(x-2)^3

How do you solve this using Pascal's triangle?

Question

(x-2)^3

How do you solve this using Pascal's triangle?

anonymous · Answer

Do you remember THE triangle?

anonymous · Answer

yes

anonymous · Answer

1
             1  1
            1  2  1
           1 3   3  1    <--------------------this row represents coefficient of (a+b)^3

anonymous · Answer

ok... im just confused because there is not a variable and instead its a 2. how would I do this?

anonymous · Answer

Watch the expansion

1(a^3)(-2^0)   +  3(a^2)(-2^1)   +  3(a^1)(-2^2)   +  1(a^0)(-2^3)

See the 1 3  3  1?
First term powers go from 3 down to 0
Second term powers go from 0 up to 3

Finish it out

anonymous · Answer

so would it be...
x^3-6x^2+12x-8

anonymous · Answer

Good.  I am glad to see you raised the -2 to powers correctly.  Glad you did not get lost in my exchange of a and x.  Many would have.

anonymous · Answer

could i keep the answer in the x form or do I need to change it to a?

anonymous · Answer

X is right.  The generic form uses a and b to represent terms.