PRECALCULUS: SOLVE PROBLEMS USING MATHEMATICAL INDUCTION

AND THE BINOMIAL THEOREM

Emely I. Alivio (Cebu Technological University-Daanbantayan Campus), Hegie C.

Anding (St. Louise de Marilac College of Bogo), Marycris D. Balanlay (University of
Eastern Philippines-Catubig Campus), Belenda P. Babiera (Cebu Technological
University-Main Campus) and Jovit R. Aleria (Golden Success College)

I. LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. recall the principle of mathematical induction and the concepts of binomial

theorem; and

2. solve situational problems using mathematical induction and binomial theorem.

II. MATERIALS

Scientific Calculator, LCD projector, Whiteboard, Marker

III. Learning Resources

Domingo, E.J. (2016), Math Activated: Engage Yourself and our World
PRECALCULUS,., Don Bosco Prsess, Inc., Makati City

https://www.slideshare.net/ajaykumarsingh773776/application-of-binomial-
theorem

IV. LESSON PROPER

Teacher’s Activity Students’ Activity

A. Introduction

To recall our previous topics about

mathematical induction and
binomial theorem, work in pairs to
answer the following:
 1. Use mathematical induction to Solution:
prove that the statement is true for We establish the two conditions stated in
all integers n. the Principle of Mathematical Induction.
𝑛(𝑛 + 1)(2𝑛 + 1)
12 + 22 + 32 + … + 𝑛 2 =
6 Part 1

1(1 + 1)(2(1) + 1) 1 ∗ 2 ∗ 3
12 = 1 = =
6 6
Thus, formula is true for n=1

Part 2
Assume
𝑘(𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘 + 1)
12 + 22 + 32 + … + 𝑘 2 =
6
Prove:
12 + 22 + 32 + … + 𝑘 2 + (𝑘 + 1)2
(𝑘 + 1)(𝑘 + 2)(2(𝑘 + 1) + 1)
=
6

(𝑘 + 1)(𝑘 + 2)(2𝑘 + 3)
=
6
Proof:
1 2 + 22 + 32 + … + 𝑘 2
𝑘(𝑘 + 1)(2𝑘 + 1)
= + (𝑘 + 1)2
6
𝑘(𝑘+1)(2𝑘+1)+6(𝑘+1)2
= 6

(𝑘 + 1)[(2𝑘 + 1) + 6(𝑘 + 1)]

=
6
(𝑘+1)(2𝑘 2 +7𝑘+6)
=
6

(𝒌 + 𝟏)(𝒌 + 𝟐)(𝟐𝒌 + 𝟑)
=
𝟔

Therefore, by the Principle of

Mathematical Induction,
𝑛(𝑛 + 1)(2𝑛 + 1)
12 + 22 + 32 + … + 𝑛 2 =
6

for all positive integers n.

2. Find the 5th term in the expression
of (𝑥 + 𝑦)8
Using the formula in binomial theorem
expansion, the rth term in (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑛
Note:
rth term= 𝐶(𝑛, 𝑟 − 1)𝑥 𝑛−𝑟+1 𝑦 𝑟
After the presentation of the answers, the
5th term = 𝐶(8,4)𝑥 4 𝑦 5
teacher will emphasize to the class that
the concepts they used in solving the = 𝟕𝟎𝒙𝟒 𝒚𝟓
activity above will be also used in solving
topics in other fields of mathematics and
real-life problems.

B. Motivation

Group yourselves into 6 members per

group. Shake hands with everyone in
your group: - (Using the Pascal’s Triangle, the
a. one at a time; and students may come up with this
b. two at a time idea)
- Locate the n row which is 6 and the
r column which is 2. So the total
C. Delivery number of handshakes is 15.

Applying the concept of Pascal’s

Triangle, answer the following
questions:

 How many handshakes are

possible in situation A?

(Note: In counting the n row and n

column, always start at 1)
- In the given situation, n=6 and r=2,
so using calculator, C(6,2) is equal
to 15.
( This is an alternative solution if a
student will use calculator)

(Students may also present their answers in

this way)

 How many handshakes are

possible in situation B?

 How did you get your

answer?

 One from the even number groups

(2,4,6) will present the solution of
situation A and one from the odd
 number groups (1,3,5) will present
the solution of situation B.
This time, let us use Binomial Theorem and
Mathematical Induction to solve word
problems.
Problem 1:
In your General Biology Class, you are task
to find the probability of obtaining 2 tall
and 2 dwarf plants in a typical monogenic
F2 population where the probability of tall
plants, 𝑥 = 3/4 and that of dwarf plants,
𝑦 = ¼.
What is being asked in the problem?
What are the data provided?
Can we use binomial theorem in solving
this problem?
How are you going to use the theorem?
How to obtain the desired result?
Ho to get the probability?
What is now the answer?
- In the given situation, n=6 and r=3,
so using calculator, C(6,3) is equal
to 20.
The probability of obtaining 2 tall and 2
dwarf plants.
2 tall plants have probability of ¾ and 2
dwarf plants have probability of ¼
Yes.
Applying the Binomial Theorem and the
concept of Pascal’s Triangle, we get:
4 4 4
(𝑥 + 𝑦)4 = ( ) 𝑥 4 𝑦 0 + ( ) 𝑥 3 𝑦 + ( ) 𝑥 2 𝑦 2
0 1 2
4 4
+ ( ) 𝑥𝑦 3 + ( ) 𝑥 0 𝑦 4
3 4
(𝑥 + 𝑦)4 = 𝑥 4 + 4 𝑥 3 𝑦 + 6 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 4𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑦 4
Since we only want to get the probability
of obtaining 2 tall and 2 dwarf plants, so
we need to focus only on this term (42) 𝑥 2 𝑦 2
which is equal to 6 𝑥 2 𝑦 2, however, the
coefficient will be divided by 16 because it
is the total number of outcomes.
In computing the probability:
Substitute 𝑥 = 3/4 and 𝑦 = ¼.
6 2 2 6 3 2 1 2 54
𝑥 𝑦 = ( ) ( ) = = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟏
16 16 4 4 256
The probability of obtaining 2 tall and 2
dwarf plants is 0.21.
Problem 2:
If you queued one hundred The best idea probably is to queue them
dominoes on a very long table and such that:
you want to let them all fall just by
letting the first domino fall, 1. When the first domino falls, it will hit
the second domino.
a. How would you queue it? 2. Make sure that each domino will hit
the domino next to it and that each
hit domino will fall.
3. If conditions (1) and (2) are
satisfied, then all the dominoes will
fall.

b. How would you prove it using Using the Principle of Mathematical

the Principle of Mathematical Induction, we will be using the two
Induction? conditions.

Condition 1:

We check if the condition is true for .

Yes, that is true.

Condition 2:

Assuming is true, then

Since conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied,

then all the dominoes will fall.
 D. Practice

Find a partner (think-pair-share) and

discuss with each other how to solve each
problem.

Problem 1:

A newlywed couple plan to have four

children. What is the probability that they
will have 2 boys and 2 girls disregarding
the sequence of children if:
x= frequency of boys = ½
y= frequency of girls = ½

What is being asked in the problem? The probability of obtaining 2 boys and 2
girls.

What are the data provided? 2 boys have probability of ½ and 2 girls
have probability of ½

Can we use binomial theorem in solving Yes.

this problem?

How are you going to use the theorem? Applying the Binomial Theorem and the
concept of Pascal’s Triangle, we get:
4 4 4
(𝑥 + 𝑦)4 = ( ) 𝑥 4 𝑦 0 + ( ) 𝑥 3 𝑦 + ( ) 𝑥 2 𝑦 2
0 1 2
4 3
4 0 4
+ ( ) 𝑥𝑦 + ( ) 𝑥 𝑦
3 4
(𝑥 + 𝑦)4 = 𝑥 4 + 4 𝑥 3 𝑦 + 6 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 4𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑦 4

How to obtain the desired result?
Since we only want to get the probability
of obtaining 2 tall and 2 dwarf plants, so
we need to focus only on this term (42) 𝑥 2 𝑦 2
which is equal to 6 𝑥 2 𝑦 2, however, the
coefficient will be divided by 16 because it
is the total number of outcomes.

Ho to get the probability? In computing the probability:

1 1
Substitute 𝑥 = and 𝑦 =
2 2
6 2 2 6 1 2 1 2 3
𝑥 𝑦 = ( ) ( ) = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟑
16 16 2 2 128

The probability of obtaining 2 tall and 2

What is the answer? dwarf plants is 0.21.
E. Enrichment The logic behind mathematical induction
is present in various academic fields such
You browse the internet and look as biology, chemistry, philosophy,
for real-life applications of the economics, and politics.
Mathematical Induction and
Binomial Theorem. These are also the real-life applications of
Binomial Theorem:

1. Distribution of Internet Protocol

Address (or IP Address)IP addresses
- This method in IP distribution
conditions where you have been
given IP address of the fixed host
and number of host are more than
total round off then you may use
this theorem to distribute bits so that
all host may be covered in IP
addressing This method is known as
variable sub netting.
-
2. National economic prediction
- Economists used binomial theorem
to count probabilities that depend
on numerous and very distributed
variables to predict the way the
economy will behave in the next
few years.

3. Architecture
- It allows engineers, to calculate the
magnitudes of the projects and
thus delivering accurate estimates
of not only the costs but also time
required to construct them. For
contractors, it is a very important
tool to help ensuring the costing
projects is competent enough to
deliver profits.

4. Weather forecasting
- Moreover binomial theorem is used
in forecast services. The disaster
forecast also depends upon the use
of binomial theorems.
 5. Ranking of candidates
- The binomial “distribution” is
popularly used to rank the
candidates in many competitive
examinations.
-
6. Find the number of children
- The binomial theorem is used in
biology to find the number of
children with a certain genotype.

F. Evaluation

Use Mathematical Induction and

Binomial Theorem in solving the
following problems.

1. As each group of business

people arrives at the meeting,
each shakes hands with all the
other people present. Use
mathematical Induction to show
that if “n” people come to the
meeting then [n(n-1)]/2
handshakes occur.

2. The Probability of a cloudy day

is 0.55 and the probability of a
sunny day is 0.45.

A. What is the probability of three

consecutive cloudy days, followed
by a sunny day?

B. What is the probability that exactly

1 out of 4 consecutive days will be
sunny?

C. What is the probability that at least

1 out of 4 consecutive days will be
sunny?