<s>[INST] Limit for $e$ and $\frac{1}{e}$ My question concerns the derivation of this: $$e^r = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^n \ \ ...(1).$$
One of the definitions of $e$ is as follows:
$$e = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n.$$
Then, textbooks usually derive equation (1) in the following manner:
\begin{align}
\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^n &= \lim_{u \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 + \frac{1}{u}\right)^{ru} \ \ \text{where} \ u = \frac{n}{r}\\
&= \lim_{u \rightarrow \infty} \left(\left(1 + \frac{1}{u}\right)^u\right)^r \\
&= \left(\lim_{u \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 + \frac{1}{u}\right)^u\right)^r \\
&= e^r.
\end{align}
This argument is fine if $r > 0$ since $u \rightarrow \infty$ as $n \rightarrow \infty$, but when $r < 0$, $u \rightarrow - \infty$ as $n \rightarrow \infty$.
How can I extend the proof for (1) where $r$ is any real number?
When $r = 0$, $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} (1+0/n)^n = 1$ (Although, I should be careful about evaluating limits that look like $``1^{\infty}"$.)
Here's my attempt so far for the case where $r < 0$:
\begin{align}
\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^n &= \lim_{u \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 - \frac{1}{u}\right)^{-ru} \ \text{where} \ u = -\frac{n}{r} \\
&= \left(\lim_{u \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 - \frac{1}{u}\right)^u\right)^{-r}.
\end{align}
My question boils down to how to show the following limit from the definition above for $e$ $$\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left(1 - \frac{1}{n}\right)^n = \frac{1}{e}.$$
Thanks.
 [/INST] \begin{align*}\lim_{n\to\infty}\left( 1 - \frac{1}{n} \right)^n &= \lim_{n\to\infty}\left(\frac{n-1}{n}\right)^n = \lim_{n\to\infty}\left(\frac{1}{\frac{n}{n-1}}\right)^n = \lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{1}{\left(\frac{n}{n-1}\right)^n} \\ &= \lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{1}{\left(1 + \frac{1}{n-1}\right)^n} = \lim_{n\to\infty} \left(\frac{1}{\left(1 + \frac{1}{n-1}\right)^{n-1}} \cdot \frac{1}{1 + \frac{1}{n-1}} \right) \\ 
&= \lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{\left(1 + \frac{1}{n-1}\right)^{n-1}} = \lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{\left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^{n}} = \frac{1}{e} \\
&= e^{-1}
\end{align*}
</s>