What is the middle term in the expansion of #(x/2-2y)^6#?

1 Answer
Mar 24, 2015

Since this was asked under "Pascal's Triangle and Binomial Expansion" let's use that

Term Multiplier/Pascal's Triangle Expansion Based on Exponent
#(a+b)^0: 1#
#(a+b)^1: 1 - 1#
#(a+b)^2:1 - 2 - 1#
#(a+b)^3: 1 - 3 - 3 - 1#
#(a+b)^4:1 - 4 - 6 - 4 - 1#
#(a+b)^5:1 - 5 - 10 - 10 - 5 - 1#
#(a+b)^color(red)(6): 1 - 6 - 15 - color(red)(20) - 15 - 6 - 1#
#color(white)("XXXX")#That is, the expansion of
#color(white)("XXXX")##color(white)("XXXX")##(a+b)^(color(red)(6))#
#color(white)("XXXX")#is
#color(white)("XXXX")##color(white)("XXXX")##1a^6b^0+6a^5b^1+15a^4b^2+color(red)(20a^3b^3)+15a^2b^4+6b^1b^5+1a^0b^6#

with #a= x/2# and #b=-2y#
the middle term of #(x/2 - 2y)^6# is

#color(red)(20)(x/2)^3(-2y)^3#

#= -20x^3y^3#