<s>[INST] How to find $\lim\limits_{x\to0}\frac{e^x-1-x}{x^2}$ without using l'Hopital's rule nor any series expansion? Is it possible to determine the limit
$$\lim_{x\to0}\frac{e^x-1-x}{x^2}$$
without using l'Hopital's rule nor any series expansion?
For example, suppose you are a student that has not studied derivative yet (and so not even Taylor formula and Taylor series).
 [/INST] Consider fundamental limit: $e = \lim\limits_{n\to \infty}(1+\frac{1}{n})^n$ and $e^x = \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}(1+\frac{x}{n})^n$
Proof
$e^x = [\lim\limits_{k\to\infty}(1+1/k)^k]^x = \lim\limits_{k\to \infty}((1+1/k)^{kx})\Rightarrow kx = n
\Rightarrow e^x = \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}(1+\frac{x}{n})^n$.
Understand the first expression:
$P = \large\frac{e^x-1}{x}$
Note that $e^x - 1 - x = x.[\large\frac{(e^x-1)}{x} - 1]\,\,\therefore\,\,$ $\boxed{\lim\limits_{x\to 0}\frac{e^x-1-x}{x^2}=\lim\limits_{x\to 0}\frac{P-1}{x}}$
Lets go to understand the expression $\,\,P-1$.
$P - 1= \frac{e^x - 1}{x} - 1 = \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\left(\large\frac{[(1+\frac{x}{n})^n - 1]}{x} - 1\right)=$
Using that tool:
$\boxed{b^n - 1 = (b-1).(b^{n-1}+b^{n-2}+...+1)}$
$=\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\left((1+\frac{x}{n}-1).\large\frac{[(1+x/n)^{n-1} + (1+x/n)^{n-2} + ... + {1+x/n}]}{x}-1 \right) =\\
\\
= \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\left(\frac{1}{n}.[(1+x/n)^{n-1} + (1+x/n)^{n-2} + ... + (1+x/n)]-1\right) = \\
\\
=\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{1}{n}.\left((1+x/n)^{n-1} + (1+x/n)^{n-2} + ... + (1+x/n)-n\right)$
Writing the last "$n$" as $\underbrace{1+1+1...+1}_{n\,\, times}$ and inputing these $1`s$ into it:
$P-1 = \lim\limits_{n\to\infty} (1/n).[((1+x/n)^{n-1} - 1)+ ((1+x/n)^{n-2} - 1) + ... + ((1+x/n) - 1)]$
Using again that tool in each expression:
$=\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}(\frac{1}{n}).(\frac{x}{n}) [((1+x/n)^{n-2} + (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... +1)+((1+x/n)^{n-3}+...+1)+...+1]$
Finally,
$L = \lim\limits_{x\to 0}\frac{P-1}{x} =\lim\limits_{x\to 0}\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}(\frac{1}{n}).(\frac{x}{n})[\large\frac{((1+x/n)^{n-2} + (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... + 1 ) + ( (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... + 1 ) + ... + 1)}{x}]=$
$=\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\lim\limits_{x\to0}(\frac{1}{n}).(\frac{x}{n})[\large\frac{((1+x/n)^{n-2} + (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... + 1 ) + ( (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... + 1 ) + ... + 1)}{x}] =\\$
$=\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\lim\limits_{x\to 0}\left(\frac{1}{n^2}\right).((1+x/n)^{n-2} + (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... + 1 ) + ( (1+x/n)^{n-3} + ... + 1 ) + ... + 1) =$
$=\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\left(\frac{1}{n^2}\right)(n-1 + n-2 + n-3 + ... + 1) = \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\left(\frac{1}{n^2}\right)(n-1)(\frac{n}{2}) = \lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{n-1}{2n} = \boxed{\large\frac{1}{2}}$.
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