Related Formula
The coefficient of the rth$r^{\text{th}}$ term in the expansion (1+x)^m$(1+x)^m$ is written as mr-1$\binom{m}{r-1}$. For three terms in A.P., their values satisfy:
2 · T₂ = T₁ + T₃$$2 \cdot T_2 = T_1 + T_3$$
Core Logic
Let the total power exponent be m = n + 4$m = n + 4$. The coefficients of the 5th$5^{\text{th}}$, 6th$6^{\text{th}}$, and 7th$7^{\text{th}}$ terms are m4$\binom{m}{4}$, m5$\binom{m}{5}$, and m6$\binom{m}{6}$ respectively. Since they form an arithmetic progression:
2 · m5 = m4 + m6$$2 \cdot \binom{m}{5} = \binom{m}{4} + \binom{m}{6}$$
Rearrange using the recurrence addition identity properties:
4 · m5 = [ m4 + m5 ] + [ m5 + m6 ]$$4 \cdot \binom{m}{5} = \left[ \binom{m}{4} + \binom{m}{5} \right] + \left[ \binom{m}{5} + \binom{m}{6} \right]$$
4 · m5 = m+15 + m+16$$4 \cdot \binom{m}{5} = \binom{m+1}{5} + \binom{m+1}{6}$$
4 · m5 = m+26$$4 \cdot \binom{m}{5} = \binom{m+2}{6}$$
Step 1: Solve the Combinatorial Fraction for m$m$
Expand the combinations using factorials:
4 · (m!)/(5!(m-4)!) = ((m+2)!)/(6!(m-4)!)$$4 \cdot \frac{m!}{5!(m-4)!} = \frac{(m+2)!}{6!(m-4)!}$$
Cancel out (m-4)!$(m-4)!$ from both denominators:
4 · (m!)/(120) = ((m+2)(m+1)m!)/(720)$$4 \cdot \frac{m!}{120} = \frac{(m+2)(m+1)m!}{720}$$
4 = ((m+2)(m+1))/(6)$$4 = \frac{(m+2)(m+1)}{6}$$
24 = m² + 3m + 2 m² + 3m - 22 = 0$$24 = m^2 + 3m + 2 \implies m^2 + 3m - 22 = 0$$
Wait, let's re-verify the step using the direct ratio computation:
2 = m4 m5 + m6 m5 = (5)/(m-4) + (m-5)/(6)$$2 = \frac{\binom{m}{4}}{\binom{m}{5}} + \frac{\binom{m}{6}}{\binom{m}{5}} = \frac{5}{m-4} + \frac{m-5}{6}$$
2 = (30 + (m-4)(m-5))/(6(m-4))$$2 = \frac{30 + (m-4)(m-5)}{6(m-4)}$$
12(m-4) = 30 + m² - 9m + 20$$12(m-4) = 30 + m^2 - 9m + 20$$
12m - 48 = m² - 9m + 50 m² - 21m + 98 = 0$$12m - 48 = m^2 - 9m + 50 \implies m^2 - 21m + 98 = 0$$
Factor the quadratic equation:
(m-7)(m-14) = 0 m = 7 or m = 14$$(m-7)(m-14) = 0 \implies m = 7 \text{ or } m = 14$$
Step 2: Connect back to the problem constraints
Since m = n + 4$m = n + 4$:
- If m = 14 n + 4 = 14 n = 10$m = 14 \implies n + 4 = 14 \implies n = 10$ (this is rejected because the problem states n ≠ 10$n \neq 10$).
- If m = 7 n + 4 = 7 n = 3$m = 7 \implies n + 4 = 7 \implies n = 3$ (this value is accepted).
Thus, the binomial expansion exponent is exactly m = 7$m = 7$.
Step 3: Extract Maximum Binomial Coefficient
For an odd exponent power m = 7$m = 7$, the maximum binomial coefficient corresponds to the middle terms:
Max Coefficient = 73 = 74 = (7 · 6 · 5)/(3 · 2 · 1) = 35$$\text{Max Coefficient} = \binom{7}{3} = \binom{7}{4} = \frac{7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5}{3 \cdot 2 \cdot 1} = 35$$
Pattern Recognition
For consecutive binomial coefficients nr-1, nr, nr+1$\binom{n}{r-1}, \binom{n}{r}, \binom{n}{r+1}$ in A.P., the power parameters satisfy the standard identity (n-2r)² = n+2$(n-2r)^2 = n+2$, which allows quick calculation.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Mathematics: Binomial Theorem