A Simple Proof that (ex )0 = ex

This simple proof shows that (ex )0 = ex through the fundamental definition of a derivative. The
defenition of a derivative is as follows:
f (x + h) − f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim (1)
h→0 h
We start by plugging the expression ex into this defenition of a derivative
ex+h − ex
(ex )0 = lim (2)
h→0 h
Next, factor out an e from the numerator
ex (eh − 1)
(ex )0 = lim (3)
h→0 h
Now we take e expressed as a limit  n
1
e = lim 1+ (4)
n→∞ n
and substitute this expression for the nonfactored e in (3)

n h 
ex limn→∞ 1 + n1 −1
(ex )0 = lim (5)
h→0 h
We can use the following expressions to eliminate the variable n:
n → ∞
h → 0+
1
∞ =
0+

Now substituting n for ∞ and h for 0+ we get

1
n= (6)
h
Substituting (6) into (5), we get
!
  h1 h
1
ex 1+ 1 −1
h
(ex )0 = lim (7)
h→0 h
which eliminates n from the equation completely. Simplifying, this yields:
ex ([1 + h] − 1)
(ex )0 = lim (8)
h→0 h
and after eliminating the two 1’s
ex h
(ex )0 = lim (9)
h→0 h
the h’s cancel and finally...
(ex )0 = ex (10)