SOLUTION: Determine the coefficent of the term containing a^5 in the expansion of
(a - 1/a)^5
I got 1 for the coefficent of a^5. However, I can not read my teachers writing and I th
Question 72460: Determine the coefficent of the term containing a^5 in the expansion of
(a - 1/a)^5
I got 1 for the coefficent of a^5. However, I can not read my teachers writing and I think that the the question could be, "Determine the coefficent of the term containing a in the expansion of (a - 1/a)^5". If this is the case I am not sure of the coefficent since there are two a's and when you expand using binomial expansion, there are two possible terms that have a values (either multipy the a's together to get a or there is just an a in one of the terms).
Thank you,
Kristen
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website! Determine the coefficent of the term containing a^5 in the expansion of
(a - 1/a)^5
= (a - a^-1)^5
1st term of the expansion is 5C5a^5(a^-1)^0 = a^5
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Cheers,
Stan H.