document.write( "Question 927431: Which term in the expansion of (1/(2x^3) - x^5))^8 is a constant?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I know you expand it into the equation
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\n" ); document.write( "= (nCk) a^(n-k) b^k\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "to get = 8Ck (1/(2x^3))^(8-k) (-x^5)^k\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "but I am not sure what to do after that.\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #562955 by Edwin McCravy(20055) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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document.write( "I don't think the \"bee\" above has \"buzzed\" it as clearly\r\n" );
document.write( "as he could have.J\r\n" );
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document.write( "Although he did say essentially this, which is the whole crux of the\r\n" );
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document.write( "For a variable to become a constant, \r\n" );
document.write( "it must be raised to the 0 power.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Write  with a negative exponent, \r\n" );
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document.write( "Multiply exponents and write  as  \r\n" );
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document.write( "Multiply exponents again and write  as \r\n" );
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document.write( "Write  as  and then as \r\n" );
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document.write( "Next add the exponents of x:  and get \r\n" );
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document.write( "Now remember what I said in the beginning.\r\n" );
document.write( "To becom a constant the variable x must be raised to the 0 power:\r\n" );
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document.write( "So we set the exponent of x equal to 0\r\n" );
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document.write( "So we substitute 3 for x:\r\n" );
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document.write( "For your information so as to see what the entire expansion\r\n" );
document.write( "looks like when simplified:\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the constant term is really the 4th term, when k=3.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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