The coefficient of x3x^3 in the expansion of 1(2+ax)5\frac{1}{(2+ax)^5} is 5 times the coefficient of x2x^2 in the expansion of 4−ax\sqrt{4-ax} where aa is a non-zero constant. Find the exact value of aa.

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Worked solution

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1. Write $\frac{1}{(2+ax)^5}$ in the standard form $k(1+bx)^n$.

1(2+ax)5=(2+ax)−5=[2(1+a2x)]−5=132(1+a2x)−5\frac{1}{(2+ax)^5} = (2+ax)^{-5} = \left[2\left(1+\frac{a}{2}x\right)\right]^{-5} = \frac{1}{32}\left(1+\frac{a}{2}x\right)^{-5}

2. Evaluate the coefficient of $x^3$ in the expansion of $(2+ax)^{-5}$.

The term in x3x^3 is:
132[(−5)(−6)(−7)3!(a2x)3]\frac{1}{32} \left[ \frac{(-5)(-6)(-7)}{3!} \left(\frac{a}{2}x\right)^3 \right]
=132(−35)(a38x3)=−35a3256x3= \frac{1}{32} (-35) \left(\frac{a^3}{8}x^3\right) = -\frac{35a^3}{256} x^3
So, the coefficient of x3x^3 is −35a3256-\frac{35a^3}{256}.

3. Write $\sqrt{4-ax}$ in the standard form $k(1+bx)^n$.

4−ax=(4−ax)12=[4(1−a4x)]12=2(1−a4x)12\sqrt{4-ax} = (4-ax)^{\frac{1}{2}} = \left[4\left(1-\frac{a}{4}x\right)\right]^{\frac{1}{2}} = 2\left(1-\frac{a}{4}x\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}

4. Evaluate the coefficient of $x^2$ in the expansion of $\sqrt{4-ax}$.

The term in x2x^2 is:
2[(12)(−12)2!(−a4x)2]2 \left[ \frac{\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)}{2!} \left(-\frac{a}{4}x\right)^2 \right]
=2(−18)(a216x2)=−a264x2= 2 \left(-\frac{1}{8}\right) \left(\frac{a^2}{16}x^2\right) = -\frac{a^2}{64} x^2
So, the coefficient of x2x^2 is −a264-\frac{a^2}{64}.

5. Form the equation based on the given relationship and solve for $a$.

We are given that the coefficient of x3x^3 is 5 times the coefficient of x2x^2:
−35a3256=5(−a264)-\frac{35a^3}{256} = 5 \left( -\frac{a^2}{64} \right)
−35a3256=−5a264-\frac{35a^3}{256} = -\frac{5a^2}{64}
Since aa is a non-zero constant (a≠0a \neq 0), we can divide both sides by −5a2-5a^2:
7a256=164\frac{7a}{256} = \frac{1}{64}
7a=256647a = \frac{256}{64}
7a=4  ⟹  a=477a = 4 \implies a = \frac{4}{7}

Answer

a=47a = \frac{4}{7}

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