The Logarithmic Constant e is Irrational

Miliyon T.
Addis Ababa University
Department of Mathematics
March 17, 2016

Characterization of the number e.

1.1

Using limit

Proposition 1.1. The limit


x
1
lim
1+
x
x

(1)

converges to e.
Proof.

The Limit

x

1
lim
1+
x
x

is indeterminate form of the type

1 .

So let's change it into the standard indeterminate

0
or
), so that we could use L'Hopital's rule to evaluate the limit.
form i.e. (
0

Now,


lim

1
1+
x

x

Now the limit is in

ln(1+

lim

1 x
ln(1+ x
)

lim

x ln(1+ x1 )

lim

1
x

0
form. Thus we can apply L'Hopital's rule
0

limx

1 )) 0
(ln (1+ x
1 )0
(x

=e
=e

limx

1
( 1 ) 0
1) x
(1+ x
1 )0
(x

limx

1
1)
(1+ x

= e (1+

limx

=e

1
x)

1
x)

=e

limx

ln (1+

1
x

1
x)

1.2

Using power series

Proposition 1.2. The innite series

1
1
1
1
1
1 + + + + + +
1! 2! 3! 4! 5!
converges to the number e.

Proof.

At

The power series expansion of

ex

(2)

is

ex = 1 + x +

x2 x3
+
+
2!
3!

(3)

e=1+1+

1
1
+ +
2! 3!

(4)

x = 1,

Irrationality of e

Theorem 2.1. The number e is irrational.

Proof.

We now that

e=1+1+

1
1
+ +
2! 3!

Denote the partial sum

1
1
1
+ + +
2! 3!
n!
following inequality is true for any n = 1, 2, 3, 4, . . .
1
1
1
+
+
+
0 < e sn =
(n + 1)! (n + 2)! (n + 3)!


1
1
1
=
1+
+
+
(n + 1)!
(n + 2) ((n + 3)(n + 2)
sn = 1 + 1 +

Clearly, the

Now replace every

n+k

in the denominator by

n+1

since

k>1

we've

(5)

(6)

n + k > n + 1.

This implies us

1
1
<
(n + k)
(n + 1)
Thus,





1
1
1
1
1
1
1+
+
+ <
1+
+
+
(n + 1)!
(n + 2) (n + 3)(n + 2)
(n + 1)!
(n + 1) (n + 1)(n + 1)


1
1
1
=
1+
+
+
(n + 1)!
(n + 1) (n + 1)2


1
n+1
=
(Geometric sum)
(n + 1)!
n
1
=
n!n
2

Thus we have



1
1
1
1
1+
+
+ <
(n + 1)!
(n + 2) (n + 3)(n + 2)
n!n

(7)

Now use (7) and (6) to obtain

0 < n!(e sn ) <

Assume

is rational i.e.

e=

p
. Where
q

1
,
n
p

for

and

n = 1, 2, 3, . . .

(8)

are relatively prime (the fraction is in

lowest term).
Now choose any

n > q.

Which implies

n>1

1
n

so is

0 < n!(e sn ) <

< 1.

Thus, (8) becomes

1
<1
n

n!(e sn ) is not an integer. But



p
n!(e sn ) = n!
sn
q
 
p
= n!
n!(sn )
q

 

1
1
n!
1
=
p n! 1 + 1 + + + +
q
2! 3!
n!
| {z }
|
{z
}

This shows that

integer

= integer
Meaning

n!(e sn )
e

integer

= integer.

is an integer which is a contradiction!

is irrational.

References
[1] [Robert Ellis]

[2] [Tom Apostol]

[3] [Walter Rudin]

q|n! n > q.)

integer

rational is wrong.
Therefore,

Calculus with Analytic Geometry.

Mathematical Analysis, 2nd ed.

Principles of Mathematical Analysis.

Hence our assumption

is