The Binomial Detective
Unlocking the Constant Term
Welcome, fellow traveler on the path to JEE mastery! Today, we are going to dissect a beautiful problem that tests not just your knowledge of the Binomial Theorem, but your ability to act as a mathematical detective.
We are given the expansion of (2x5/2−xl4)9 and two clues: the constant term is −84, and the coefficient of x−3l takes the form 2αβ. Our goal is to find ∣αl−β∣.
Let us begin.
Phase 1
The General Term as a Swiss Army Knife
Whenever you face a binomial expansion problem, the general term formula is your most reliable companion. It is defined as Tr+1=(rn)an−rbr.
In our case, n=9, a=2x5/2, and b=−xl4. Substituting these into the formula, we get:
Tr+1=(r9)(2x5/2)9−r(−xl4)r
This formula is like a telescope; it allows us to zoom in on any specific term in the expansion without having to write out all ten terms. The key is to keep the negative sign with the 4 inside the parenthesis. If you lose that sign, the entire calculation will collapse later on.
Phase 2
The Quest for the Constant Term
Now, let us separate the constants from the variables. We pull out the numerical parts: (r9)(21)9−r(−4)r.
What remains are the powers of x:
(xl)r(x5/2)9−r=x25(9−r)−lr=x245−5r−2lr
A constant term is, by definition, independent of x. This means the exponent of x must be zero. Setting 245−5r−2lr=0 leads us to the elegant relation r(5+2l)=45.
Since r must be an integer between 0 and 9, r must be a divisor of 45. Testing r=3, we find 3(5+2l)=45, which simplifies to 5+2l=15, giving us l=5. A quick verification confirms that r=3 and l=5 indeed yields the constant term −84.
We have our first breakthrough!
Phase 3
The Second Challenge
With l=5 firmly in our grasp, the second part of the problem becomes clear. We need the coefficient of x−3l, which is x−15.
We return to our exponent formula:
This simplifies to 245−15r=−15, or 45−15r=−30. Solving this gives 15r=75, so r=5.
Now, we calculate the coefficient for r=5:
(59)(21)9−5(−4)5=126⋅(161)⋅(−1024)=126⋅(−64)=−8064
Phase 4
The Final Synthesis
We are almost at the finish line. We need to express −8064 in the form 2αβ, where β is an odd negative integer.
Factorizing −8064, we get:
−126⋅64=−(2⋅63)⋅26=−63⋅27
Comparing this to 2αβ, we identify α=7 and β=−63.
Finally, we compute:
∣αl−β∣=∣(7)(5)−(−63)∣=∣35+63∣=98
The elegance of this result is a testament to the power of systematic algebraic manipulation. You have successfully navigated the traps of the Binomial Theorem. Keep this confidence, and carry it into your next challenge!