Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. If the ratio of the coefficient of third and fourth term in the expansion of $\left( x - \frac{1}{2x}\right)^{n}$ is $1 : 2$, then the value of $-n$ will be

Binomial Theorem

Solution:

$T_3 = \,{}^nC_2 (x)^{n-2} \left( -\frac{1}{2x}\right)^{2}$ and $T_4 = \,{}^nC_3(x)^{n-3} \left( -\frac{1}{2x}\right)^{3}$
But according to the condition,
$\frac{-n (n-1) \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 \times 8}{n(n-1) (n - 2) \times 2 \times 1 \times4} = \frac{1}{2}$
$ \Rightarrow n = - 10$