College Algebra 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305115546
ISBN 13: 978-1-30511-554-5

Chapter 8, Sequences and Series - Section 8.6 - The Binomial Theorem - 8.6 Exercises - Page 637: 59

Answer

$(1-1)^n=0$

Work Step by Step

First we look for a pattern using Pascal's triangle. For $n=1$ we have: $$1-1=0$$ For $n=2$ we have: $$1-2+1=0$$ For $n=3$ we have: $$1-3+3-1=0$$ For $n=4$ we have: $$1-4+6-4+1=0$$ For $n=5$ we have: $$1-5+10-10+5-1=0$$ We notice that the sum of alternating binomial coefficients is zero. We prove it by using the Binomial Theorem: $$\begin{align*} (1-1)^n&=0=\binom{n}{0}(1^n)+\binom{n}{1}1^{n-1}(-1)+\dots+\binom{n}{n}(-1)^n\\ &=\binom{n}{0}-\binom{n}{1}+\binom{n}{2}\dots+(-1)^n\binom{n}{n}. \end{align*}$$
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