If the coefficients of $x^4, x^5$ and $x^6$ in the expansion of $(1+x)^n$ are in the arithmetic progression, then the maximum value of $n$ is:
Solution
<p>$$\begin{aligned}
& (1+x)^n={ }^n C_0+{ }^n C_1 x^1+{ }^n C_2 x^2+\ldots{ }^n C_n x^n \\
& { }^n C_4,{ }^n C_5 \&{ }^n C_6 \text { are in A.P. } \\
& { }^n C_5-{ }^n C_4={ }^n C_6-{ }^n C_5 \\
& \Rightarrow \frac{n!}{5!(n-5)!}-\frac{n!}{4!(n-4)!}=\frac{n!}{6!(n-6)!}-\frac{n!}{5!(n-5)!} \\
& \Rightarrow 30(n-9)(n-6)=5(n-4)(n-11) \\
& \Rightarrow 30 n^2-450 n+1620=5 n^2 \\
& \Rightarrow \frac{1}{n-5}\left[\frac{n-4-5}{5(n-4)}\right]=\frac{1}{5}\left[\frac{n-5-6}{6(n-5)}\right] \\
& \Rightarrow \frac{n-9}{5(n-4)}=\frac{1}{5}\left[\frac{n-11}{6}\right] \\
& \Rightarrow n^2-21 n+98=0 \\
& n_{\max }=14
\end{aligned}$$</p>
About this question
Subject: Mathematics · Chapter: Binomial Theorem · Topic: Binomial Expansion
This question is part of PrepWiser's free JEE Main question bank. 193 more solved questions on Binomial Theorem are available — start with the harder ones if your accuracy is >70%.