“ An equation means nothing to me

unless it expresses a thought of God.”

− Srinivasa Ramanujan

r
X N! ⇡N
Q(N ) ⌘ = + O(1)
(N k)!N k 2
1kN
AofA Asymptotics TEQ 1
1
Q. Give an asymptotic approximation of eH2N HN
to within O
N2

A.

3
AofA Asymptotics TEQ 1 (improved version)

Q. Match each function with an asymptotic expansion.

1 1
1+ +O
2N N2
1 1
1+ +O
HN N N2

N + O(1)
exp H2N HN 1
1 1
1 +O
exp HN N N2
1 1
1 1 +O
exp 2N N2
N 1 1
ln N + + +O 2
1 1 2N N
1+
N 1
N + +O
N
4
AofA Asymptotics TEQ 2

Q. Match each of the topics described in the book with a mathematician’s name.

Approximate a sum with an integral Laplace

Expand a differentiable function Ramanujan

Approximate factorials Euler

Birthday function Taylor

Approximate a function by swapping tails Stirling

No, this is not high school, but… You do not want to appear to be ignorant!
5
AofA Asymptotics TEQ 3

Q. Match each expression with an approximation to its value. 1.10102

1.10462

1.0110 1.22019

1.50034
1.0510
1.62889
1.0120
1.64463
1.0150 2.02300

1.01100 2.70481

2.71828
6
 X ✓t◆
(1 + x)t = xk
k
0kt

t(t 1)
= 1 + tx + x2 + O(x3 )
2

(1 +
1 t
) =1+
t
+
t(t 1)
+ O
1
1 ↵N
(1 + )
N
=1+
↵N
N
+
↵2 N 2
2N 2
+ ... ✗
N N 2N 2 N3
1 ↵N
(1 + ) = exp ↵N ln(1 + 1/N )
10 90 N
1.0110 = 1 + + + ...
100 20000
= exp ↵N (1/N + O(1/N 2 ))

⇡ 1.1045 1
= e↵ + O
N
50
p
1.01 ⇡ e
AofA Asymptotics TEQ 3

Q. Match each expression with an approximation to its value. 1.10102

1.10462

1.0110 1.22019

1.50034
1.0510
1.62889
1.0120
1.64463
1.0150 2.02300

1.01100 2.70481

2.71828
8