Problem

Evaluate 1-1/e

Based on the given problem, the question "Evaluate 1-1/e" is asking for a calculation to be performed where the number one (1) is subtracted by the reciprocal of the mathematical constant e. The mathematical constant e (approximated as 2.71828) is the base of the natural logarithm and is a fundamental constant in calculus, particularly in the context of exponential functions and differential equations. The question requires the use of this constant to find the difference between 1 and 1/e, resulting in a numerical value.

$1 - \frac{1}{e}$

Answer

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Solution:

Step 1:

Express the number $1$ as a fraction with the same denominator as $\frac{1}{e}$. This gives us $\frac{e}{e} - \frac{1}{e}$.

Step 2:

Merge the numerators while keeping the denominator the same, resulting in $\frac{e - 1}{e}$.

Step 3:

Present the final answer in its various acceptable forms. In its exact form, the answer is $\frac{e - 1}{e}$. If we convert it to decimal form, it is approximately $0.63212055 \ldots$.

Knowledge Notes:

To solve the problem of evaluating $1 - \frac{1}{e}$, we need to understand the following concepts:

  1. Common Denominator: When subtracting fractions, it's necessary to have a common denominator. This allows us to combine the fractions by simply subtracting their numerators.

  2. The Number $e$: The number $e$ is an important mathematical constant approximately equal to $2.71828$. It is the base of the natural logarithm and is used in many areas of mathematics, including calculus and complex analysis.

  3. Fraction Subtraction: When subtracting fractions with common denominators, we subtract the numerators and keep the denominator the same.

  4. Exact vs Decimal Form: An exact form of a number is the form that represents the number without any approximation, often as a fraction or algebraic expression. The decimal form is an approximate value of the number, usually rounded to a certain number of decimal places.

  5. LaTeX Formatting: To properly display mathematical expressions, LaTeX formatting is used. For instance, to write a fraction, we use the $\frac{numerator}{denominator}$syntax.

By applying these concepts, we can evaluate the expression $1 - \frac{1}{e}$ by first expressing 1 with a common denominator of $e$, then subtracting the numerators, and finally presenting the result in both exact and decimal forms.

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