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Simplify \( \left(1 / 3^{x}-2\right)^{-1 / 2} \) using binomial theorem

Ask by Lambert Stanley. in Ghana
Mar 03,2025

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Answer

\[ \left( \frac{1}{3^x} - 2 \right)^{-1/2} = \frac{i}{\sqrt{2}} \left(1 + \frac{1}{4 \cdot 3^x} + \frac{3}{32 \cdot 3^{2x}} + \frac{5}{128 \cdot 3^{3x}} + \dots \right) \]

Solution

We wish to simplify   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) by writing it in a series form using the binomial expansion. Step 1. Factor Out –2 A good strategy is to factor out the constant term from inside the parentheses. Notice that   1/3ˣ – 2 = –2 + 1/3ˣ = –2 (1 – (1/(2·3ˣ))). Thus we can write   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) = [–2 (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))]^(–1/2). Since exponentiation distributes over a product (when properly defined), we have   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) = (–2)^(–1/2) · (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))^(–1/2). Step 2. Write (–2)^(–1/2) The term (–2)^(–1/2) means 1/√(–2). (Note that if x is real this expression is a complex number; one may write it as i/√2 since √(–2) = i√2.) Thus we have   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) = 1/√(–2) · (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))^(–1/2). Step 3. Expand Using the Binomial Theorem Recall the binomial series for a power α:   (1 + u)^(α) = 1 + α u + [α(α – 1)/2!] u² + [α(α – 1)(α – 2)/3!] u³ + · · ·               (valid when |u| < 1). In our case, we have   (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))^(–1/2) which is in the form (1 + u)^(–1/2) with u = –1/(2·3ˣ). Thus:   (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))^(–1/2) = 1 + (–1/2)(–1/(2·3ˣ))               + [ (–1/2)(–1/2 – 1)/2! ] (–1/(2·3ˣ))²               + [ (–1/2)(–1/2 – 1)(–1/2 – 2)/3! ] (–1/(2·3ˣ))³ + · · · Let’s compute the first few terms: 1. The constant term is 1. 2. The linear term:   (–1/2) · (–1/(2·3ˣ)) = 1/(4·3ˣ). 3. The quadratic term:   Coefficient = (–1/2)(–3/2)/2 = (3/4)/2 = 3/8.   And (–1/(2·3ˣ))² = 1/(4·3^(2x)).   Thus the quadratic term is 3/(8·4·3^(2x)) = 3/(32·3^(2x)). 4. The cubic term:   Coefficient = (–1/2)(–3/2)(–5/2)/6.   Multiply numerator: (–1 · –3 · –5) = –15 and denominator: (2³·6)= (8·6) = 48.   So the coefficient is –15/48 = –5/16.   Now, (–1/(2·3ˣ))³ = –1/(8·3^(3x)); note the cube of –1 gives –1.   Multiplying the coefficient with this, the negatives cancel:    (–5/16)·(–1/(8·3^(3x))) = 5/(128·3^(3x)). Thus, up to the cubic term, we have   (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))^(–1/2) ≈ 1 + 1/(4·3ˣ) + 3/(32·3^(2x)) + 5/(128·3^(3x)) + · · · Step 4. Write the Final Answer Putting everything together we have   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) = 1/√(–2) × [ 1 + 1/(4·3ˣ) + 3/(32·3^(2x)) + 5/(128·3^(3x)) + … ]. If you prefer to express 1/√(–2) in the usual form for complex numbers, then   1/√(–2) = i/√2. Thus, an alternative answer is   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) = (i/√2) [ 1 + 1/(4·3ˣ) + 3/(32·3^(2x)) + 5/(128·3^(3x)) + … ]. This is the binomial series expansion for the given expression, valid when |1/(2·3ˣ)| < 1. Final Answer:   (1/3ˣ – 2)^(–1/2) = 1/√(–2) · (1 – 1/(2·3ˣ))^(–1/2)               = (i/√2) [ 1 + 1/(4·3ˣ) + 3/(32·3^(2x)) + 5/(128·3^(3x)) + … ].

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The Deep Dive

To simplify \( \left(1 / 3^{x}-2\right)^{-1 / 2} \) using the binomial theorem, we can rewrite the expression in a more convenient form. We have: \[ \left(1 - 6 \cdot 3^{-x}\right)^{-1/2} \] This is because \( 1 / 3^{x} - 2 \) can be rewritten as \( (1 - 6 \cdot 3^{-x}) \) after combining terms. Now, we can use the binomial theorem which states that for any real number \( n \) and \( |y| < 1 \): \[ (1 + y)^n \approx 1 + ny + \frac{n(n-1)}{2!}y^2 + \frac{n(n-1)(n-2)}{3!}y^3 + \ldots \] Applying this to our case with \( n = -\frac{1}{2} \) and \( y = -6 \cdot 3^{-x} \), we get: \[ \left(1 - 6 \cdot 3^{-x}\right)^{-1/2} \approx 1 + \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)(-6 \cdot 3^{-x}) + \frac{-\frac{1}{2} \cdot (-\frac{3}{2})}{2!}(-6 \cdot 3^{-x})^2 + \ldots \] Calculating the first few terms gives us: 1. The first term: \( 1 \) 2. The second term: \( 3 \cdot 3^{-x} = 3^{1-x} \) 3. The third term: \[ \frac{-\frac{1}{2} \cdot (-\frac{3}{2})}{2}(36 \cdot 3^{-2x}) = \frac{9}{4} \cdot 36 \cdot 3^{-2x} = \frac{81}{4} \cdot 3^{-2x} \] Our approximation becomes: \[ \left(1 - 6 \cdot 3^{-x}\right)^{-1/2} \approx 1 + 3^{1-x} + \frac{81}{4} \cdot 3^{-2x} + \ldots \] Thus, \[ \left(1 / 3^{x}-2\right)^{-1 / 2} \approx 1 + 3^{1-x} + \frac{81}{4} \cdot 3^{-2x} + \ldots \] This provides a simplified series expansion using the binomial theorem!

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