Calculus – Finding the Limit of $\left(\frac{n}{n+1}\right)^n$

calculusexponential functionlimits

Find the limit of: $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\left(\frac{n}{n+1}\right)^n$$

I'm pretty sure it goes to zero since $(n+1)^n > n^n$ but when I input large numbers it goes to $0.36$.

Also, when factoring: $$n^{1/n}\left(\frac{1}{1+\frac1n}\right)^n$$ it looks like it goes to $1$.

So how can I find this limit?

Best Answer

$$\lim_{n\to \infty}\left(\frac{n}{n+1}\right)^n = \lim_{n\to \infty}\frac {1}{\left(\frac{n+1}{n}\right)^n}=\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac {1}{\left(\frac nn+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n}=\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac {1}{\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n}$$ We know that: $$\lim_{n\to \infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n=e$$ $$\color{red}{\boxed{\displaystyle\color{black}{\quad\therefore\quad\lim_{n\to \infty}\left(\frac{n}{n+1}\right)^n=\frac 1e\quad}}}$$

And for the intuitive part: $$\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \text{Value of }\color{black}{n} & \left(\frac{\color{black}{n}}{\color{black}{n}+1}\right)^{\color{black}{n}} \\ \hline 1 & 1.\overline6 \\ 2 & 0.562 \\ 3 & 0.512 \\ 4 & 0.482 \\ 5 & 0.462 \\ 6 & 0.448 \\ 7 & 0.438 \\ 8 & 0.430 \\ 9 & 0.424 \\ 100 & 0.373 \\ \hline \end{array}$$ And: $$\frac 1e\approx0.3678794...$$ Sure enough, we are approaching $1/e$ as $n$ tends to $\infty$.

Furthermore, you could think of it that way:

As $n$ gets really really large, $1/n$ will be very very small.

As $n$ gets really really large, the coefficients and number of terms of $(a+b)^n$ will also get really large. That's why even if $1/n\approx0$ when $n$ gets big, the expression $\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n$ will approach a number greater than one, and who has to do with the amount of terms and coefficients present in $(a+b)^n$, and that number is simply $e$. To show more what I mean, look at this example: $$\begin{align}(1+\color{blue}{0.1})^{10}=&1^{10}+\color{green}{10} \cdot1^9 (\color{blue}{0.1})+\color{green}{45}\cdot1^8 (\color{blue}{0.1})^2+\color{green}{120} \cdot1^7 (\color{blue}{0.1})^3+\color{green}{210} \cdot1^6 (\color{blue}{0.1})^4\\&+\color{green}{252}\cdot 1^5 (\color{blue}{0.1})^5+\color{green}{210}\cdot 1^4 (\color{blue}{0.1})^6+\color{green}{120}\cdot 1^3\cdot (\color{blue}{0.1})^7+\color{green}{45}\cdot 1^2 (\color{blue}{0.1})^8\\&+\color{green}{10}\cdot 1 (\color{blue}{0.1})^9+(\color{blue}{0.1})^{10}\\\,\\\approx&2.5937424601\end{align}$$

Note: The digit $2$ present in the mathematical constant $e$ comes from:

  • We have: $\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n\,\,\text{(1)}$ and $1^n=1\quad\text{where $n\in\Bbb R$}$. That's why there will always be a $1$ left no matter how large $n$ is when we expand the expression $\text{(1)}$.

  • From the binomial theorem, the second coefficient in the expanded form of $(a+b)^n$ is just $n$. And therefore the second term in the expansion of $\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n$ will be: $n\times1^{n-1}\times\frac1n$ which is equal to $1$.

But in the limit the OP asks about, we are dividing $1$ by $\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n$, so it is natural that we get at the end $1/e$.

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