The only way to get a x in that multiplication is: 1. When the 1's in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd parentheses are multiplied by the x in the 4th parentheses, giving term 1*1*1*x = x. 2. When the 1's in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th parentheses are multiplied by the x in the 3rd parentheses, giving term 1*1*x*1 = x. 3. When the 1's in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th parentheses are multiplied by the x in the 2nd parentheses, giving term 1*x*1*1 = x. 4. When the 1's in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parentheses are multiplied by the x in the 1st parentheses, giving term x*1*1*1 = x. So the only term in x is x+x+x+x = 4x, which has coefficient 4. Incidentally, the whole thing multiplied out is: x16+4x15+10x14+20x13+35x12+52x11+68x10+80x9+85x8+80x7+68x6+52x5+35x4+20x3+10x2+4x+1 Edwin