(New page: When expanding (x+y)^n + (x-y)^n think of the second part instead as (x+(-y))^n. Once you expand the two equations with the binomial theorem you will have two expanded formulas where the o...) |
m (4.2b Steven Millies moved to 4.1b Steven Millies: Improperly named originally) |
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Latest revision as of 06:42, 15 October 2008
When expanding (x+y)^n + (x-y)^n think of the second part instead as (x+(-y))^n. Once you expand the two equations with the binomial theorem you will have two expanded formulas where the only difference is one has y^k and the other has -y^k. This means that when k is odd the two will cancel out, and when k is even the two add together basically giving you the expansion of 2*(x+y)^n (for only even values of k).