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Solution: 2018 Fall Final - 6

Author: Michiel Smid

Question

What is the coefficient of $x^{20}y^{35}$ in the expansion of $(5x - 3y)^{55}$?
(a)
${55 \choose 35} \cdot 5^{20} \cdot 3^{35}$
(b)
$- {55 \choose 35} \cdot 5^{20} \cdot 3^{35}$
(c)
${55 \choose 20} \cdot 5^{35} \cdot 3^{20}$
(d)
$- {55 \choose 20} \cdot 5^{35} \cdot 3^{20}$

Solution

$ = \sum_{k = 35}^{55} \binom{55}{k} {(5x)}^{k} {(-3y)}^{n-k} $

$ = \binom{55}{20} {(5x)}^{20} {(-3y)}^{35} $

$ = - \binom{55}{20} 5^{20} 3^{35} x^{20} y^{35}$

The coefficient is $ - \binom{55}{20} 5^{20} 3^{35} $