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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a limit involving the expression \(\frac{(1 + 1/x)^{x^2}}{e^x}\). Participants explore various approaches to find the limit as \(x\) approaches infinity, focusing on logarithmic transformations and the application of L'Hôpital's Rule.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest taking the natural logarithm of the limit to simplify the expression and explore the resulting forms. Some express difficulty in achieving the correct indeterminate form for applying L'Hôpital's Rule.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided hints and partial solutions, with some suggesting the use of series expansions and logarithmic properties. There is ongoing exploration of the limit's behavior, but no consensus has been reached on the final result.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention constraints related to homework guidelines, emphasizing that direct answers cannot be provided. There are also indications of confusion regarding the differentiation of logarithmic terms and the correct application of L'Hôpital's Rule.

gomunkul51
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I found an interesting limit:

2livllg.png


any ideas? :)
 
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This might be helpful.
[tex]\frac{(1 + 1/x)^{x^2}}{e^x} = \frac{(1 + 1/x)^{x^2}}{(e^{1/x})^{x^2}} = \left(\frac{1 + 1/x}{e^{1/x}}\right)^{x^2}[/tex]

Let y = the last expression above, then take ln of both sides, then take the limit. Try to get something that you can use L'Hopital's Rule on.

I think I know what the limit is, but I haven't worked this all the way through.
 
Remember: [tex]\lim_{x\to\infty} \left( 1+ \frac{1}{x}\right)^x = e[/tex]
 
I can't seem to get to the right indeterminate form (inf/inf, 0/0) to use l'Hospital's rule.

Can someone please try to get the full result? :)
 
gomunkul51 said:
I can't seem to get to the right indeterminate form (inf/inf, 0/0) to use l'Hospital's rule.

Can someone please try to get the full result? :)

We can't give you answers like that.

You could try my suggestion.

EDIT: Perhaps my last hint was a bit too cryptic. Try taking the natural log of your limit and expand the log term into a series.
 
Last edited:
[tex]y=\frac{(1+\frac{1}{x})^{x^2}}{e^x}[/tex]

[tex]lny=x^2ln(1+\frac{1}{x})-x[/tex]

Now take limit of both sides and write down the solution here.

Regards.
 
njama: if I take the limit of both sides I get [tex]ln(y)=inf*0-inf[/tex] It doesn't make sense and you can't use l'Hopital's Rule on it.

Does anyone knows how to do it ?
 
Here is a try:

[tex] exp( [ln(1 + 1/x) - 1/x] / [1/x^2] )[/tex]

this is (I think) the correct type for l'Hopital's Rule of:
[tex] 0/0[/tex]

so I differentiate:
[tex] exp( [(x/[x+1]) + 1/x^2] / [-2/x^3] )[/tex]

and this is basically:
[tex] exp(1/0) -> infinity[/tex]

so limit should be infinity, but it's NOT.

I did it with changing the limit to (x goes to 0) and (x=1/x) here i could get the right answer.

I don't understand why can't I get the right limit in the first form !
 
Last edited:
You didn't differentiate the log term correctly. It's easiest to do if you rewrite it as

[tex]\log \left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right) = \log \left(\frac{x+1}{x}\right) = \log (x+1) - \log x[/tex]

and then differentiate with respect to x.
 
  • #10
My God, thank you very much vela !

It was driving me crazy!

probably the coming PDE test messed with my head a bit :)
 
  • #11
[tex] <br /> exp( [ln(1 + 1/x) - 1/x] / [1/x^2] )<br /> [/tex]

Differential:

[tex] <br /> exp( [(-1/[x^2+x]) + 1/x^2] / [-2/x^3] ) =<br /> = exp( -(1/2)*(x - x^2/x+1) ) = exp( -(1/2)*(x/x+1) ) = exp(-(1/2))<br /> <br /> =\frac{1}{e^1/2}[/tex]

Which is the correct answer !
 
  • #12
Use njama's suggestion to write
[tex]lim~ln y = x^2 ln(1 + 1/x) - x = lim~x^2(ln(1 + 1/x) - 1/x) = lim~\frac{ln(1 + 1/x) - 1/x}{1/x^2}[/tex]

(All limits taken as x --> infinity.)

As x --> infinity, the numerator --> 0 as does the denominator, so L' Hopital's Rule applies.
[tex]= lim~\frac{\frac{1}{(1 + 1/x)} \cdot (-1/x^2) + 1/x^2}{-2/x^3}[/tex]

Evalulate the last limit and keep in mind that this is lim ln y, not lim y.
 
  • #13
Take the log

[tex] \begin{array}{l}<br /> x^{2} \, \ln(1 + \frac{1}{x}) - x = x \, \left(x \ln(1 + \frac{1}{x}) - 1\right) \\<br /> <br /> = \frac{x \, \ln(1 + \frac{1}{x}) - 1}{\frac{1}{x}}<br /> \end{array}[/tex]

Notice that:

[tex] \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \left[ x \ln(1 + \frac{1}{x})\right] \stackrel{t = 1\x}{=} \lim_{t \rightarrow 0} \frac{\ln(1 + t)}{t} = \frac{0}{0} = \lim_{t \rightarrow 0} \frac{1}{1 + t} = 1[/tex]

so, you have an indeterminate form 0/0. Use L'Hospital's Rule.

Don't forget to exponentiate back for the final result.
 
  • #14
gomunkul51 said:
[tex] <br /> exp( [ln(1 + 1/x) - 1/x] / [1/x^2] )<br /> [/tex]

Differential:

[tex] <br /> exp( [(-1/[x^2+x]) + 1/x^2] / [-2/x^3] ) =<br /> = exp( -(1/2)*(x - x^2/x+1) ) = exp( -(1/2)*(x/x+1) ) = exp(-(1/2))<br /> <br /> =\frac{1}{e^1/2}[/tex]



Which is the correct answer !



Thank you, but as you see I already did it !
Limit = exp(-(1/2))
 

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