How do you expand (u-v)^3(uv)3?

1 Answer
Jul 9, 2016

= u^3 - 3u^2v + 3uv^2 - v^3=u33u2v+3uv2v3

Explanation:

You can use the Binomial Theorem, which is given by:

(x+y)^n = sum_(k=0)^n ((n),(k)) x^(n-k)y^k

where ((n),(k)) = (n!)/(k!(n-k)!)

with x = u, y = -v and n = 3

therefore (u-v)^3 = sum_(k=0)^3 ((3),(k))u^(3-k)(-v)^k

=((3),(0))u^3(-v)^0 + ((3),(1))u^2(-v)^1 + ((3),(2))u^1(-v)^2 + ((3),(3))u^0(-v)^3

= u^3 - 3u^2v + 3uv^2 - v^3