MCQMediumJEE 2023General Term

JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

If the coefficient of x9x^9 in (ax3+1βx11)\left( a x^3 + \frac{1}{\beta x^{11}} \right) and the coefficient of x9x^{-9} in (ax1βx3)11\left( a x - \frac{1}{\beta x^3} \right)^{11} are equal, then (αβ)2(\alpha\beta)^2 is equal to:

  • A

    11

  • B

    44

  • C

    99

  • D

    1616

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The coefficients of x9x^9 in

(αx3+1βx)11\left( \alpha x^3 + \frac{1}{\beta x} \right)^{11}

and of x9x^{-9} in

(αx1βx3)11\left( \alpha x - \frac{1}{\beta x^3} \right)^{11}

are equal.

Find: (αβ)2(\alpha\beta)^2.

For

(αx3+1βx)11\left( \alpha x^3 + \frac{1}{\beta x} \right)^{11}

the general term is

Tk=(11k)(αx3)11k(1βx)kT_k = \binom{11}{k} \left(\alpha x^3\right)^{11-k} \left(\frac{1}{\beta x}\right)^k

So the power of xx is

3(11k)k=334k3(11-k)-k = 33-4k

For the term containing x9x^9,

334k=933-4k=9 4k=244k=24 k=6k=6

Hence the coefficient of x9x^9 is

(116)α5β6\binom{11}{6}\alpha^{5}\beta^{-6}

Equating the Coefficients

For

(αx1βx3)11\left( \alpha x - \frac{1}{\beta x^3} \right)^{11}

the general term is

Tk=(11k)(αx)11k(1βx3)kT_k = \binom{11}{k}(\alpha x)^{11-k}\left(-\frac{1}{\beta x^3}\right)^k

So the power of xx is

(11k)3k=114k(11-k)-3k = 11-4k

For the term containing x9x^{-9},

114k=911-4k=-9 4k=204k=20 k=5k=5

Thus the coefficient of x9x^{-9} is taken as

(115)α6β5\binom{11}{5}\alpha^{6}\beta^{-5}

Equating the two coefficients,

(116)α5β6=(115)α6β5\binom{11}{6}\alpha^{5}\beta^{-6} = \binom{11}{5}\alpha^{6}\beta^{-5}

Using

(116)=(115)\binom{11}{6}=\binom{11}{5}

we get

α5β6=α6β5\alpha^5\beta^{-6}=\alpha^6\beta^{-5} 1=αβ1=\alpha\beta

Therefore,

(αβ)2=1(\alpha\beta)^2=1

So the correct option is A.

Use Symmetry of Binomial Coefficients

Once the required powers are identified, the key observation is

(116)=(115)\binom{11}{6}=\binom{11}{5}

Since the two coefficients are equal, only the powers of α\alpha and β\beta need to match:

α5β6=α6β5\alpha^{5}\beta^{-6}=\alpha^{6}\beta^{-5}

This immediately gives

αβ=1\alpha\beta=1

Hence,

(αβ)2=1(\alpha\beta)^2=1

Therefore the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong first expression from the given question. The solution clearly works with (αx3+1βx)11\left(\alpha x^3 + \frac{1}{\beta x}\right)^{11}, not with a denominator containing x11x^{11}. Always follow the expression consistently from the worked solution when the source text has a typo.

  • Finding the correct term number but not the correct power of xx. In binomial expansions, combine exponents carefully: for the first expansion the power is 3(11k)k3(11-k)-k, and for the second it is (11k)3k(11-k)-3k.

  • Forgetting the identity (116)=(115)\binom{11}{6}=\binom{11}{5}. If this symmetry is missed, unnecessary algebra is introduced and the final simplification becomes error-prone.

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