If \(x\) is so small, that \(x^5\) and higher power of \(x\) may be neglected, then the coefficient of…

If \(x\) is so small, that \(x^5\) and higher power of \(x\) may be neglected, then the coefficient of \(x^4\) in the expansion of \(\sqrt{x^2+4}-\sqrt{x^2+9}\), is
  1. \(\frac{19}{1728}\)
  2. \(\frac{-19}{1728}\)
  3. \(\frac{43}{1728}\)
  4. \(\frac{-43}{1728}\)

Solution

Given, \(\sqrt{x^2+4}-\sqrt{x^2+9}\) \(\begin{aligned} & =\left(x^2+4\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}-\left(x^2+9\right)^{\frac{1}{2}} \\ & =2\left(1+\frac{x^2}{4}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}-3\left(1+\frac{x^2}{9}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}} \end{aligned}\) Now, coefficient of \(x^4\) is \(\left[2 \frac{\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}-1\right)}{2 !}\left(\frac{x^2}{4}\right)^2-3\left(\frac{\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}-1\right)}{2 !}\left(\frac{x^2}{9}\right)^2\right]\right]\) \(\begin{aligned} & \quad=x^4\left[-\frac{1}{4 \times 16}+3 \times \frac{1}{8} \times \frac{1}{81}\right]=x^4\left[-\frac{1}{64}+\frac{1}{216}\right] \\ & \therefore \text { Coefficient of } x^4 \text { is }\left(-\frac{1}{64}+\frac{1}{216}\right) \\ & \quad=\frac{-216+64}{(64)(216)}=\frac{-152}{(64)(216)}=\frac{-19}{1728}\end{aligned}\)

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2019 (22 Apr Shift 1)

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