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 they are all equivalent to each other. As a special case of these considerations, it will be demonstrated that the three most common definitions for the mathematical constant e are equivalent to each other.
Functional equation. The exponential function is the unique function f with for all and . The condition can be replaced with together with any of the following regularity conditions:
For the uniqueness, one must impose some regularity condition, since other functions satisfying can be constructed using a basis for the real numbers over the rationals, as described by Hewitt and Stromberg.
Elementary definition by powers. Define the exponential function with base to be the continuous function whose value on integers is given by repeated multipication or division of , and whose value on rational numbers is given by . Then define to be the exponential function whose base is the unique positive real number satisfying:
One way of defining the exponential function over the complex numbers is to first define it for the domain of real numbers using one of the above characterizations, and then extend it as an analytic function, which is characterized by its values on any infinite domain set.
Also, characterisations (1), (2), and (4) for apply directly for a complex number. Definition (3) presents a problem because there are non-equivalent paths along which one could integrate; but the equation of (3) should hold for any such path modulo . As for definition (5), the additive property together with the complex derivative are sufficient to guarantee . However, the initial value condition together with the other regularity conditions are not sufficient. For example, for real x and y, the function
satisfies the three listed regularity conditions in (5) but is not equal to . A sufficient condition is that and that f is a conformal map at some point; or else the two initial values and together with the other regularity conditions.
One may also define the exponential on other domains, such as matrices and other algebras. Definitions (1), (2), and (4) all make sense for arbitrary Banach algebras.
Some of these definitions require justification to demonstrate that they are well-defined. For example, when the value of the function is defined as the result of a limiting process (i.e. an infinite sequence or series), it must be demonstrated that such a limit always exists.
The defnition depends on the unique positive real number satisfying:
This limit can be shown to exist for any , and it defines a continuous increasing function with and , so the Intermediate value theorem guarantees the existence of such a value .
For the other inequality, by the above expression for tn, if 2 ≤ m ≤ n, we have:
Fix m, and let n approach infinity. Then
(again, one must use lim inf because it is not known if tn converges). Now, take the above inequality, let m approach infinity, and put it together with the other inequality to obtain:
so that
This equivalence can be extended to the negative real numbers by noting and taking the limit as n goes to infinity.
Ln(y) = x, which implies that y = ex, where ex is in the sense of definition 3. We have
Here, the continuity of ln(y) is used, which follows from the continuity of 1/t:
Here, the result lnan = nlna has been used. This result can be established for n a natural number by induction, or using integration by substitution. (The extension to real powers must wait until ln and exp have been established as inverses of each other, so that ab can be defined for real b as eb lna.)
Let denote the solution to the initial value problem . Applying the simplest form of Euler's method with increment and sample points gives the recursive formula:
This recursion is immediately solved to give the approximate value , and since Euler's Method is known to converge to the exact solution, we have:
The following proof is a simplified version of the one in Hewitt and Stromberg, exercise 18.46. First, one proves that measurability (or here, Lebesgue-integrability) implies continuity for a non-zero function satisfying , and then one proves that continuity implies for some k, and finally implies k = 1.
First, a few elementary properties from satisfying are proven, and the assumption that is not identically zero:
If is nonzero anywhere (say at x=y), then it is non-zero everywhere. Proof: implies .
. Proof: and is non-zero.
. Proof: .
If is continuous anywhere (say at x = y), then it is continuous everywhere. Proof: as by continuity at y.
The second and third properties mean that it is sufficient to prove for positive x.
Since is nonzero, some y can be chosen such that and solve for in the above expression. Therefore:
The final expression must go to zero as since and is continuous. It follows that is continuous.
Now, can be proven, for some k, for all positive rational numbers q. Let q=n/m for positive integers n and m. Then
by elementary induction on n. Therefore, and thus
for . If restricted to real-valued , then is everywhere positive and so k is real.
Finally, by continuity, since for all rational x, it must be true for all real x since the closure of the rationals is the reals (that is, any real x can be written as the limit of a sequence of rationals). If then k = 1. This is equivalent to characterization 1 (or 2, or 3), depending on which equivalent definition of e one uses.
In the sense of definition 2, the equation follows from the term-by-term manipulation of power series justified by uniform convergence, and the resulting equality of coefficients is just the Binomial theorem. Furthermore:[1]
Characterisation 3 involves defining the natural logarithm before the exponential function is defined. First,
This means that the natural logarithm of equals the (signed) area under the graph of between and . If , then this area is taken to be negative. Then, is defined as the inverse of , meaning that
by the definition of an inverse function. If is a positive real number then is defined as . Finally, is defined as the number such that . It can then be shown that :
By the fundamental theorem of calculus, the derivative of . We are now in a position to prove that , satisfying the first part of the initial value problem given in characterisation 4:
Then, we merely have to note that , and we are done. Of course, it is much easier to show that characterisation 4 implies characterisation 3. If is the unique function satisfying , and , then can be defined as its inverse. The derivative of can be found in the following way:
If we differentiate both sides with respect to , we get
The conditions f'(0) = 1 and f(x + y) = f(x) f(y) imply both conditions in characterization 4. Indeed, one gets the initial condition f(0) = 1 by dividing both sides of the equation
by f(0), and the condition that f′(x) = f(x) follows from the condition that f′(0) = 1 and the definition of the derivative as follows:
The multiplicative property of definition 5 implies that , and that according to the multiplication/division and root definition of exponentiation for rational in definition 6, where . Then the condition means that . Also any of the conditions of definition 5 imply that is continuous at all real . The converse is similar.