# Homework Help: Proof w/ natural log and Riemann Sum

1. Jan 14, 2006

### Xcron

Problem states:

(A) Use mathematical induction to prove that for $$x\geq0$$ and any positive integer $$n$$.
$$e^x\geq1+x+\frac{x^2}{2!}+...+\frac{x^n}{n!}$$

(B) Use part (A) to show that $$e>2.7$$.
(C) Use part (A) to show that
$$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty} \frac{e^x}{x^k} = \infty$$
for any positive integer $$k$$.

I thought that I could easily show that e to the x power was greater than 1 and if I could show that it was greater than 1 plus the Riemann sum:
$$\sum_{i=1}^n \frac{x^n}{n!}$$ then I would have my proof...

2. Jan 14, 2006

### Corneo

Base case x = 0 then the LHS becomes $e^0 = 1$ and the RHS becomes $1 + 0 + ... + 0$. So the inequality holds. For x = k then you have $$e^k \geq 1 + k + \frac {k^2}{2} + ... + \frac {k^n}{n!}$$. Now you do x = k+1 and you have $$e^k e = e^{k+1} \geq e + ek + e \frac {k^2}{2} + ... + \frac {ek^n}{n!}$$. Clearly $$e>1,\ ek> k,\ e\frac {k^2}{2} > \frac {(k+1)^2}{2}$$ and so on. Therefore

$$e^{k+1} \geq 1 + (k+1) + \frac {(k+1)^2}{2} + ... + \frac {(k+1)^n}{n!}$$

Last edited: Jan 14, 2006
3. Jan 14, 2006

### HallsofIvy

No! x is a real variable so you can't do induction on x! The "induction variable" is n. The base case is for n=0. Prove that for x>= 0, ex>= 1 (which is easy: ex is an increasing function.)

Now, assume that ex>= 1+ x+ (1/2)x2+ ...+ (1/k!)xk for some k. You need to prove that ex>= 1+ x+ (1/2)x2+ ...+ (1/k!)xk+ (1/(k+1)!)xk+1.

What happens if you assume that is not true, that ex< 1+ x+ (1/2)x2+ ...+ (1/k!)xk+ (1/(k+1)!)xk+1 and differentiate both sides?

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2006
4. Jan 14, 2006

### shmoe

Not much, differentiation might not preseve the inequality (I might not see what you have in mind here?)

You can go from k to k+1 by a definite integral though (I'll leave it to Xcron to set up).