# Why doesn't this have the limit $2/e$?

Why does the limit below equal $2$ and not $\frac{2}{e}$?

$$\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{2}{1+\frac{1}{n}}$$

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Because it's not $\frac{2}{(1 + \frac{1}{n})^n}$? –  Qiaochu Yuan Nov 6 '11 at 20:23
When you write \lim in TeX the backslash not only (1) prevents italicization but also (2) causes $n\to\infty$ to appear directly below "lim" when it's in "display" mode (as opposed to "inline") and (3) in some cases results in proper spacing between "lim" and what follows it. (I fixed it.) –  Michael Hardy Nov 6 '11 at 21:02

$\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}(1+1/n)^n=e$, but $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}(1+1/n) =1$.

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Because you are taking the limit of $\displaystyle \frac{2}{1+\frac{1}{n}}$ and not $\displaystyle \frac{2}{\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n}$. Also, because $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{1}{n}=0$.

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Because

$$\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{2}{(1+\frac{1}{n})}=\frac {\lim_{n\to \infty}2}{\lim_{n\to \infty}(1+\frac{1}{n})}= \frac{2}{\lim_{n\to \infty}(1+\frac{1}{n})}=\frac{2}{1}=2$$

Note that $\lim_{n\to \infty}(1+\frac{1}{n})=1$ not $e$.

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