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Evaluating a 0/0 limit by rationalizing both radicals

Evaluate the limit lim⁡x→09+x−34+x−2.\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{9+x} - 3}{\sqrt{4+x} - 2}. Note that direct substitution gives the indeterminate form 0/00/0, so you will need to use an algebraic technique to rewrite the expression before taking the limit.

Hint

Try multiplying the numerator and denominator each by the appropriate conjugate expression to eliminate the square roots, then simplify and cancel the common factor of xx.

Step-by-step solution

Multiply the numerator by 9+x+39+x+3\frac{\sqrt{9+x}+3}{\sqrt{9+x}+3} and the denominator by 4+x+24+x+2\frac{\sqrt{4+x}+2}{\sqrt{4+x}+2}. This uses the difference of squares identity to turn 9+x−3\sqrt{9+x}-3 into (9+x)−99+x+3=x9+x+3\frac{(9+x)-9}{\sqrt{9+x}+3} = \frac{x}{\sqrt{9+x}+3}, and similarly 4+x−2\sqrt{4+x}-2 becomes x4+x+2\frac{x}{\sqrt{4+x}+2}.

The original expression becomes x/(9+x+3)x/(4+x+2)=4+x+29+x+3,\frac{x/(\sqrt{9+x}+3)}{x/(\sqrt{4+x}+2)} = \frac{\sqrt{4+x}+2}{\sqrt{9+x}+3}, after canceling the common factor of xx (valid since x≠0x \neq 0 near the limit point). Now the expression is continuous at x=0x=0, so direct substitution gives 4+29+3=2+23+3=46=23\frac{\sqrt{4}+2}{\sqrt{9}+3} = \frac{2+2}{3+3} = \frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3}.

Identifying the common factor canceled in the rationalized limit

Hint
Step-by-step solution

The common factor canceled was x. After multiplying numerator and denominator by their respective conjugates, both the top and bottom simplified to expressions containing a factor of x, which canceled since x is not zero near the limit point. This left a continuous expression that could be evaluated by direct substitution.

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