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In mathematics, the exponential function can be characterized in many ways. The following characterizations (definitions) are most common. This article discusses why each characterization makes sense, and why the characterizations are independent of and equivalent to each other. As a special case of these considerations, we will see that the three most common definitions given for the mathematical constant ''e'' are also equivalent to each other. == Characterizations == The six most common definitions of the exponential function exp(''x'') = ''e''''x'' for real ''x'' are: :1. Define ''e''''x'' by the limit ::: :2. Define ''e''''x'' as the value of the infinite series ::: ::(Here ''n''! denotes the factorial of ''n''. One proof that ''e'' is irrational uses this representation.) :3. Define ''e''''x'' to be the unique number ''y'' > 0 such that ::: ::This is as the inverse of the natural logarithm function, which is defined by this integral. :4. Define ''e''''x'' to be the unique solution to the initial value problem ::: ::(Here, ''y''′ denotes the derivative of ''y''.) :5. The exponential function ''f''(''x'') = ''e''''x'' is the unique Lebesgue-measurable function with ''f''(1) = ''e'' that satisfies ::: ::(Hewitt and Stromberg, 1965, exercise 18.46). Alternatively, it is the unique anywhere-continuous function with these properties (Rudin, 1976, chapter 8, exercise 6). The term "anywhere-continuous" means that there exists at least a single point at which is continuous. As shown below, if for all and and is continuous at ''any'' single point then is necessarily continuous ''everywhere''. ::(As a counterexample, if one does ''not'' assume continuity or measurability, it is possible to prove the existence of an everywhere-discontinuous, non-measurable function with this property by using a Hamel basis for the real numbers over the rationals, as described in Hewitt and Stromberg.) ::Because ''f''(''x'') = ''e''''x'' is guaranteed for rational ''x'' by the above properties (see below), one could also use monotonicity or other properties to enforce the choice of ''e''''x'' for irrational ''x'', but such alternatives appear to be uncommon. ::One could also replace the conditions that and that be Lebesgue-measurable or anywhere-continuous with the single condition that . This condition, along with the condition easily implies both conditions in characterization 4. Indeed, one gets the initial condition by dividing both sides of the equation ::: ::by , and the condition that follows from the condition that and the definition of the derivative as follows: ::: :6. Let ''e'' be the unique real number satisfying ::: This number can be shown to exist and be unique. This definition is particularly suited to computing the derivative of the exponential function. Then define ''e''''x'' to be the exponential function with this base. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Characterizations of the exponential function」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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