Theorem2.30Binomial Theorem
Let \(x\) and \(y\) be real numbers with \(x\), \(y\) and \(x+y\) non-zero. Then for every non-negative integer \(n\), \begin{equation*} (x+y)^n=\sum_{i=0}^{n}\binom{n}{i}x^{n-i}y^{i}. \end{equation*}
Here is a truly basic result from combinatorics kindergarten.
Let \(x\) and \(y\) be real numbers with \(x\), \(y\) and \(x+y\) non-zero. Then for every non-negative integer \(n\), \begin{equation*} (x+y)^n=\sum_{i=0}^{n}\binom{n}{i}x^{n-i}y^{i}. \end{equation*}
There are times when we are interested not in the full expansion of a power of a binomial, but just the coefficient on one of the terms. The Binomial Theorem gives that the coefficient of \(x^5y^8\) in \((2x-3y)^{13}\) is \(\binom{13}{5}2^{5}(-3)^8\).