Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing before a complex algebraic expression, a trinomial raised to the power of ten: (3x3−2x2+5x−5)10. While it looks daunting, we can dismantle it systematically.
Our mission is to find the constant term—the part of this expansion that remains untouched by the variable x. This is a search for a hidden symmetry within the multinomial expansion.
The Multinomial Framework
To solve this, we invoke the multinomial theorem. The general term in the expansion of (a+b+c)n is given by:
T=r1!r2!r3!n!ar1br2cr3
This is subject to the constraint r1+r2+r3=n. Here, n=10, a=3x3, b=−2x2, and c=5x−5.
Substituting these values, the general term becomes:
T=r1!r2!r3!10!(3x3)r1(−2x2)r2(5x−5)r3
The Constraint Hunt
Now, we isolate the variable x by grouping the powers: x3r1+2r2−5r3. For this term to be a constant, the exponent must be zero.
This gives us our second vital equation: 3r1+2r2−5r3=0. We now have a system of two equations with three variables:
r1+r2+r3=10
3r1+2r2−5r3=0
By manipulating these equations, we find that r1=7r3−20. Since r1 must be a non-negative integer, we immediately see that r3 must be at least 3.
Testing r3=3 gives r1=1, which leads to r2=6. Testing r3=4 leads to r1=8, which forces r2 to be negative—an impossibility. Thus, the only valid set is (r1,r2,r3)=(1,6,3).
The Final Extraction
With our indices locked in, we calculate the constant term:
T=1!6!3!10!(3)1(−2)6(5)3
Simplifying the factorials, we find 6!3!10!=840. Therefore, the expression becomes:
To find k, we prime factorize 840=23⋅3⋅5⋅7. Substituting this back:
T=(23⋅3⋅5⋅7)⋅3⋅26⋅53=29⋅(32⋅54⋅7)
The term in the parentheses is clearly an odd integer l. Comparing this to 2k⋅l, we find k=9.