 7 - 21 - 35 - 35 - 21 - 7 - 1$

The triangle can be used to calculate the coefficients of the expansion of ${(a + b)}^{n}$ by taking the exponent $n$ and adding $1$ . The coefficients will correspond with line $n + 1$ of the triangle. For ${(a - 2 b)}^{7}$ , $n = 7$ so the coefficients of the expansion will correspond with line $8$ .

Step 2

The expansion follows the rule ${(a + b)}^{n} = c_{0} a^{n} b^{0} + c_{1} a^{n - 1} b^{1} + c_{n - 1} a^{1} b^{n - 1} + c_{n} a^{0} b^{n}$ . The values of the coefficients, from the triangle, are $1 - 7 - 21 - 35 - 35 - 21 - 7 - 1$ .

$1 a^{7} b^{0} + 7 a^{6} b + 21 a^{5} b^{2} + 35 a^{4} b^{3} + 35 a^{3} b^{4} + 21 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 a b^{6} + 1 a^{0} b^{7}$

Step 3

Substitute the actual values of $a$ $a$ and $b$ $- 2 b$ into the expression.

$1 {(a)}^{7} {(- 2 b)}^{0} + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4

Simplify each term.

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Step 4.1

Multiply ${(a)}^{7}$ by $1$ .

${(a)}^{7} {(- 2 b)}^{0} + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.2

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} ({(- 2)}^{0} b^{0}) + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.3

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

${(- 2)}^{0} a^{7} b^{0} + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.4

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$1 a^{7} b^{0} + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.5

Multiply $a^{7}$ by $1$ .

$a^{7} b^{0} + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.6

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$a^{7} \cdot 1 + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.7

Multiply $a^{7}$ by $1$ .

$a^{7} + 7 {(a)}^{6} {(- 2 b)}^{1} + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.8

Simplify.

$a^{7} + 7 a^{6} (- 2 b) + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.9

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$a^{7} + 7 \cdot - 2 a^{6} b + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.10

Multiply $7$ by $- 2$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 21 {(a)}^{5} {(- 2 b)}^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.11

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 21 a^{5} ({(- 2)}^{2} b^{2}) + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.12

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 21 \cdot {(- 2)}^{2} a^{5} b^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.13

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $2$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 21 \cdot 4 a^{5} b^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.14

Multiply $21$ by $4$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} + 35 {(a)}^{4} {(- 2 b)}^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.15

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} + 35 a^{4} ({(- 2)}^{3} b^{3}) + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.16

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} + 35 \cdot {(- 2)}^{3} a^{4} b^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.17

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $3$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} + 35 \cdot - 8 a^{4} b^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.18

Multiply $35$ by $- 8$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 35 {(a)}^{3} {(- 2 b)}^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.19

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 35 a^{3} ({(- 2)}^{4} b^{4}) + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.20

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 35 \cdot {(- 2)}^{4} a^{3} b^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.21

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $4$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 35 \cdot 16 a^{3} b^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.22

Multiply $35$ by $16$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} + 21 {(a)}^{2} {(- 2 b)}^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.23

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} + 21 a^{2} ({(- 2)}^{5} b^{5}) + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.24

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} + 21 \cdot {(- 2)}^{5} a^{2} b^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.25

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $5$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} + 21 \cdot - 32 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.26

Multiply $21$ by $- 32$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 {(a)}^{1} {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.27

Simplify.

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 a {(- 2 b)}^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.28

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 a ({(- 2)}^{6} b^{6}) + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.29

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 \cdot {(- 2)}^{6} a b^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.30

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $6$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 7 \cdot 64 a b^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.31

Multiply $7$ by $64$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 448 a b^{6} + 1 {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.32

Multiply ${(a)}^{0}$ by $1$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 448 a b^{6} + {(a)}^{0} {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.33

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 448 a b^{6} + 1 {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.34

Multiply ${(- 2 b)}^{7}$ by $1$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 448 a b^{6} + {(- 2 b)}^{7}$

Step 4.35

Apply the product rule to $- 2 b$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 448 a b^{6} + {(- 2)}^{7} b^{7}$

Step 4.36

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $7$ .

$a^{7} - 14 a^{6} b + 84 a^{5} b^{2} - 280 a^{4} b^{3} + 560 a^{3} b^{4} - 672 a^{2} b^{5} + 448 a b^{6} - 128 b^{7}$