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jmc

counting and probability intermediate

Problem

Find the coefficient of in the expansion of .
Solution
The Binomial Theorem says that, to find the coefficient of in the expansion of , we choose of the terms to contribute to the product, then the other terms contribute a . Similarly, to find the coefficient of in , we choose 3 of the 8 terms in the product to contribute an (which we can do in ways), 3 of the remaining 5 terms to contribute a (which we can do in ways), and the remaining 2 terms contribute 's to the product. Thus, our answer is
Final answer
560