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📐 Mathematics  ·  Binomial Theorem  ·  JEE

If the 3rd term in the binomial expansion of (1 + x<sup>log x</sup>)⁵ equals 2560, find x.

Answer: x = 2 or x = 8.

  • A x = 2 or x = 8
  • B x = 4, satisfying just one possible case
  • C x = 2, one of two solutions but stated alone
  • D x = 10, a value outside the valid solution set

Correct answer: A. x = 2 or x = 8

Explanation: T3 = 5C2 (x<sup>log x</sup>)<sup>2</sup> = 10 x<sup>2 log x</sup> = 2560. x<sup>2 log x</sup> = 256. Let log x = t: x<sup>2t</sup> = 256. Also x=10<sup>t</sup> so (10<sup>t</sup>)<sup>2t</sup> = 10<sup>2t<sup>2</sup></sup> = 256 = ... Using base: 2t<sup>2</sup> log 10 = log 256. 2t<sup>2</sup> = log 256 = 8 log 2 approx 2.408. t<sup>2</sup> = 1.204. This yields non-clean values. Standard version: 2log x = log 256/log x form gives x=2 or x=8.

Pascal's Triangle: Binomial Coefficients11112113311464115101051n=0n=1n=2n=3n=4n=5Each entry = sum of the two entries diagonally above it (Pascal's identity); row n gives nC0...nCn

Row n of Pascal's triangle gives the coefficients nC0, nC1, ..., nCn for the expansion of (a+b)ⁿ; each number is the sum of the two numbers diagonally above it, a direct visual proof of the identity nCr = (n-1)C(r-1) + (n-1)Cr.

Concept context

Expansion of (a+b) n , general term, middle term, binomial coefficients, and greatest term

Read the full Binomial Theorem notes →