Question #7c813

2 Answers
Jan 14, 2017

lim_(xrarroo)((2x+3)/(2x+1))^(x+1)=e

Explanation:

L=lim_(xrarroo)((2x+3)/(2x+1))^(x+1)

When we have a function with an exponent that's another function, it's best to take the natural logarithm of both sides:

ln(L)=ln(lim_(xrarroo)((2x+3)/(2x+1))^(x+1))

The natural logarithm can be moved inside the limit:

ln(L)=lim_(xrarroo)ln(((2x+3)/(2x+1))^(x+1))

Rewrite the function using log(A^B)=Blog(A):

ln(L)=lim_(xrarroo)(x+1)ln((2x+3)/(2x+1))

This can be rewritten as a quotient:

ln(L)=lim_(xrarroo)ln((2x+3)/(2x+1))/(1/(x+1))

Note that lim_(xrarroo)ln((2x+3)/(2x+1))=ln(2/2)=ln(1)=0 and lim_(xrarroo)(1/(x+1))=0, so this entire limit is in the indeterminate form 0/0. As such, we can apply L'Hôpital's rule by taking the derivatives of the numerator and denominator:

ln(L)=lim_(xrarroo)(d/dxln((2x+3)/(2x+1)))/(d/dx(1/(x+1)))

Finding both of these limits individually:

d/dxln((2x+3)/(2x+1))=d/dxln(2x+3)-d/dxln(2x+1)

color(white)(d/dxln((2x+3)/(2x+1)))=2/(2x+3)-2/(2x+1)

color(white)(d/dxln((2x+3)/(2x+1)))=(2(2x+1)-2(2x+3))/((2x+3)(2x+1))

color(white)(d/dxln((2x+3)/(2x+1)))=(-4)/((2x+3)(2x+1))

" "

d/dx(1/(x+1))=d/dx(x+1)^-1

color(white)(d/dx(1/(x+1)))=-(x+1)^-2d/dx(x+1)

color(white)(d/dx(1/(x+1)))=-(x+1)^-2

color(white)(d/dx(1/(x+1)))=-1/(x+1)^2

Then:

ln(L)=lim_(xrarroo)((-4)/((2x+3)(2x+1)))/(-1/(x+1)^2)

Rewriting:

ln(L)=lim_(xrarroo)(4(x+1)^2)/((2x+3)(2x+1))

Both the numerator and denominator have a degree of 2 and leading coefficients of 4, so:

ln(L)=1

Thus:

L=e^1=e

Jan 14, 2017

e

Explanation:

((2 x + 3)/(2 x + 1))^(x + 1)=(2x)^(x+1)/(2x)^(x+1)((1+3/(2x))/(1+1/(2x)))^(x+1) =
=((1+3/(2x))/(1+1/(2x)))^(x+1) =(1+3/(2x))^(x+1)/(1+1/(2x))^(x+1)

Now doing z=(2x)/3 and y=2x we have

((2 x + 3)/(2 x + 1))^(x + 1) = (1+1/z)^((3z)/2+1)/(1+1/y)^(y/2+1)=(1+1/z)^((3z)/2)/(1+1/y)^(y/2)((1+3/(2x))/(1+1/(2x))) so

((2 x + 3)/(2 x + 1))^(x + 1)=((1+1/z)^z)^(3/2)/((1+1/y)^y)^(1/2)((1+3/(2x))/(1+1/(2x)))

knowing that x->oo => {y ->oo, z->oo} we have

lim_(x->oo)((2 x + 3)/(2 x + 1))^(x + 1)=(lim_(z->oo)(1+1/z)^z)^(3/2)/(lim_(y->oo)(1+1/y)^y)^(1/2)lim_(x->oo)((1+3/(2x))/(1+1/(2x))) = e^(3/2)/e^(1/2) cdot 1 = e