Algebra Examples

${(x + \frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 1

Pascal's Triangle can be displayed as such:

$1$

$1 - 1$

$1 - 2 - 1$

$1 - 3 - 3 - 1$

$1 - 4 - 6 - 4 - 1$

$1 - 5 - 10 - 10 - 5 - 1$

The triangle can be used to calculate the coefficients of the expansion of ${(a + b)}^{n}$ by taking the exponent $n$ and adding $1$ . The coefficients will correspond with line $n + 1$ of the triangle. For ${(x + \frac{1}{x})}^{5}$ , $n = 5$ so the coefficients of the expansion will correspond with line $6$ .

Step 2

The expansion follows the rule ${(a + b)}^{n} = c_{0} a^{n} b^{0} + c_{1} a^{n - 1} b^{1} + c_{n - 1} a^{1} b^{n - 1} + c_{n} a^{0} b^{n}$ . The values of the coefficients, from the triangle, are $1 - 5 - 10 - 10 - 5 - 1$ .

$1 a^{5} b^{0} + 5 a^{4} b + 10 a^{3} b^{2} + 10 a^{2} b^{3} + 5 a b^{4} + 1 a^{0} b^{5}$

Step 3

Substitute the actual values of $a$ $x$ and $b$ $\frac{1}{x}$ into the expression.

$1 {(x)}^{5} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{0} + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4

Simplify each term.

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Step 4.1

Multiply ${(x)}^{5}$ by $1$ .

${(x)}^{5} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{0} + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.2

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{x}$ .

$x^{5} \frac{1^{0}}{x^{0}} + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.3

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$x^{5} \frac{1}{x^{0}} + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.4

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$x^{5} \frac{1}{1} + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.5

Divide $1$ by $1$ .

$x^{5} \cdot 1 + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.6

Multiply $x^{5}$ by $1$ .

$x^{5} + 5 {(x)}^{4} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{1} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.7

Simplify.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{4} \frac{1}{x} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.8

Cancel the common factor of $x$ .

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Step 4.8.1

Factor $x$ out of $5 x^{4}$ .

$x^{5} + x (5 x^{3}) \frac{1}{x} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.8.2

Cancel the common factor.

$x^{5} + x (5 x^{3}) \frac{1}{x} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.8.3

Rewrite the expression.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 {(x)}^{3} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{2} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.9

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{x}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x^{3} \frac{1^{2}}{x^{2}} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.10

One to any power is one.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x^{3} \frac{1}{x^{2}} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.11

Cancel the common factor of $x^{2}$ .

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Step 4.11.1

Factor $x^{2}$ out of $10 x^{3}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + x^{2} (10 x) \frac{1}{x^{2}} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.11.2

Cancel the common factor.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + x^{2} (10 x) \frac{1}{x^{2}} + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.11.3

Rewrite the expression.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + 10 {(x)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{3} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.12

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{x}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + 10 x^{2} \frac{1^{3}}{x^{3}} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.13

One to any power is one.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + 10 x^{2} \frac{1}{x^{3}} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.14

Cancel the common factor of $x^{2}$ .

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Step 4.14.1

Factor $x^{2}$ out of $10 x^{2}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + x^{2} \cdot 10 \frac{1}{x^{3}} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.14.2

Factor $x^{2}$ out of $x^{3}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + x^{2} \cdot 10 \frac{1}{x^{2} x} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.14.3

Cancel the common factor.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + x^{2} \cdot 10 \frac{1}{x^{2} x} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.14.4

Rewrite the expression.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + 10 \frac{1}{x} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.15

Combine $10$ and $\frac{1}{x}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + 5 {(x)}^{1} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.16

Simplify.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + 5 x {(\frac{1}{x})}^{4} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.17

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{x}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + 5 x \frac{1^{4}}{x^{4}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.18

One to any power is one.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + 5 x \frac{1}{x^{4}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.19

Cancel the common factor of $x$ .

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Step 4.19.1

Factor $x$ out of $5 x$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + x \cdot 5 \frac{1}{x^{4}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.19.2

Factor $x$ out of $x^{4}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + x \cdot 5 \frac{1}{x \cdot x^{3}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.19.3

Cancel the common factor.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + x \cdot 5 \frac{1}{x \cdot x^{3}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.19.4

Rewrite the expression.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + 5 \frac{1}{x^{3}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.20

Combine $5$ and $\frac{1}{x^{3}}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + \frac{5}{x^{3}} + 1 {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.21

Multiply ${(x)}^{0}$ by $1$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + \frac{5}{x^{3}} + {(x)}^{0} {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.22

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + \frac{5}{x^{3}} + 1 {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.23

Multiply ${(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$ by $1$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + \frac{5}{x^{3}} + {(\frac{1}{x})}^{5}$

Step 4.24

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{x}$ .

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + \frac{5}{x^{3}} + \frac{1^{5}}{x^{5}}$

Step 4.25

One to any power is one.

$x^{5} + 5 x^{3} + 10 x + \frac{10}{x} + \frac{5}{x^{3}} + \frac{1}{x^{5}}$