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Find the constant term in the binomial expansion of (3x + 2/(x^2))^33

Recall that the general term in the binomial expansion of (x+y)^n is (nCr)(x^n-r)(y^r), so by the binomial theorem, the entire expansion is the sum of these terms from r = 0 to n. In this case, n = 33, the first term in the binomial expression is 3x and the second term is 2/(x^2). Substituting these, we obtain the general term for our expansion as (33Cr)(3x)^33-r(2/x^2)^r. We can re-write this as ( x^33-3r)(2^r)(3^33-r)(33Cr) by separating x from its coefficient. Since the question asks for the constant term (i.e. the term independent of x or x^0), we require 33-3r = 0, which is achieved when r = 11. Therefore, we can substitute r = 11 into the expression for the coefficient to obtain the constant term as equal to (33 C 11)(3^22)(2^11).

Answered by Elias G. Maths tutor

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