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The Real And Complex Number Systems

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Something around the number e<br />

1. Show that the sequence 1 1 n n converges, and denote the limit by e.<br />

Proof: Since<br />

1 1 n<br />

n<br />

n<br />

kn 1 n<br />

k<br />

k0<br />

1 n 1 n<br />

<br />

nn 1<br />

2!<br />

1<br />

n<br />

1 1 <br />

2!<br />

1 1 1 n ...<br />

n!<br />

1<br />

1 1 1 2 1 2 .. 1 ...<br />

2 2 n1<br />

3,<br />

2 nn 1 1<br />

.. 1<br />

n! n<br />

1 1 n 1 n n<br />

1<br />

and by (1), we know that the sequence is increasing. Hence, the sequence is convergent.<br />

We denote its limit e. Thatis,<br />

lim n<br />

1 1 n<br />

n e.<br />

n<br />

1<br />

Remark: 1. <strong>The</strong> sequence and e first appear in the mail that Euler wrote to Goldbach.<br />

It is a beautiful formula involving<br />

e i 1 0.<br />

1<br />

2. Use the exercise, we can show that k0<br />

e as follows.<br />

k!<br />

Proof: Let x n 1 1 n n , and let k n, wehave<br />

1 1 <br />

2!<br />

1 1 1 ..<br />

k n!<br />

1 1 1 1 <br />

k<br />

n k<br />

1 x k<br />

which implies that ( let k )<br />

On the other hand,<br />

So,by(2)and(3),wefinallyhave<br />

n<br />

y n : <br />

i0<br />

<br />

<br />

k0<br />

1<br />

i! e. 2<br />

x n y n 3<br />

1<br />

k! e. 4<br />

3. e is an irrational number.<br />

Proof: Assume that e is a rational number, say e p/q, where g.c.d. p, q 1. Note<br />

that q 1. Consider<br />

q!e q!<br />

q!<br />

<br />

<br />

k0<br />

q<br />

<br />

k0<br />

1<br />

k!<br />

1<br />

k!<br />

q!<br />

<br />

<br />

kq1<br />

and since q! k0<br />

q 1<br />

k!<br />

and q!e are integers, we have q! kq1<br />

1<br />

k!<br />

is also an<br />

integer. However,<br />

1<br />

k!<br />

,

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