Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT

UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com

HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

5.1 The number e

Consider the sequence of numbers defined by:

1
(1  ) n , n  1, 2, 3, 
n

n 1 2 3 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000

1
(1  )
n 2 2.25 2.3704 2.5937 2.7048 2.71692 2.71875 2.71827 2.718281

1
As the value of n approaches ∞, the value of (1  ) approaches a limit around 2.7182….
n

This limit is denoted by e.

n
Definition 1 e = lim 1  1  , where n takes positive integral values.
n 
 n

1 1 1 1
Definition 2 e  lim ( 1      )   , where n takes positive integral values.
n 1! 2! n! n 0 n!

Thus,

Note: e is an important irrational number.

Example 1 Prove that 2  e  3 .

Solution:

Since e  lim ( 1  1  1    1 )   1 , we have
n  1! 2! n! n 0 n!

5 1 1 1 1 1 1
 1   e  1     ...
2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2  3 1 2  3  4
1 1 1 1
 1     ...
1 1 2 1 2  2 1 2  2  2
1
 1
1
1
2
3

Thus, 2e3

n
Find lim 1   .
1
Example 2
n 
 5n 
Solution:
1

 1 
n
 1  5
5n

lim 1   = lim 1   

n 
 5n  n 
 5n  
1
 
5n 5
=  lim 1  1  

3 n 
 5n  

1
= e  1.2214
5

Example 3 Express the following limit in terms of e.

n
 1 
lim 1  
n 
 n 1
Solution:
n
 1  1
lim 1    lim
 n 1
n n n
 1 
1  
 n 1
 1 
1  
 n 1
 lim n 1
n 
 1 
1  
 n 1
 1 
lim 1  
n
 n 1
 n 1
 1 
lim 1  
n 
 n 1
1
 n 1
 1 
lim 1  
n 1
 n 1
1

e
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 4 Calculate
n
 2
lim 1  
n 
 n
n
 
n  
 2  1
lim 1    lim 1  
n 
 n  n   n 
 
 2 
2
 n

 2 
 1  
 lim 1   
n   n  
 
 2  
 
2
 n


  2

 1  
 lim  1 n  
   
n
2  
 2  
 
2
 n

    2

  1  
  lim 1  
n
2    n  

  2  
 
 e
2

 e2

Example 5 Calculate
n
 n 
lim  
n  n  1
 
Solution:
n
 
n  1 
 n   
lim 
n  n  1
  lim
  n   1  1 
 
 n
lim 1
n

 n 
n
 1
lim 1  
n
 n
1

e
Example 6 Calculate
 n
 3 2
lim 1   2 
n 
 n n 
Solution:

 3n  2 
n n
 3 2 
lim 1   2   lim 1  
n 
 n n  n   n2 
n
 
 
1 
 lim 1 
n   n2 
 
 3n  2 
3n  2
 n  2
n
  3n  2 

 1  
 lim 1  
n   n 
2
  
 3n  2  
 
3n  2
lim
 n  n 
2
n
  3n  2 

 1  
 lim  1  
n2
 
 n 
2

3n  2  
 3n  2  
 
e 3
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

1 < 1 1 1 1
Example 7 Prove that e - ( 1   ) 
(n  1)! 1! 2! n! n!n
Solution:
1 1 1
e- ( 1    )
1! 2! n!

1 1 1 1
   ( 1   )
n 0 n! 1! 2! n!
1 1 1
    ...
(n  1)! (n  2)! (n  3)!
1 1 1 1 
     ...
n!  (n  1) (n  1)(n  2) (n  1)(n  2)(n  3) 
1 1 1 1 
     ...
n!  (n  1) (n  1)(n  1) (n  1)(n  1)(n  1) 
1 1 1 1 
     ...
n!  (n  1) (n  1) 2
(n  1)3 
1 1 1 1 
     ...
n!  (n  1) (n  1) 2
(n  1) 3

 
1 1 1 
   
n!  (n  1) 1  1 
 n 1 
 
1 1 1 
  
n!  (n  1) n 
 n 1 
1 1

n!  n 
1

n!n

1 1 1 1
Obviously,     ...
(n  1)! (n  1)! (n  2)! (n  3)!
1 < 1 1 1 1
Thus, e - ( 1   ) 
(n  1)! 1! 2! n! n!n