Coefficient of $x^4$ in multinomial expansion What is the coefficient of $x^4$ in $(1 + x - 2x^2)^7$? What is a quick way to solve this problem using the binomial theorem (I have not learned multinomial theorem)?

An alternative approach, if you absolutely, positively have to use the binomial theorem, would be to let $a=1+x$ and $b=-2x^2$. Note that in the expansion of $(a+b)^7$ only the terms $a^7$, $a^6b$ and $a^5b^2$ will, when expanded again, eventually contain $x^4$. But how many? $a^7 = (x+1)^7$ should be easy, $a^6b=-2x^2(x+1)^6$,so you will need the coefficient of $x^2$ in $(x+1)^6$, and $a^5b^2=4x^4(1+x)^5$ should be easier again.

If you can do without the binomial theorem, fewer calculations will be required, however.
$(1 + x - 2x^2)^7=(1 + x - 2x^2)(1 + x - 2x^2)(1 + x - 2x^2)(1 + x - 2x^2)(1 + x - 2x^2)(1 + x - 2x^2)(1 + x - 2x^2)$
The full product is the sum of all products of each combination of one summand from each expression in parentheses (not sure I put that in the best possible way; I mean: simply apply distributive law). Which of them contain $x^4$, and how many are there?


*

*$1*1*1*x*x*x*x$ --  $\binom{7}{4}$ possibilities 

*$1*1*1*1*(-2x^2)*x*x$ --  $7*\binom{6}{2}$ possibilities (or $\binom{7}{2}*5$)

*$1*1*1*1*1*1*(-2x^2)*(-2x^2)$ --  $\binom{7}{2}$ possibilities 


Now calculate $\binom{7}{4}-2*7*\binom{6}{2}+(-2)(-2)\binom{7}{2}$ (note: This is also the expression you get with the former approach, and the result will be the one given in another answer already ;-)). I am not sure factorization saves much time here.
