4 ms·
Calculus 101? I recall that learning that lim(1 - 1/n)^n with n->inf is 1/e, was one of the first things learned in Calculus. I think we even briefly touched t
by eliben 14y ago
Calculus 101?
I recall that learning that lim(1 - 1/n)^n with n->inf is 1/e, was one of the first things learned in Calculus. I think we even briefly touched this in highschool.
- maaku 14y agoYeah, but someone actually had to discover that at some point in the past ;)
- alecst 14y ago> I recall that learning that lim(1 - 1/n)^n with n->inf is 1/e To clarify this should not be 1/e, but e.
- evanb 14y agoIt would be e if there had been a + sign in the parens, but with a - it is, in fact, 1/e. (1-1/n) is always less than 1; multiplying a bunch of factors less than 1 can't possibly* give you 2.something. *without somehow wrapping around infinity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_%2B_2_%2B_3_%2B_4_%2B_%E2%80%A6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_%2B_2_%2B_3_%2B_4_%2B_%E2%80%...
- alecst 14y agoMy mistake, didn't notice the minus sign...