Compare the growth rates of {n¹⁰⁰} and {eⁿ⁄¹⁰⁰} as n → ∞.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the two functions to compare: \(f(n) = n^{100}\) and \(g(n) = e^{\frac{n}{100}}\).
2. Recall that to compare growth rates as \(n \to \infty\), we often consider the limit of their ratio, such as \(\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{f(n)}{g(n)}\) or \(\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{g(n)}{f(n)}\).
3. Set up the limit \(L = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{n^{100}}{e^{\frac{n}{100}}}\) to analyze which function grows faster.
4. Apply L'Hôpital's Rule if the limit is an indeterminate form like \(\frac{\infty}{\infty}\) by differentiating numerator and denominator with respect to \(n\) repeatedly, or use properties of exponential and polynomial functions to reason about the limit.
5. Conclude the comparison based on the limit: if \(L = 0\), then \(g(n)\) grows faster; if \(L = \infty\), then \(f(n)\) grows faster; if \(L\) is a finite nonzero constant, they grow at comparable rates.

Key Concepts

Exponential Growth

Exponential growth refers to functions where the variable appears in the exponent, such as e^(n/100). These functions increase much faster than polynomial functions as n becomes very large, often dominating growth rates in limits approaching infinity.

Polynomial Growth

Polynomial growth involves functions where the variable is raised to a fixed power, like n^100. Although these functions grow quickly for large n, their growth rate is slower compared to exponential functions when n approaches infinity.

Limit Comparison of Growth Rates

To compare growth rates as n → ∞, we analyze the limit of the ratio of the two functions. If the limit is zero, the numerator grows slower; if infinite, it grows faster. This method helps determine which function dominates in the long run.