I have a little problem with limit of this function:

$\lim_{x \to \infty} x^2(2017^{\frac{1}{x}} - 2017^{\frac{1}{x+1}})$

I have tried de l'hospital rule twice, but it doesn't work. Now I have no idea how to do it.

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Note that $\frac1x-\frac1{x+1}=\frac1{x(x+1)}$ hence this is $$\frac{u\left(\frac1x\right)-u\left(\frac1{x+1}\right)}{\frac1x-\frac1{x+1}}\cdot\frac{x}{x+1}$$ where $$u(t)=2017^t$$ By the MVT, the first ratio is $$u'(\xi_x)$$ for some $$\frac1{x+1}\leqslant\xi_x\leqslant\frac1x$$ hence, if $u'$ is continuous at $0$, the desired limit is $$u'(0)\cdot1=u'(0)$$ Can you check this continuity and compute this value? // This approach allows to to show that, for every differentiable $v$, $$x^2\left(v\left(\frac1x\right)-v\left(\frac1{x+1}\right)\right)\to v'(0)$$ provided $v'$ is continuous at $0$. – Did 2 hours ago
up vote 4 down vote accepted

Set $1/x=h$ to get

$$\lim_{x\to\infty}x^2(a^{1/x}-a^{1/(x+1)})$$ $$=\lim_{h\to0^+}\dfrac{a^{h/(h+1)}\left(a^{h^2/(h+1)}-1\right)}{h^2}$$

$$=\lim_{h\to0^+}a^{h/(h+1)}\cdot\lim_{h\to0^+}\dfrac{a^{h^2/(h+1)}-1}{h^2/(h+1)}\cdot\lim_{h\to0^+}\dfrac1{h+1}$$

Now use $\lim_{y\to0}\dfrac{a^y-1}y=\ln a$

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Let us consider $$A=x^2(a^{\frac{1}{x}} -a^{\frac{1}{x+1}})$$ $$a^{\frac{1}{x}}=e^{\frac{\log(a)}x}=1+\frac{\log (a)}{x}+\frac{\log ^2(a)}{2 x^2}+\frac{\log ^3(a)}{6 x^3}+O\left(\frac{1}{x^4}\right)$$ Do the same for the other term; subtract from eash other, use common denominator and so on.

For the first term, $$a^{\frac{1}{x}} -a^{\frac{1}{x+1}}=\log(a)\left(\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{x+1} \right)+\cdots=\log(a)\frac{x+1-x}{x(x+1)}+\cdots=\frac{\log(a)}{x(x+1)}+\cdots$$ and so on.

You should arrive to $$a^{\frac{1}{x}} -a^{\frac{1}{x+1}}=\frac{\log (a)}{x^2}+\frac{\log ^2(a)-\log (a)}{x^3}+O\left(\frac{1}{x^4}\right)$$ whcih will show the limit and how it is approached.

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Could you expand for me this $\Exp(\frac{1}{1+x})$? Because I have some problems with this thing, I get: $1 + \frac{1}{x+1} + \frac{1}{2(x+1)^2} +...$ but how can I use it later? Because I will probably not able to subtract those terms. – FNTE 4 hours ago

The best idea is probably to expand in power series (if you are allowed to do that). As Wolfram Alpha confirms, $$ 2017^\frac{1}{x} - 2017^\frac{1}{x+1} = \frac{\log (2017)}{x^2} + o(1/x^2) $$ as $x \to +\infty$, and therefore the limit equals $\log (2017)$.

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Why is it $\log(2017)$ because I don't see it unfortunately. – FNTE 5 hours ago
    
OK, I see :) Thank you! – FNTE 5 hours ago
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I am afraid that this merely copies some WA output, which is not, as far as I am aware, what the site is about. Justifying this equivalent would be another matter, and the start of actually doing some mathematics. – Did 2 hours ago

Since $\lim_{x\to\infty}2017^{1/(x+1)}=1$, your limit is $$ \lim_{x\to\infty}2017^{1/(x+1)}x^2(2017^{1/(x^2+x)}-1) = \lim_{x\to\infty}x^2(2017^{1/(x^2+x)}-1)\\ $$ Now do $t^{-1}=x^2+x$, so $$ x^2=\frac{t+2-\sqrt{t^2+4t}}{2t} $$ and you get $$ \lim_{t\to0^+}\frac{(2017^t-1)}{t}\frac{t+2-\sqrt{t^2+4t}}{2}=\ln2017 $$

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