TITLE: Why is $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \bigg( \bigg| \frac{n^{n^2} (n+2)^{(n+1)^2}}{(n+1)^{2n^2+2n+1}} \bigg| \bigg)=e$?
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: I know that the following is the correct limit, but I have difficulties in seeing just why this is.
$$\lim_{n\to\infty}\left| \frac{n^{n^2} (n+2)^{(n+1)^2}}{(n+1)^{2n^2+2n+1}}\right|=e$$

REPLY [3 votes]: Starting with $2 n^2 + 2n + 1 = n^2 + (n+1)^2$ then
\begin{align}
\frac{n^{n^2} (n+2)^{(n+1)^2}}{(n+1)^{2n^2+2n+1}} &= \left(\frac{n}{n+1}\right)^{n^{2}} \, \left( \frac{n+2}{n+1} \right)^{(n+1)^{2}} \\
&= \frac{ \left(1 + \frac{1}{n+1} \right)^{(n+1)^{2}} }{ \left( 1 + \frac{1}{n} \right)^{n^{2}}} \\
&= \frac{e^{(n+1)^{2} \, \ln(a_{n+1})} }{ e^{n^{2} \, \ln(a_{n})} } \hspace{5mm}  a_{n} = 1 + \frac{1}{n}  \\
&= e^{n^{2} \, \ln\left(1 + \frac{2}{n}\right) + n \, \ln\left( 1 + \frac{1}{n+1} \right) } \, e^{\ln\left( \left(1 + \frac{1}{n+1}\right)^{n+1} \right)}
\end{align}
Now
\begin{align}
\lim_{n \to \infty} \left[\frac{n^{n^2} (n+2)^{(n+1)^2}}{(n+1)^{2n^2+2n+1}} \right] &= e^{0 + 0} \, e^{\ln(e)} = e.
\end{align}