f(x) = \frac{3x - 1}{(1 - 2x)^{2}}
\quad |x| < \frac{1}{2} - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 4 - 2006 - Paper 6

Question 4

f(x) = \frac{3x - 1}{(1 - 2x)^{2}}
\quad |x| < \frac{1}{2}.
Given that, for $x \neq \frac{1}{2},$ \n\frac{3x - 1}{(1 - 2x)^{2}} = \frac{A}{(1 - 2x)^{3}} + \frac{B}... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:f(x) = \frac{3x - 1}{(1 - 2x)^{2}}
\quad |x| < \frac{1}{2} - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 4 - 2006 - Paper 6
find the values of A and B.

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To find the values of A and B, we first equate the two expressions.
Given the equation:
3x−1=A(1−2x)+B(1−2x)2
We can expand the right-hand side:
-
Expand:
A(1−2x)+B(1−2x)2=A−2Ax+B(1−4x+4x2)
=A+B−(2A+4B)x+4Bx2
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Combine like terms to equate coefficients:
- The constant term gives us:
A+B=−1
- The coefficient of x gives us:
−(2A+4B)=3
-
Solving these two equations:
- From the first equation, we can express B in terms of A:
B=−1−A
- Substitute B into the second equation:
−(2A+4(−1−A))=3
−2A+4+4A=3
2A=−1
A=−21
- Substitute back to find B:
B=−1−(−21)=−21
Thus, the values are:
A=−21,B=−21
Hence, or otherwise, find the series expansion of f(x), in ascending powers of x, up to and including the term in $x^{3}$, simplifying each term.

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To find the series expansion of f(x), we will first rewrite f(x) with the values of A and B we found:
f(x)=(1−2x)23x−1=(1−2x)3−21+(1−2x)2−21
Then, we will apply the binomial series expansion:
-
The binomial expansion for ( (1 - u)^{-n} ) is:
(1−u)−n=∑k=0∞(kn+k−1)uk
Valid for |u| < 1
-
For our case, using ( u = 2x ):
-
For ( (1 - 2x)^{-2} ):
(1−2x)−2=∑k=0∞(k1+k)(2x)k=1+4x+12x2+32x3+…
-
For ( (1 - 2x)^{-3} ):
(1−2x)−3=∑k=0∞(k2+k)(2x)k=1+6x+24x2+64x3+…
-
Combining the results:
- Therefore, substituting these into our function gives:
f(x)=−21[1+6x+24x2+64x3+…]−21[1+4x+12x2+32x3+…]
- Simplifying:
=−21(2+10x+36x2+96x3)
=−1−5x−18x2−48x3
a final result:
f(x)=−1−5x−18x2−48x3
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