Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/ia/paper-4/8e/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 ia Paper 4 8E a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
First establish the binomial theorem needed throughout this question. For integers , define the binomial coefficient to be the number of -element subsets of an -element set. Counting ordered selections and then forgetting their order giveswith the factorial convention . In the product of factors , choose from exactly factors and from the others. Each choice contributes , and there are choices. The distributive law therefore provesfor every complex number , including by the empty-product convention.
To evaluate the even-indexed sum, use the even part of a polynomial: averaging the binomial theorem at and cancels the odd powers. For ,The two complex numbers satisfy . Their th powers are both , since . Thus the sum is
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