<s>[INST] 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)?
 [/INST] 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.
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