Proving $\lim \limits_{n\to +\infty } \left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)^n=\text{e}^x$.

Question

I knew that $e^x=\lim \limits_{n\to+\infty }{\left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)^n}$. But I've never seen its proof. So I tried to prove it using $\exp(\ln x)=\ln(\exp(x))=x$. Here is what I've tried so far :

$$ \left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right) ^n=e^{n\ln(1+\frac{x}{n})}$$ $$\text{I'll now study just } {n\ln\left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)}.$$$$ \text{If this function has the line }y=x \text{ as oblique asymptote, then the equality is proven.}$$

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

$$=n[\ln(n+x)-ln(n)]$$ $$=n\left[\int_1^{n}\frac{dt}{t}+\int_{n}^{x}\frac{dt}{t}-\int_1^{n}\frac{dt}{t}\right]$$ $$=n[\ln(x)-\ln(n)]$$

But I just don't know how to show that this expression has an oblique asymptote $y=x$. I've thought that if there is an oblique asymptote as $n$ goes to infinity, than for a huge $n$, we have :

$$\ln\left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)\approx \frac{x}{n}\approx0$$ Which looks correct but we could have any other function $f(x)$, $\ln\left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)\approx\frac{f(x)}{n}\approx 0$. Which doesn't prove the oblique asymptote because $x$ is constant.

So how can prove $e^x=\lim \limits_{n\to +\infty } \left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)^n$? And where did I go wrong?

Answer 1

If you're allowed to use Taylor (power) expansions this is pretty simple:

$$n\log\left(1+\frac xn\right)=n\sum_{k=1}^\infty (-1)^{k+1}\frac{x^k}{k\,n^k}=n\left(\frac xn+\mathcal O\left(\frac1{n^2}\right)\right)=$$

$$=x+\mathcal O\left(\frac1n\right)\xrightarrow[n\to\infty]{}x$$

Answer 2

I don't know if it helps you, it is just a suggestion, if you know the fundamental limite: $$\lim_{n\to \infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n=e$$ Then you have for $$\lim_{n\to \infty}\left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)^n$$ replacing $k=\frac{n}{x}$ we get $$\lim_{n\to \infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{k}\right)^{kx}= \left(\lim_{k\to \infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{k}\right)^{k}\right)^x =e^x$$

Answer 3

Here's a way to do it with the integral: \begin{align*} n\log{\left(1+{x\over n}\right)} & = n\int_1^{1+{x/ n}}{dt\over t} \end{align*} and by the simplest conceivable estimate \begin{align*} {x\over 1+x/n} = n{x/n\over1+{x/ n}}\leq n\int_1^{1+{x/ n}}{dt\over t} \leq n{x\over n} = x. \end{align*} (The inequalities hold when $x$ is negative too, provided the expressions are defined.) Now make $n\to\infty$ and apply the squeeze theorem.

Answer 4

$f(x) = e^x$ is the only solution to the differential equation $\dfrac{dy}{dx} = y$ with $f(0)=1$.

To approximate $f(a)$, we can use Euler's method on the interval $[0,a]$ with $n$ subintervals.

$f(0) = 1, f'(0)=1 \implies f(\frac{a}{n}) \approx 1+\frac{a}{n}$

$f(\frac{a}{n}) \approx 1+\frac{a}{n}, f'(\frac{a}{n}) \approx 1+\frac{a}{n} \implies f(\frac{2a}{n}) \approx 1+\frac{a}{n} + \frac{a}{n}(1+\frac{a}{n}) = (1+\frac{a}{n})^2$

.

.

.

$f(a) \approx (1+\frac{a}{n})^n$

Since Euler's method actually converges in the limit, we have

$$e^a = \lim_{n \to \infty} (1+\frac{a}{n})^n$$

Answer 5

Let's start with the "where did I go wrong" part of the question. Where you wrote

$$=n\left[\int_1^{n}\frac{dt}{t}+\int_{n}^{x}\frac{dt}{t}-\int_1^{n}\frac{dt}{t}\right]$$

you should have written

$$=n\left[\int_1^{n}\frac{dt}{t}+\int_{n}^{n+x}\frac{dt}{t}-\int_1^{n}\frac{dt}{t}\right]$$

Note, the correct upper limit in the middle integration is $n+x$, not just $x$. Otherwise you were on the right track. The corrected integral leaves us with

$$n\ln\left(1+\frac{x}{n}\right)=n\int_n^{n+x}{dt\over t}$$

Now as soon at $n\gt x$, we have

$${1\over n+|x|}\le{1\over t}\le{1\over n-|x|}$$

on the interval $t\in[n-|x|,n+|x|]$, which certainly includes the interval between $n$ and $n+x$. If you are careful with the minus signs, you can conclude that

$${nx\over n+x}\le n\int_n^{n+x}{dt\over t}\le{nx\over n-x}$$

and it now follows easily that

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

Answer 6

Start with the functions $$ f_n(x) = \left(1 + \frac{x}{n}\right)^n. $$ Then $$ f'_n(x) = \left(1 + \frac{x}{n}\right)^{n-1} = \left(1 + \frac{x}{n}\right)^{-1}f_n(x) $$ If we take the limit and call $f(x) = \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}f_n(x)$, then $$ f'(x) = f(x) $$ and $f(0) = 1$. This first-order ODE has the unique solution $f(x) = e^x$.

Answer 7

If you already know the exponential function, then you probably also know the inequality $e^x\ge 1+x$. Then also

$$e^x=\frac1{e^{-x}}\le\frac1{1-x}=(1+x)\frac1{1-x^2}$$

Now $e^x=(e^{\frac xn})^n$, so for $n>|x|$

$$ \left(1+\tfrac xn\right)^n \le e^x \le \left(1+\tfrac{x}{n}\right)^n\frac1{\left(1-\tfrac{x^2}{n^2}\right)^n}\le\left(1+\tfrac{x}{n}\right)^n\frac1{1-\tfrac{x^2}{n}} $$

The last inequality is by the Bernoulli inequality.