<s>[INST] Calculate $\lim_{x \to \infty} (\sqrt{x^2 + 3x} - \sqrt{x^2 + 1})$ without using L'Hospital's rule Question:
Calculate
$$\lim_{x \to \infty} (\sqrt{x^2 + 3x} - \sqrt{x^2 + 1})$$
without using L'Hospital's rule.
Attempted solution:
First we multiply with the conjugate expression:
$$\lim_{x \to \infty} (\sqrt{x^2 + 3x} - \sqrt{x^2 + 1}) = \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{x^2 + 3x - (x^2 + 1)}{\sqrt{x^2 + 3x} + \sqrt{x^2 + 1}}$$
Simplifying gives:
$$\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{3x - 1}{\sqrt{x^2 + 3x} + \sqrt{x^2 + 1}}$$
Breaking out $\sqrt{x^2}$ from the denominator and $x$ from the numerator gives:
$$\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{x(3 - \frac{1}{x})}{x(\sqrt{1 + 3x} + \sqrt{1 + 1})} = \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{3 - \frac{1}{x}}{\sqrt{1 + 3x} + \sqrt{2}}$$
The result turns out to be $\frac{3}{2}$, but unsure how to proceed from here.
 [/INST] There's an error in the factorisation of the denominator. No need to factor $x$ in the numerator, as you have a theorem for the limit at $\infty$ of a rational function. You should obtain, if $x>0$:
$$\lim_{x \to+ \infty}\frac{3x-1}{x\Bigl(\sqrt{1 + \dfrac3x} + \sqrt{1 + \dfrac1{x^2}}\Bigr)} = \lim_{x \to +\infty} \frac{3x - 1}x\cdot\frac1{\sqrt{1 + \dfrac3x} + \sqrt{1 + \dfrac1{x^2}}}= 3\cdot\frac12.$$
Similarly the limit as $x\to-\infty\,$ is $\,-\dfrac32$.
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