# Math Help - How do I show that lim x->inf (1 + 1/n)^n = e ?

1. ## How do I show that lim x->inf (1 + 1/n)^n = e ?

How do I SHOW that lim x->inf (1 + 1/x)^x = e ? Is it possible with techniques (easy and/or hard) (as long as it is using what schools teach Calculus 2 students - in other words, I'm bombarded with too much work at the moment to be able to learn something that is not part of my course)?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

2. Originally Posted by s3a
How do I SHOW that lim x->inf (1 + 1/x)^x = e ? Is it possible with techniques (easy and/or hard) (as long as it is using what schools teach Calculus 2 students - in other words, I'm bombarded with too much work at the moment to be able to learn something that is not part of my course)?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
You can use logs in conjunction with L'Hopital's rule

or you can use the binomial expansion.

$ln\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)^x=ln(limit)$

$xln\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)=ln(limit)$

$\frac{ln\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)}{\left(\frac{1} {x}\right)}=ln(limit)$

This gives 0/0 as x goes to infinity,
so applying L'Hopital's rule, differentiating numerator and denominator with the chain rule..

$\frac{\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{x}}\left(-\frac{1}{x^2}\right)}{\left(-\frac{1}{x^2}\right)}$

$=\frac{1}{\frac{x+1}{x}}=\frac{x}{x+1}$

As x approaches infinity, this approaches 1,
hence

$1=ln(limit)\ \Rightarrow\ e^1=limit$

3. Just a quick question; is it acceptable to use the word "limit" as a variable on a test? What would you recommend?

4. Originally Posted by s3a
Just a quick question; is it acceptable to use the word "limit" as a variable on a test? What would you recommend?
Not as a variable, no...

I placed it in brackets for notational convenience as a shortcut,
however, it's preferable maybe to use a capital L.

$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right )^x=L$

then

$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}ln\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\rig ht)^x=ln(L)$

$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}xln\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\ri ght)=ln(L)$

$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\frac{ln\left(1+\frac{1}{ x}\right)}{\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)}=ln(L)$

Then applying L'Hopital's rule, differentiating numerator and denominator..

$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\frac{x+1}{x}=ln(L)$

$1=ln(L)$

$L=e$

$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right )^x=e$

5. Originally Posted by s3a
How do I SHOW that lim x->inf (1 + 1/x)^x = e ? Is it possible with techniques (easy and/or hard) (as long as it is using what schools teach Calculus 2 students
I am not sure what all schools teach Caculus II students.
Here is the way I present the limit.
We know that $\frac{1}{1+n}<\ln\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)<\frac{ 1}{n}$.
From which we get $e^{\frac{n}{1+n}}<\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n.
The limit is squeezed between $e~\&~e$.