While using Euler's method for dy/dx=y given y(0)=1 I noticed that the approximate solution is (1+1/s)^(sx) where s is the interval size. Plug in one for x and you get: e1=lim_(s->infty)(1+1/s)^s you get e. This has to be e because that is that is the solution to the differential equation. Is this a new proof that e=lim_(s->infty)(1+1/s)^s

Cecilia Tapia

Cecilia Tapia

Open question

2022-08-20

While using Euler's method for d y d x = y given y ( 0 ) = 1 I noticed that the approximate solution is ( 1 + 1 / s ) s x where s is the interval size. Plug in one for x and you get:
e 1 = lim s ( 1 + 1 / s ) s
you get e. This has to be e because that is that is the solution to the differential equation. Is this a new proof that
e = lim s ( 1 + 1 / s ) s
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Answer & Explanation

carponih7

carponih7

Beginner2022-08-21Added 13 answers

It depends on how you define e. If you define e as
e := lim s ( 1 + 1 s ) s
Then (of course) it trivially follows that it is true ( e= e end proof).
Although if you define e as the solution to the Initial Value Problem
{ d y d x = y y ( 0 ) = 1
at the value x = 1, or if you define e some other way and prove that e x is the solution to this IVP, and then in addition you prove (or are allowed to assume) that Euler's Method will in fact converge upon the unique solution to the IVP, then yes: what you have written would suffice as another proof that
e = lim s ( 1 + 1 s ) s

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