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JEE Main 2018 · Mathematics · Binomial Theorem · hard

The number of rational terms in the binomial expansion of (√[3]2+√[4]5)^100 is

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The number of rational terms in the binomial expansion of (23+54)100\left(\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[4]{5}\right)^{100} is
  1. A. 88
  2. B. 99
  3. C. 1111
  4. D. 2525
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Answer: (B) 99

The general term is Tr+1=(100r) 2(100−r)/3 5r/4T_{r+1}=\binom{100}{r}\,2^{(100-r)/3}\,5^{r/4}. It is rational only if both exponents are integers: 4∣r4\mid r and 3∣(100−r)3\mid(100-r). The second condition means r≡100≡1(mod3)r\equiv100\equiv1\pmod 3. Combining r≡0(mod4)r\equiv0\pmod4 and r≡1(mod3)r\equiv1\pmod3 gives r≡4(mod12)r\equiv4\pmod{12}. With 0≤r≤1000\le r\le100 the admissible values are r=4,16,28,…,100r=4,16,28,\dots,100, an AP with common difference 1212: 100=4+12(k−1)⇒k=9100=4+12(k-1)\Rightarrow k=9. So there are 99 rational terms. Counting only multiples of 44 would give 2626, and only the second condition gives 3434, both of which are wrong.
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