Functions, Limits, and Continuity

Example 11: Prove that [tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \sqrt{x}(\sqrt{x+a} - \sqrt{x}) = \frac{a}{2}[/tex].

Solution:

L.H.S. [tex]= \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \sqrt{x}(\sqrt{x+a} - \sqrt{x}) \times \frac{\sqrt{x+a}+\sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{x+a}+\sqrt{x}}[/tex]

[tex]= \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{\sqrt{x}(x + a - x)}{\sqrt{x+a}+\sqrt{x}}[/tex]

[tex]= \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{a\sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{x+a}+\sqrt{x}}[/tex]

As [tex]x \rightarrow \infty[/tex], the expression simplifies to:

[tex]= \frac{a}{2}[/tex]



Answer :

To prove that [tex]\(\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \sqrt{x}(\sqrt{x+a}-\sqrt{x})=\frac{a}{2}\)[/tex], let's go through the calculations step by step.

First, we start with the expression we want to find the limit of:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \sqrt{x}(\sqrt{x + a} - \sqrt{x}) \][/tex]

To simplify, we multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the expression inside the limit:
[tex]\[ \text{Conjugate} = \sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x} \][/tex]

So, multiplying by the conjugate, we have:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \sqrt{x}(\sqrt{x + a} - \sqrt{x}) \cdot \frac{\sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x}} \][/tex]

This can be broken down into:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{\sqrt{x} \left( \sqrt{x + a} - \sqrt{x} \right) \left( \sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x} \right)}{\sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x}} \][/tex]

Notice that in the numerator, we have a difference of squares:
[tex]\[ (\sqrt{x + a} - \sqrt{x})(\sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x}) = (x + a - x) = a \][/tex]

Therefore, our limit expression now simplifies to:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{\sqrt{x} \cdot a}{\sqrt{x + a} + \sqrt{x}} \][/tex]

Factoring [tex]\(\sqrt{x}\)[/tex] out of the denominator:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{a \sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{x}(\sqrt{1 + \frac{a}{x}} + 1)} \][/tex]

Simplify further:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{a \sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{x} \left( \sqrt{1 + \frac{a}{x}} + 1 \right)} \][/tex]

Since [tex]\(\sqrt{x}\)[/tex] is in both the numerator and the denominator, it cancels out:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{a}{\sqrt{1 + \frac{a}{x}} + 1} \][/tex]

As [tex]\(x\)[/tex] approaches infinity, [tex]\(\frac{a}{x}\)[/tex] approaches 0. So, the denominator simplifies to:
[tex]\[ \sqrt{1 + 0} + 1 = 1 + 1 = 2 \][/tex]

Thus, the limit simplifies to:
[tex]\[ \frac{a}{2} \][/tex]

Therefore, we have successfully shown that:
[tex]\[ \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \sqrt{x}(\sqrt{x+a}-\sqrt{x}) = \frac{a}{2} \][/tex]