For and , the explicit midpoint method multiplies the current value by . Starting from one, induction gives
Let and . The Taylor theorem with Lagrange remainder for the exponential function gives
The difference of powers identity gives . Every summand lies between one and . Since , the global error therefore satisfies
The same inequalities hold at , where the error vanishes. At the fixed endpoint , the lower bound prevents any higher order of a numerical method, while the upper bound is . Thus the convergence order is exactly two.