# evaluating limits

• February 17th 2008, 12:21 PM
simsima_1
evaluating limits
If f(x) = sqrt(x+1) evaluate the following expression:

lim (f(x+h)-f(x))/ h
h->0

so my equation looks something like:

(sqrt(x+h+1)-sqrt(x+1))/h

how do i simplify the square roots? I'm thinking the h's would cancel out somehow in order for this limit not to be undefined but i don't know how that would happen.
• February 17th 2008, 12:24 PM
Krizalid
Well you're actually contemplating a derivative via definition of derivative.

Next step: multiply top & bottom by $\sqrt {x + h + 1} + \sqrt {x + 1} .$
• February 17th 2008, 12:34 PM
simsima_1
$
(\sqrt {x + h + 1} - \sqrt {x + 1} )/ h.
$

the bottom is just h so how would i multiply the top by itself and the bottom by the numerator?
• February 17th 2008, 12:50 PM
wingless
$\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{\sqrt{x+h+1}-\sqrt{x+1}}{h}$

$\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{\sqrt{x+h+1}-\sqrt{x+1}}{h}\cdot \frac{\sqrt{x+h+1}+\sqrt{x+1}}{\sqrt{x+h+1}+\sqrt{ x+1}}$

$\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{(x+h+1)-(x+1)}{h(\sqrt{x+h+1}+\sqrt{x+1})}$

$\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{\not h}{\not h(\sqrt{x+h+1}+\sqrt{x+1})}$

$\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{1}{\sqrt{x+h+1}+\sqrt{x+1}}$

Put $h=0$,

$\frac{1}{2\sqrt{x+1}}$