Where Can I Find Help on Writing Series Expansion Formulas?

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This discussion centers on evaluating the limit of the expression \lim_{x\to\infty}x[(1+ 1/x)^x- e]. Participants confirm that the limit exists and is equal to -e/2. The analysis involves applying L'Hôpital's Rule and series expansion techniques to resolve the indeterminate form. The final result is derived through careful manipulation of exponential functions and logarithms, highlighting the importance of precise notation in mathematical expressions.

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kahlan
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how are u every one there
i am happy to be one of ur friends
just we have challenge because of this limit
so i hope that someone donate to solve it
thanx
 
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I would suggest changing this in a 0/0 or an \infty / \infty and applying L' Hopital.
 
Last edited:
But it looks obvious that the limit does not exist !
 
Ow yes, you're right. It obviously doesn't exist. I read one of the parantheses wrong.
 
Kahlan, the "wrong parentheses" micromass was seeing was
\lim_{x\to\infty}x[(1+ 1/x)^x- e]

It is well known that (1+ 1/x)^x goes to e so that (1+ 1/x)^x- e would go to 0- the additional x outside the braces would give an indeterminant form of "infinity* 0".

However, you have the "x" inside the braces and -e outside. \lim_{x\to\infty}x(1+ 1/x)^x is of the form "infinity*e" which does not converge.
 
\lim_{x\to\infty}x[(1+ 1/x)^x- e]
 
it sould be like \lim_{x\to\infty}x[(1+ 1/x)^x- e]
sorry guys
as well as answer will be 1
 


kahlan said:
how are u every one there
i am happy to be one of ur friends
just we have challenge because of this limit
so i hope that someone donate to solve it
thanx

sorry
 
The limit does exist.

You have:
x[(1 + 1/x)^x] - e = x[exp(x*ln(1+1/x))-e)
Then you use h=1/x, what gives:

1/h*[exp(ln(1+h)/h)-e)
=1/h*[exp(1/h*(h-h²/2+h^3/3+o(h))-e)]
=1/h*[exp(1-h/2+h²/3+o(h))-e)]
=1/h*[e(exp(-h/2+h²/3+o(h))-1)]
=1/h*[e(1-h/2+h²/3+o(h)-1)
=1/h*[e(-h/2+h²/3+o(h)]
=e/h*(-h/2+h²/3+o(h)]
=-e/2+h/3+o(h)

As x→∞, then h→0

Finally, you get:

lim x→∞ (x[(1 + 1/x)^x] - e) = lim h→0 (-e/2+h/3+o(h)) = -e/2
 
  • #10
scichem, you're being a bit sloppy with braces and parentheses, so it's hard to see where you went wrong. You should have obtained

x\bigl((1 + 1/x)^x - e\bigr) = -\frac e 2 + \frac{11 e}{24}\frac 1 x - O\bigl(1/x^2\bigr)
or
\bigl((1 + h)^{1/h} - e\bigr)/h = -\frac e 2 + \frac{11 e}{24}h - O\bigl(h^2\bigr)

In the limit x→∞ or h→0, these become -e/2.


Somehow you did obtain the right limit.
 
  • #11
D H said:
scichem, you're being a bit sloppy with braces and parentheses, so it's hard to see where you went wrong. You should have obtained

x\bigl((1 + 1/x)^x - e\bigr) = -\frac e 2 + \frac{11 e}{24}\frac 1 x - O\bigl(1/x^2\bigr)
or
\bigl((1 + h)^{1/h} - e\bigr)/h = -\frac e 2 + \frac{11 e}{24}h - O\bigl(h^2\bigr)

In the limit x→∞ or h→0, these become -e/2.Somehow you did obtain the right limit.

You're right, thanks for noticing, I've forgotten something in the series expansion of exp(u), actually the u²/2 part with u=-h/2+h²/3+o(h²), which actually gives the element h²/8:

1/h*[exp(ln(1+h)/h)-e)
=1/h*[exp(1/h*(h-h²/2+h^3/3+o(h²))-e)]
=1/h*[exp(1-h/2+h²/3+o(h²))-e)]
=1/h*[e(exp(-h/2+h²/3+o(h²))-1)]
=1/h*[e(1-h/2+h²/3+o(h²)-1)
=1/h*[e(-h/2+h²/3+o(h²)]
=e/h*(-h/2+h²/3+h²/8+o(h²)]
=e/h*(-h/2+11h²/24+o(h²)

=-e/2+11h/24+o(h)

And then you find the limit -e/2.

PS: Where can I find a tutorial/help section on this forum to know how to write series expansion formulas like what you've done?
 
  • #12
scichem said:
PS: Where can I find a tutorial/help section on this forum to know how to write series expansion formulas like what you've done?
This thread: [thread=546968]LaTeX Guide: Include mathematical symbols and equations in a post[/thread].Edit
One last comment about this thread:

Look at the dates when posting. This thread was last active over a year ago. In general it isn't a good idea to raise old threads from the dead. In this case it was OK because (a) there was no correct resolution, and (b) a year is old but not terribly old. On the other hand, if you come across a seven year old thread with no resolution, don't get the seven year itch to resurrect it. Just let it lie.
 
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