How does "e" (2.718) help apply to applications/implications in real life?

mooltattawsmq8

mooltattawsmq8

Answered question

2023-01-03

How does "e" (2.718) help apply to applications/implications in real life?

Answer & Explanation

possetzvjm

possetzvjm

Beginner2023-01-04Added 7 answers

There aren't many common real-world applications for Euler's number, e. Instead, it frequently surfaces in issues with growth, like population models. It also shows up quite frequently in physics.
Regarding issues with growth, picture going to a bank with one dollar, one pound, or any other amount of money you have. The bank gives you a yearly interest rate of 100%. This implies that you will have $2 the following year. Such a kind bank.
Let's say they offer you 50% every six months rather than 100 every year. You'll have 1.5 dollars in 6 months, and in another 6 months you'll have
1.5+50%of  1.5=2.25
Now, they give you 25% interest once every 3 months. If you still have 1 dollar in the bank, now you will have
In three months:  1+25%of  1=1+1/4=1.25
In another three months:  1.25+25%of  1.25=1+1/4+1/4(1+1/4)=(1+1/4)(1+1/4)=(1+1/4)2
Yet again:  (1+1/4)2+1/4(1+1/4)2=(1+1/4)(1+1/4)2=(1+1/4)3
If we repeat the process, at the end of the year you will have (1+1/4)4 dollars.
If we take a general case, say you get 100/n% interest every 12/n months and you begin with 1 dollar, at the end of the year you will have
(1+1n)n dollars.
As a result, we could see that getting a smaller interest over shorter periods of time was advantageous. Let's confirm this; let f(n) define how much money you get after one year with 100/n% interest over 12/n months:
f(1)=2
f(2)=2.25
f(3)2.37
f(4)2.44
f(5)2.49
Let's say your bank offers you interest that increases by an amount n that goes to infinity almost every nanosecond (in fact, much much faster than that). By the end of the year, you'll have:
limnf(n)=limn(1+1n)n=e
This is one of the definitions of e.
But since banks don't operate this way in real life, this isn't exactly practical. It does, however, give us a pretty accurate picture of how e affects growth.

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?