Education Technology

Mathematics lessons for IB® Diploma Programme

Applications and Interpretation | Numbers and Algebra

Binomial Expansion

Objectives

  • Students will use their knowledge of patterns to aid in the expansion of binomials, by way of Pascal’s triangle.
  • Students will use the Binomial Theorem to discover specific terms of a binomial expansion.
  • Students will try to make a connection with how to understand these topics in IB Mathematics courses and on their final assessments.

Vocabulary

  • Expansion
  • Combinations
  • Pascal’s Triangle
  • Coefficient

About the lesson

Students will review their binomial expansion skills through hands on multiplication combined with the handheld to check their work. Close attention will be played to individual terms of certain expansions throughout the activity. The Binomial Theorem and Pascal’s Triangle will also be used as tools to aid in this process.