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Jordon Haley

Jordon Haley

Answered question

2022-05-10

Consider the initial value problem
d y d x = y , y ( 0 ) = 1
Approximate y ( 1 ) using Euler's method with a step size of 1 n , where n is an arbitrary natural number. Use this approximation to write Euler's number e as a limit of an expression in n. How large do you have to choose n in order to approximate e up to an error of at most 0.1? Comment on the quality of approximate in this example.
What I did is the following:
y ( 1 ) y 1 = y 0 + h f ( x 0 , y 0 ) = 1 + h f ( 0 , 1 ) = 1 + 1 n
This is where I stuck, am I on the right direction? What should I do next?

Answer & Explanation

Raiden Williamson

Raiden Williamson

Beginner2022-05-11Added 18 answers

So, you have found y1 using x 0 and y 0 . To find x 1 , recall that x 1 = x 0 + h = 1 n (in general, x k = x 0 + k h = x k 1 + h). Once you find x 1 , you can find y 2 by using
y 2 = y 1 + h f ( x 1 , y 1 ) = ( 1 + 1 n ) + 1 n f ( 1 n , 1 + 1 n ) = 1 + 2 n + 1 n 2 = ( 1 + 1 n ) 2 .
Can you see that pattern above? What do you think y k will be? (HINT: y 3 = ( 1 + 1 n ) 3 ) Keep repeating. That is, find x n , then y n + 1 = y n + h f ( x n , y n ). That will help you express e as a limit.

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