All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

The term independent of $x$ in the expansion of $\left(\frac{x+1}{x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 1} - \frac{x-1}{x - x^{\frac{1}{2}}}\right)^{15}$ is equal to

This question was previously asked in
WBJEE 2026 Physics and Chemistry Question Paper (24-May-2026)
The correct answer is
$5105$

Expression Simplification

First, simplify the expression inside the parenthesis: $ \left(\frac{x+1}{x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 1} - \frac{x-1}{x - x^{\frac{1}{2}}}\right)^{15} $ The first term, $ \frac{x+1}{x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 1} $, simplifies using the sum of cubes identity $a^3+b^3 = (a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)$. With $a = x^{\frac{1}{3}}$ and $b=1$, this term becomes $a+b = x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 1$. The second term, $ \frac{x-1}{x - x^{\frac{1}{2}}} $, simplifies by factoring: $ \frac{(x^{\frac{1}{2}}-1)(x^{\frac{1}{2}}+1)}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}(x^{\frac{1}{2}}-1)} = \frac{x^{\frac{1}{2}}+1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}} = 1 + x^{-\frac{1}{2}} $. Combining these, the expression inside the parenthesis is $ (x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 1) - (1 + x^{-\frac{1}{2}}) = x^{\frac{1}{3}} - x^{-\frac{1}{2}} $.

Binomial Expansion Setup

We need the term independent of $x$ in the expansion of $ \left( x^{\frac{1}{3}} - x^{-\frac{1}{2}} \right)^{15} $. The general term $T_{r+1}$ in the binomial expansion of $ (a+b)^n $ is $ T_{r+1} = \binom{n}{r} a^{n-r} b^r $. For this problem, $n=15$, $a = x^{\frac{1}{3}}$, and $b = -x^{-\frac{1}{2}}$. $ T_{r+1} = \binom{15}{r} \left( x^{\frac{1}{3}} \right)^{15-r} \left( -x^{-\frac{1}{2}} \right)^r $ $ T_{r+1} = \binom{15}{r} (-1)^r x^{\frac{15-r}{3}} x^{-\frac{r}{2}} $ Combine the exponents of $x$: $ T_{r+1} = \binom{15}{r} (-1)^r x^{\frac{15-r}{3} - \frac{r}{2}} $

Solving for the Term Index

The term is independent of $x$ when the exponent of $x$ is zero. $ \frac{15-r}{3} - \frac{r}{2} = 0 $ Multiplying by 6 yields: $ 2(15-r) - 3r = 0 $ $ 30 - 2r - 3r = 0 $ $ 30 - 5r = 0 $ $ 5r = 30 \implies r = 6 $

Calculating the Constant Term

The term independent of $x$ corresponds to $r=6$, which is the $T_7$ term. $ T_7 = \binom{15}{6} (-1)^6 x^{\frac{15-6}{3} - \frac{6}{2}} $ $ T_7 = \binom{15}{6} \times 1 \times x^0 = \binom{15}{6} $ Calculate the binomial coefficient: $ \binom{15}{6} = \frac{15!}{6!(15-6)!} = \frac{15!}{6!9!} $ $ \binom{15}{6} = \frac{15 \times 14 \times 13 \times 12 \times 11 \times 10}{6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1} $ Simplify the calculation: $ \binom{15}{6} = \frac{15}{5 \times 3} \times \frac{14}{2} \times 13 \times \frac{12}{6 \times 4} \times 11 \times 10 \text{ (Incorrect simplification method)} $ $ \binom{15}{6} = \frac{15 \times 14 \times 13 \times 12 \times 11 \times 10}{720} $ Cancel terms: $ \frac{12}{6 \times 2} = 1 $ and $ \frac{15}{5 \times 3} = 1 $. $ \binom{15}{6} = \frac{1 \times 14 \times 13 \times 1 \times 11 \times 10}{4 \times 1} = \frac{14 \times 13 \times 11 \times 10}{4} $ Simplify further: $ \frac{10}{4} = \frac{5}{2} $. $ \binom{15}{6} = \frac{14 \times 13 \times 11 \times 5}{2} $ Simplify $ \frac{14}{2} = 7 $. $ \binom{15}{6} = 7 \times 13 \times 11 \times 5 = 91 \times 55 = 5005 $ The term independent of $x$ is $5005$.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. If $\alpha$, $\beta$ are the roots of the equation $x^2 - px + q = 0$ and $\alpha > 0$, $\beta > 0$, then $\alpha^{\frac{1}{4}} + \beta^{\frac{1}{4}} = \left(p + 6\sqrt{p} + 4q^{\frac{1}{4}}\sqrt{p+2\sqrt{q}}\right)^K$, where $K$ is
  2. The expression $\sum_{K=1}^{32} (3K+2) \left\{ \sum_{r=1}^{10} \left( \sin \frac{2r\pi}{11} - i \cos \frac{2r\pi}{11} \right) \right\}^K$ represents
  3. If $t_n$ denotes the $n$th term of an A.P. and $t_p = \frac{1}{q}, t_q = \frac{1}{p}$, then which one of the following options is a root of the equation $(p+2q-3r)x^2 + (q+2r-3p)x + (r+2p-3q) = 0$?
  4. If $f(x) = \frac{1+x}{1-x}$ and $A$ is a matrix such that $A^3 = 0$, then $f(A) =$
  5. If $0 < \alpha < \beta < \gamma < \frac{\pi}{2}$, then the equation $\frac{1}{x - \sin \alpha} + \frac{1}{x - \sin \beta} + \frac{1}{x - \sin \gamma} = 0$ has
  6. On the set $\mathbb{R}$ of real numbers the relation $\rho$, defined by $x \rho y$ $(x, y \in \mathbb{R})$ iff
  7. Let $a_1, a_2, a_3, ...$ are in G.P. such that $n > m, a_n > a_m$ and $a_1 + a_n = 66, a_2 \cdot a_{n-1} = 128$. If $\sum_{r=1}^n a_r = 126$, then $n$ is
  8. The total number of polynomials of the form $x^3 + ax^2 + bx + c$ which is divisible by $x^2 + 1$, where $a, b, c \in \{1, 2, 3, ..., 10\}$ is
  9. The equation $|x+1|^{\log_{x+1}(3+2x-x^2)} = (x-3)|x|$ has
  10. The number of 3-digit numbers are of the form $xyz$ with $x < y$, $z < y$ and $x \neq 0$ is

Important Questions from Algebra

  1. Let A = {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}. Let R be a relation on A defined by xRy if and only if $0\le x^2+2y\le 4$. Let $l$ be the number of elements in R and $m$ be the minimum number of elements required to be added in R to make it a reflexive relation. Then $l + m$ is equal to

  2. Let $\alpha$ and $\beta$ be the roots of $x^2 + \sqrt{3}x-16=0$, and $\gamma$ and $\delta$ be the roots of $x^2 + 3x - 1 = 0$. If $P_n = \alpha^n + \beta^n$ and $Q_n = \gamma^n + \delta^n$, then $\frac{P_{25} + \sqrt{3}P_{24}}{2P_{23}} + \frac{Q_{25}-Q_{23}}{Q_{24}}$ is equal to

  3. Let the domain of the function $f (x) = \log_2 \log_4 \log_6(3 + 4x -x^2)$ be $(a, b)$. 

    If  $\int_{b-a}^{b+a}[x^2] dx=p-\sqrt{q}-\sqrt{r}$, $p,q,r\in N$, $gcd(p,q,r) = 1$, where $[.]$ is the greatest integer function, then $p + q + r$ is equal to

  4. Let A be a matrix of order $3 \times 3$ and $|A| = 5$. If $|2\text{adj} (3A \text{adj} (2A))| = 2^\alpha \cdot 3^\beta \cdot 5^\gamma$, $\alpha, \beta, \gamma \in N$, then $\alpha + \beta + \gamma$ is equal to

  5. Let $a_1, a_2, a_3,....$ be a G.P. of increasing positive numbers. If $a_3a_5 = 729$ and $a_2 + a_4 = \frac{111}{4}$, then $24 (a_1 + a_2 + a_3)$ is equal to

Need Expert Advice?
More Questions from WBJEE

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App