Mathematical Induction and Binomial Theorem

Question1
Let a 0, a 1 , … , a 23 be real numbers such that
23
23
2 i
(1 + x) = ∑ ai x
5
i=0

for every real number x. Let a be the largest among the numbers a for
r j

0 ≤ j ≤ 23. Then the value of r is ____________.

JEE Advanced 2025 Paper 2 Online

Options:

Answer: 6

Solution:

For x = 1
23
2
(1 + ) = a 0 + a 1 + a 2 + … + a 23
5

for numerically greatest term

n + 1 23 + 1 48
= =
5
a
1 + 7
1 + 2
b

48
⇒ [ ] = 6 = m (where [.] greatest integer function)
7

so, T is numerical greatest term

7

Hence r = 6

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Question2
Let a and b be two nonzero real numbers. If the coefficient of x in the 5

4
expansion of (ax + ) is equal to the coefficient of x
2
27bx
70
in the −5

7
expansion of (ax − bx
1
2
) , then the value of 2b is :

JEE Advanced 2023 Paper 1 Online

Options:

Answer: 3

Solution:
r

4 2
4−r 70
T r+1 = C r (a ⋅ x ) ⋅ ( )
27bx

r
4 4−r
70 8−3r
= Cr ⋅ a ⋅ ⋅ x
r
(27b)

here 8 − 3r = 5

8 − 5 = 3r ⇒ r = 1

70
∴ coeff. = 4 ⋅ a
3
⋅
27b

r
−1
7 7−r
T r+1 = C r (ax) ( )
2
bx

r
−1
7 7−r 7−3r
= Cr ⋅ a ( ) ⋅ x
b

7 − 3r = −5 ⇒ 12 = 3r ⇒ r = 4
 3 3
35a 280a
now 4
=
b 27 b

3 35 × 27 3
b = = b = ⇒ 2 b = 3
280 2

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Question3
Let X = (
10
C1 )
2
+ 2(
10
C2 )
2
+ 3(
10 2
C 3 ) +. . . +10(
10
C 10 )
2
,

where 10
, r ∈{1, 2, ..., 10} denote binomial coefficients. Then, the value
Cr

of 1430
1
X is ..........

JEE Advanced 2018 Paper 2 Offline

Options:

Answer: 646

Solution:

We have,

10 2 10 2 10 2 10 2
X = ( C1 ) + 2( C2 ) + 3( C 3 ) +. . . +10( C 10 )

10
10 2
⇒ X = ∑ r( Cr )
r=1

10
10 10
⇒ X = ∑ r × Cr × Cr
r=1
 10
10 10 9 n n n−1
⇒ X = ∑ r × Cr × × C r−1 [∵ Cr = C r−1 ]
r r
r=1

10
9 10
⇒ X = 10 ∑ C r−1 Cr
r=1

10

⇒ X = 10 ∑
9
C r−1
10
C 10−r [∵ n
Cr =
n
C n−r ]
r=1

19
⇒ X = 10 × C9

[∵ n−1
C r−1
n
C n−r =
2n−1
C n−1 ]

19 19 19

Now, 1430
1
X =
10×

1430
C9
=
143
C9
=
11×13
C9

19×17×16
= = 19 × 34 = 646
8

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Question4
Let m be the smallest positive integer such that the coefficient of x in 2

the expansion of (1 + x) + (1 + x) +. . . . . . . . +(1 + x) + (1 + mx)

2 3 49 50

is (3n + 1) C for some positive integer n. Then the value of n is

51
3

JEE Advanced 2016 Paper 1 Offline

Options:

Answer: 5

Solution:

It is given that the coefficient of x in (1 + x) + (1 + x) 2 2 3

+

⋯ + (1 + x) + (1 + mx)
49
is (3n + 1) C . 50 51
3
Now,

2 3 4 49 2 50 51
C2 + C2 + C2 + ⋯ + C2 + m C 2 = (3n + 1) C3

3 3 4 49 2 50 51
⇒ C3 + C2 + C2 + ⋯ + C2 + m C 2 = (3n + 1) C3

( as nCr + nCr − 1 = n +1
Cr)

4 4 49 250 51
⇒ C3 + C2 + ⋯ + C2 + m C 2 = (3n + 1) C3

49 49 250 51
⇒ C3 + C2 + m C 2 = (3n + 1) C3

50 2 50 51
⇒ C3 + m C 2 = (3n + 1) C3

50 50 2 50 51 50
⇒ C3 + C2 + m C 2 = (3n + 1) C3 + C2

51 2 50 51 51 50
⇒ C3 + m C 2 = 3n C3 + C3 + C2

−50 250 51
⇒ C2 + m C 2 = 3n C3

50 2
51 50 n
n n−1
⇒ C 2 (m − 1) = 3n ⋅ C2 ( Cr = C r−1 )
3 r

2
⇒ 2 (m − 1) = 51

Therefore, m 2
= 51n + 1 .
 2
m − 1
⇒ n =
51

+
⇒ m = 16 ⇒ n = 5 (m, n ∈ I )

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Question5
The coefficient of three consecutive terms of (1 + x) are in the ratio
n+5

5 : 10 : 14. Then n =

JEE Advanced 2013 Paper 1 Offline

Options:

Answer: 6

Solution:
n+5

We know (1 + x) n+5
= ∑
n+5
Cr ⋅ x
r

r=0

Given, the coefficients of three consecutive terms of (1 + x) n+5

are in the ratio 5 : 10 : 14.
n+5 n+5 n+5
⇒ Cr : C r+1 : C r+2 = 5 : 10 : 14
n+5 n+5
C r+1 10 C r+2 14
⇒
n+5
= and n+5
=
Cr 5 C r+1 10

⇒
n+5
C r+1 = 2.
n+5
Cr and 5. n+5
C r+2 = 7.
n+5
C r+1

n+5 n+5
–
–
r+1
⇒
n−r+4 r n−r+5
= 2 and
–
–
–
–

5 n+5 7 n+5
–
–
=
r+2 n−r+3 r+1 n−r+4
–
–
–
–

1 2 5 7
⇒ = and =
r + 1 n − r + 5 r + 2 n − r + 4

⇒ n − r + 5 = 2r + 2 and
5n − 5r + 20 = 7r + 14

12r − 6
⇒ n = 3r − 3 =
5

⇒ n = 3(r − 1) and 15r − 15 = 12r − 6

⇒ r = 3 and n = 6
⇒ n = 6

Hints :
 m

(i) Recall (1 + x) m
= ∑
m
Cr ⋅ x
r

r=1

(ii) The coefficients of three consecutive terms (1 + x) are m m

Cr ,
m
C r+1 ,
m
C r+2 .

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Question6
For non-negative integers s and r, let

s!
s if r ≤ s,
r!(s−r)!
( ) = {
r 0 if r > s

For positive integers m and n, let

m+n
f (m,n,p)
g(m, n) = ∑
n+p
p=0 ( )
p

where for any non-negative integer p,

p
m n + i p + n
f (m, n, p) = ∑ ( )( )( )
i=0 i p p − i

Then which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

JEE Advanced 2020 Paper 2 Offline

Options:

A.
g(m, n) = g(n, m) for all positive integers m, n

B.
g(m, n + 1) = g(m + 1, n) for all positive integers m, n

C.
g(2m, 2n) = 2g(m, n) for all positive integers m, n

D.

g(2m, 2n) = (g(m, n))2 for all positive integers m, n

Answer: A

Solution:

Since,
p
m n + i p + n
f (m, n, p) = ∑ ( )( )( )
i=0
i p p − i

p
m! (n+i)! (p+n)!
= ∑ × ×
i!(m−i)! p!(n+i−p)! (p−i)!(n+i)!
i=0

p
(n+p)!
m n
= ∑ Ci × C p−i
p!
i=0

n+p m+n
= Cp Cp

m+n

Since, g(m,
f (m,n,p)
n) = ∑
n+p
p=0 ( )
p

m+n
n+p m+n
Cp × Cp
= ∑ n+p
Cp
p=0

m+n
m+n m+n
= ∑ Cp = 2
p=0

∴ g(m, n) = g(n, m) = 2
m+n
,

and g(m, n + 1) = 2 m+n+1

= g(m + 1, n) and

g(2m, 2n) = 2
2(m+n)
= (2
(m+n)
)
2
= (g(m, n))
2
.

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Question7
4 7 12
Coefficient of x 11
in the expansion of (1 + x 2 3 4
) (1 + x ) (1 + x ) is

JEE Advanced 2014 Paper 2 Offline

Options:

A. 1051

B. 1106

C. 1113

D. 1120

Answer: C
Solution:

We know (1 + x) n
=
n
C0 +
n
C1 x +
n
C2 x
2
+
n
C3 x
3
+ ….+
n
Cn x
n
.
4 7 12
Given, (1 + x 2
) (1 + x ) (1 + x )
3 4

4 4 2 4 4 4 6 4 8
⇒ ( C0 + C1 x + C2 x + C3 x + C4 x )

7 7 3 7 6 7 9 7 12
× ( C0 + C1 x + C2 x + C3 x + C4 x + ⋯)

12 12 4 12 8 12 12
×( C0 + C1 x + C2 x + C3 x + ….)

⇒ The coefficient of
11 4 7 12 4 7 12
x = C0 ⋅ C1 ⋅ C2 + C1 ⋅ C3 ⋅ C0
4 7 12 4 7 12
+ C2 ⋅ C1 ⋅ C1 + C4 ⋅ C1 ⋅ C0

⇒ The coefficient of x 11
= 462 + 140 + 504 + 7

⇒ The coefficient of x 11
= 1113

Hint:(i) Recall
n n n n 2
(1 + x) = C0 + C1 x + C2 x

n 3 n 4 n n
+ C3 x + C4 x + …… + Cn x .

(ii) n
Cr =
r!(n−r)!
n!

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Question8
For r = 0, 1, . . . . , let A , B and C denote, respectively, the coefficient r r r

of X in the expansions of (1 + x) , (1 + x) and (1 + x) .

r 10 20 30

10

Then ∑ A r (B 10 B r − C 10 A r ) is equal to
r=1

IIT-JEE 2010 Paper 2 Offline

Options:

A. (B 10 − C 10 )

B. A 10 (B
2
10 C 10 A 10 )

C. 0

D. C 10 − B 10

Answer: D

Solution:
Ar = Coefficient of xr in (1 + x) 10
=
10
Cr

Br = Coefficient of xr in (1 + x) 20
=
20
Cr

Cr = Coefficient of xr in (1 + x) 30
=
30
Cr

10

∴ ∑ A r (B 10 B r − C 10 A r )
r=1

10 10

= ∑ A r B 10 B r − ∑ A r C 10 A r
r=1 r=1

10 10
10 20 20 10 30 10
= ∑ Cr C 10 Cr − ∑ Cr C 10 Cr
r=1 r=1

10 10
10 20 20 10 30 10
= ∑ C 10−r C 10 Cr − ∑ C 10−r C 10 Cr
r=1 r=1

10 10
20 10 20 30 10 10
= C 10 ∑ C 10−r . Cr − C 10 ∑ C 10−r . Cr
r=1 r=1

20 30 30 20
= C 10 ( C 10 − 1) − C 10 ( C 10 − 1)

30 20
= C 10 − C 10 = C 10 − B 10

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Question9
The value of

30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
( )( ) − ( )( ) + ( )( ). . . . . . . + ( )( )
0 10 1 11 2 12 20 30

n
is where ( ) =
n
Cr
r

IIT-JEE 2005 Screening

Options:

30
A. ( )
10

30
B. ( )
15
 60
C. ( )
30

31
D. ( )
10

Answer: A

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Question10
If n−1
C r = (k
2
− 3)
n
C r+1, then k ∈

IIT-JEE 2004 Screening

Options:

A. (−∞, −2)

B. [2, ∞)

C. [−√3, √3]

D. (√3, 2]

Answer: D
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Question11
12
Coefficient of t 24
in (1 + t 2
) (1 + t
12
) (1 + t
24
) is

IIT-JEE 2003 Screening

Options:

A. 12
C6 + 3

B. 12
C6 + 1

C. 12
C6

D. 12
C6 + 2

Answer: D
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Question12
m
10 20 p
The sum ∑ ( )( ), (where ( ) = 0 if p < q) is maximum
i=0
i m − i q

when m is

IIT-JEE 2002 Screening

Options:

A. 5

B. 10

C. 15

D. 20

Answer: C

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Question13
In the binomial expansion of (a − b) n
, n ≥ 5, the sum of the 5 th
and 6 th

terms is zero. Then a/b equals

IIT-JEE 2001 Screening

Options:

A. (n − 5)/6

B. (n − 4)/5

C. 5/ (n − 4)

D. 6/ (n − 5)

Answer: B

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Question14
 n n n
For 2 ≤ r ≤ n, ( ) + 2( ) + ( ) =
r r − 1 r − 2

IIT-JEE 2000 Screening

Options:

n + 1
A. ( )
r − 1

n + 1
B. 2 ( )
r + 1

n + 2
C. 2 ( )
r

n + 2
D. ( )
r

Answer: D

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Question15
If in the expansion of (1 + x) (1 − x) m n
, the coefficients of x and x are 3
2

and −6 respectively, then m is

IIT-JEE 1999
Options:

A. 6

B. 9

C. 12

D. 24

Answer: C

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Question16
n n

If a n = ∑ n
1

Cr
, then ∑ n
r

Cr
equals
r=0 r=0

IIT-JEE 1998
Options:

A. (n − 1)a n

B. na n

C. 1

2
na n

D. None of the above

Answer: C

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Question17
1 5 1 5

The expansion (x + (x 3
− 1)
2
) + (x − (x
3
− 1)
2
) is a polynomial of
degree

IIT-JEE 1992
Options:

A. 5

B. 6

C. 7

D. 8

Answer: C
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Question18
If C stands for
r
n
Cr , then the sum of the series
n n ∼
2( )!( )! n
2 2 2 2 2 2
[C − 2C + 3C −. . . . . . . . +(−1) (n + 1)C n ] ,
n! 0 1 2

where n is an even positive integer, is equal to

IIT-JEE 1986

Options:

A. 0

B. (−1) n/2
(n + 1)

C. (−1) n/2
(n + 2)

D. (−1)
n
n

Answer: C
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Question19
Given positive integers r > 1, n > 2 and that the coefficient of (3r)th
and (r + 2)th terms in the binomial expansion of (1 + x) are equal. 2n

Then

IIT-JEE 1983
Options:

A. n = 2r

B. n = 2r + 1

C. n = 3r

D. none of these

Answer: A
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Question20
10
The coefficient of x in ( 4 x

2
−
x
3
2
) is

IIT-JEE 1983
Options:

A. 405

256

B. 504

259

C. 450
263

D. none of these

Answer: A
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