BINOMIAL EXPANSION – A SIMPLE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND TIME COMPLEXITY OF CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS

Alternative (or computer-ready) approach of learning Mathematics is exemplified and compared to the conventional methods using binomial expansion as a sample subtopic. The approach uses the tabular system for obtaining the terms of a binomial expansion. Three groups of randomly selected 100 level students are tested using one method for each group. We present a comparative analysis of the data obtained. Some advantages of the alternative method were observed. It can go a long way to enhance students’ understanding of the concept. Moreover, it enables the programming of binomial expansion for computer aided solutions to problems whose solutions require binomial expansion as can be deduced from the time complexity of the methods.