Comment on What makes e natural? (2004)Comments−keithalewis2ye is the unique real number satisfying 1 + x <= e^x for all x.1 - x <= e^{-x} so e^x <= 1/(1 - x) for x < 1(1 + x/n)^n <= e^x <= (1 - x/n)^{-n} for x < 1Letting n go to infinity gives e^x = \sum_{n=0}^infy x^n/n! using Newton's binomial formula.−edflsafoiewq2y1+x is the tangent line at x=0. Since the graph of an exponential lies above its tangent line, 1+x <= e^x is another way of saying that the derivative of e^x at x=0 is 1, ie. e^x is its own derivative.−queuebert2ye is the unique real number satisfying 1 + x <= e^x for all x.I think if you replace e by 2e, this still holds. Therefore your definition of e is not unique.−FabHK2y1 + (-0.1) = 0.9(2e)^(-0.1) = 0.844243...The former is not <= the latter.
Comments
e is the unique real number satisfying 1 + x <= e^x for all x.
1 - x <= e^{-x} so e^x <= 1/(1 - x) for x < 1
(1 + x/n)^n <= e^x <= (1 - x/n)^{-n} for x < 1
Letting n go to infinity gives e^x = \sum_{n=0}^infy x^n/n! using Newton's binomial formula.
1+x is the tangent line at x=0. Since the graph of an exponential lies above its tangent line, 1+x <= e^x is another way of saying that the derivative of e^x at x=0 is 1, ie. e^x is its own derivative.
I think if you replace e by 2e, this still holds. Therefore your definition of e is not unique.
1 + (-0.1) = 0.9
(2e)^(-0.1) = 0.844243...
The former is not <= the latter.