Question
If A denotes the sum of all the coefficients in the expansion of and B denotes the sum of all the coefficients in the expansion of , then :
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Solution
Key Concept: Sum of Coefficients in a Polynomial Expansion
The sum of all coefficients in the expansion of any polynomial function can be easily found by substituting into the polynomial. This is because when , any term simply becomes . Thus, evaluating yields the sum of all its coefficients.
Step-by-Step Derivation of A
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Identify the Polynomial: We are given that A denotes the sum of all coefficients in the expansion of . Let .
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Apply the Key Concept: To find the sum of coefficients, which is A, we substitute into the polynomial .
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Simplify the Expression: Perform the arithmetic operations inside the parentheses. So, we have .
Step-by-Step Derivation of B
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Identify the Polynomial: Similarly, B denotes the sum of all coefficients in the expansion of . Let .
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Apply the Key Concept: To find the sum of coefficients, which is B, we substitute into the polynomial .
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Simplify the Expression: Perform the arithmetic operations inside the parentheses. So, we have .
Establishing the Relationship between A and B
Now that we have expressions for A and B in terms of : We need to find how A and B are related. Let's express using the base . We know that .
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Substitute and Rewrite A: Replace with in the expression for A.
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Apply Exponent Rule: Using the exponent rule , we multiply the exponents.
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Relate to B: We can rewrite as . Since we found that , we can substitute B into this equation.
Tips for Success and Common Pitfalls
- Universality: Remember that this method () works for finding the sum of coefficients for any polynomial, not just binomial expansions.
- Careful Substitution: Double-check your arithmetic when substituting , especially with negative signs.
- Distinguish from Binomial Theorem: While this problem involves binomial expansions, the core concept used (sum of coefficients) is distinct from finding specific terms or properties of binomial coefficients.
- Other Sums: If a question asks for the sum of coefficients of terms with even powers or odd powers, a different approach involving and would be needed.
Summary and Key Takeaway
By applying the fundamental principle that the sum of coefficients of a polynomial is simply , we efficiently calculated and . Subsequently, recognizing that is , we were able to establish the relationship . This highlights the importance of understanding basic algebraic properties and exponent rules in simplifying and solving problems.