NVAMediumJEE 2026Applications of P&C

JEE Mathematics 2026 Question with Solution

If (115C0+115C1)(115C1+115C2)(115C12+115C13)=α1314C014C114C12\left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_0} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_1} \right) \left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_1} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_2} \right) \dots \left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{12}} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{13}} \right) = \frac{\alpha^{13}}{{}^{14}C_0 {}^{14}C_1 \dots {}^{14}C_{12}}, then 30α30\alpha is equal to _____.

Answer

Correct answer:32

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given:

(115C0+115C1)(115C1+115C2)(115C12+115C13)=α1314C014C114C12\left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_0} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_1} \right) \left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_1} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_2} \right) \dots \left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{12}} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{13}} \right) = \frac{\alpha^{13}}{{}^{14}C_0 {}^{14}C_1 \dots {}^{14}C_{12}}

Find: 30α30\alpha

Use the identity

1nCr+1nCr+1=n+1nn1Cr\frac{1}{{}^{n}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{n}C_{r+1}} = \frac{n+1}{n \cdot {}^{n-1}C_r}

For the general term,

Tr=1nCr+1nCr+1T_r = \frac{1}{{}^{n}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{n}C_{r+1}}

Then

Tr=r!(nr)!n!+(r+1)!(nr1)!n!T_r = \frac{r!(n-r)!}{n!} + \frac{(r+1)!(n-r-1)!}{n!} Tr=r!(nr1)!n![(nr)+(r+1)]T_r = \frac{r!(n-r-1)!}{n!}\left[(n-r)+(r+1)\right] Tr=r!(nr1)!n!(n+1)T_r = \frac{r!(n-r-1)!}{n!}(n+1) Tr=n+1nr!(nr1)!(n1)!=n+1nn1CrT_r = \frac{n+1}{n} \cdot \frac{r!(n-r-1)!}{(n-1)!} = \frac{n+1}{n \cdot {}^{n-1}C_r}

Now substitute n=15n=15:

115Cr+115Cr+1=161514Cr\frac{1}{{}^{15}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{r+1}} = \frac{16}{15 \cdot {}^{14}C_r}

Hence,

r=012(115Cr+115Cr+1)=r=012161514Cr\prod_{r=0}^{12} \left( \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{r+1}} \right) = \prod_{r=0}^{12} \frac{16}{15 \cdot {}^{14}C_r}

Since there are 1313 terms,

Product=(16/15)13r=01214Cr=(16/15)1314C014C114C12\text{Product} = \frac{(16/15)^{13}}{\prod_{r=0}^{12} {}^{14}C_r} = \frac{(16/15)^{13}}{{}^{14}C_0 {}^{14}C_1 \dots {}^{14}C_{12}}

Comparing with the given expression,

α=1615\alpha = \frac{16}{15}

Therefore,

30α=30×1615=3230\alpha = 30 \times \frac{16}{15} = 32

So, the value of 30α30\alpha is 3232.

The solution lists the answer key as 1515, but the working shown in the solution gives 3232. Therefore, the answer derived from the solution is 3232.

Use the reciprocal binomial identity directly

Given: the product of terms of the form

115Cr+115Cr+1\frac{1}{{}^{15}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{r+1}}

Find: 30α30\alpha

Recognize directly that

115Cr+115Cr+1=161514Cr\frac{1}{{}^{15}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{r+1}} = \frac{16}{15\cdot {}^{14}C_r}

So each factor contributes a common multiplier of 1615\frac{16}{15} and a denominator factor 14Cr^{14}C_r. Therefore,

r=012(115Cr+115Cr+1)=(16/15)1314C014C114C12\prod_{r=0}^{12}\left(\frac{1}{{}^{15}C_r} + \frac{1}{{}^{15}C_{r+1}}\right) = \frac{(16/15)^{13}}{{}^{14}C_0 {}^{14}C_1 \dots {}^{14}C_{12}}

Hence,

α=1615\alpha = \frac{16}{15}

and so

30α=3230\alpha = 32

Therefore, the value of 30α30\alpha is 3232.

Common mistakes

  • A common mistake is to trust the listed answer key 1515 without checking the working. This is wrong because the algebra in the solution gives α=1615\alpha=\frac{16}{15}. Always derive the value from the identity and then compute 30α30\alpha.

  • Students may count the number of factors incorrectly. The product runs from r=0r=0 to r=12r=12, so there are 1313 terms, not 1212. Use the inclusive count carefully when raising 1615\frac{16}{15} to a power.

  • Another mistake is to apply the identity incorrectly as n+1n1Cr\frac{n+1}{{}^{n-1}C_r} and forget the factor of 1n\frac{1}{n}. This changes the value of α\alpha. Keep the correct identity as n+1nn1Cr\frac{n+1}{n\cdot {}^{n-1}C_r}.

Practice more Applications of P&C questions

Get unlimited AI-adaptive practice, mastery tracking, and an AI tutor that explains every step — free to start.

Related questions