What is the expansion of f(x) in ascending powers of x up to and including the term $x^2$

2.3k Views Asked by At

I did the beginning but am not able to expand it this is my work the question is linked to another part I will link that too.enter image description here

enter image description here

This is how a video extended the exact question but I don't know what is going on.enter image description here Thank you very much I appreciate all the help.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

2
On BEST ANSWER

This seems to be an A-Level Puremath-3 question, you have to apply the general binomial theorem, assuming your partial fraction decomposition was correct:

First set up for the expansion by taking out factors from each of the terms so that they are in the general form $a^n(1+ax)^n$;

$$f(x)=(1-2x)^{-1}+3*2^{-1}\left(1-\frac{x}{2}\right)^{-1}-2*2^{-2}\left(1-\frac{x}{2}\right)^{-2}$$

$$f(x)=(1-2x)^{-1}+\frac{3}{2}\left(1-\frac{x}{2}\right)^{-1}-\frac{1}{2}\left(1-\frac{x}{2}\right)^{-2}$$

Next noting that the general binomial theorem expansion is of the form $$(1+ax)^n=1+(n)(ax)+\frac{(n)(n-1)(ax)^2}{2!}+\frac{(n)(n-1)(n-2)(ax)^3}{3!}...$$

We can start to expand each term bearing in mind that we are limited up to and including the $x^2$ term

For the first term;

$$1+(-1)(-2x)+\frac{(-1)(-2)(-2x)^2}{2}= 1+2x+4x^2 $$

For the second term; $$\frac{3}{2}\left[1+(-1)\left(-\frac{x}{2} \right) +\frac{(-1)(-2)(-\frac{x}{2})^2}{2} \right]=\frac{3}{2}\left(1+\frac{x}{2}+\frac{x^2}{4} \right)$$

For the third term $$-\frac{1}{2}\left[1 +(-2)\left(-\frac{x}{2}\right)+ \frac{(-2)(-3)\left(-\frac{x}{2}\right)^2}{2} \right]=-\frac{1}{2}\left(1+x+\frac{3x^2}{4}\right)$$

Finally adding all the terms up the final answer is

$$f(x)=2+\frac{9}{4}x+4x^2$$