Algebra Examples

${(\frac{1}{2} x - y)}^{4}$

Step 1

Pascal's Triangle can be displayed as such:

$1$

$1 - 1$

$1 - 2 - 1$

$1 - 3 - 3 - 1$

$1 - 4 - 6 - 4 - 1$

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 ${(\frac{1}{2} x - y)}^{4}$ , $n = 4$ so the coefficients of the expansion will correspond with line $5$ .

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 $1 - 4 - 6 - 4 - 1$ .

$1 a^{4} b^{0} + 4 a^{3} b + 6 a^{2} b^{2} + 4 a b^{3} + 1 a^{0} b^{4}$

Step 3

Substitute the actual values of $a$ $\frac{1}{2} x$ and $b$ $- y$ into the expression.

$1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{4} {(- y)}^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4

Simplify each term.

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Step 4.1

Multiply ${(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{4}$ by $1$ .

${(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{4} {(- y)}^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.2

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x$ .

${(\frac{x}{2})}^{4} {(- y)}^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.3

Apply the product rule to $\frac{x}{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{2^{4}} {(- y)}^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.4

Raise $2$ to the power of $4$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} {(- y)}^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.5

Apply the product rule to $- y$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} ({(- 1)}^{0} y^{0}) + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.6

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

${(- 1)}^{0} \frac{x^{4}}{16} y^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.7

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$1 \frac{x^{4}}{16} y^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.8

Multiply $\frac{x^{4}}{16}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} y^{0} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.9

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} \cdot 1 + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.10

Multiply $\frac{x^{4}}{16}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.11

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + 4 {(\frac{x}{2})}^{3} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.12

Apply the product rule to $\frac{x}{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + 4 \frac{x^{3}}{2^{3}} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.13

Raise $2$ to the power of $3$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + 4 \frac{x^{3}}{8} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.14

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

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Step 4.14.1

Factor $4$ out of $8$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + 4 \frac{x^{3}}{4 (2)} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.14.2

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + 4 \frac{x^{3}}{4 \cdot 2} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.14.3

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + \frac{x^{3}}{2} {(- y)}^{1} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.15

Simplify.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} + \frac{x^{3}}{2} (- y) + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.16

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{x^{3}}{2} y + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.17

Combine $y$ and $\frac{x^{3}}{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 6 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.18

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 6 {(\frac{x}{2})}^{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.19

Apply the product rule to $\frac{x}{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 6 \frac{x^{2}}{2^{2}} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.20

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 6 \frac{x^{2}}{4} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.21

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.21.1

Factor $2$ out of $6$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 2 (3) \frac{x^{2}}{4} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.21.2

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 2 \cdot 3 \frac{x^{2}}{2 \cdot 2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.21.3

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 2 \cdot 3 \frac{x^{2}}{2 \cdot 2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.21.4

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 3 \frac{x^{2}}{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.22

Combine $3$ and $\frac{x^{2}}{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2}}{2} {(- y)}^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.23

Apply the product rule to $- y$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2}}{2} ({(- 1)}^{2} y^{2}) + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.24

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + {(- 1)}^{2} \frac{3 x^{2}}{2} y^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.25

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + 1 \frac{3 x^{2}}{2} y^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.26

Multiply $\frac{3 x^{2}}{2}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2}}{2} y^{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.27

Combine $\frac{3 x^{2}}{2}$ and $y^{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 4 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.28

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 4 {(\frac{x}{2})}^{1} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.29

Simplify.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 4 \frac{x}{2} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.30

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.30.1

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 2 (2) \frac{x}{2} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.30.2

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 2 \cdot 2 \frac{x}{2} {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.30.3

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 2 x {(- y)}^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.31

Apply the product rule to $- y$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 2 x ({(- 1)}^{3} y^{3}) + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.32

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 2 \cdot {(- 1)}^{3} x y^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.33

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $3$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} + 2 \cdot - 1 x y^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.34

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + 1 {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.35

Multiply ${(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + {(\frac{1}{2} x)}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.36

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + {(\frac{x}{2})}^{0} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.37

Apply the product rule to $\frac{x}{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + \frac{x^{0}}{2^{0}} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.38

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + \frac{1}{2^{0}} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.39

Anything raised to $0$ is $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + \frac{1}{1} {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.40

Divide $1$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + 1 {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.41

Multiply ${(- y)}^{4}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + {(- y)}^{4}$

Step 4.42

Apply the product rule to $- y$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + {(- 1)}^{4} y^{4}$

Step 4.43

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $4$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + 1 y^{4}$

Step 4.44

Multiply $y^{4}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{x^{4}}{16} - \frac{y x^{3}}{2} + \frac{3 x^{2} y^{2}}{2} - 2 x y^{3} + y^{4}$