November 8, 2007

Evaluate $\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{\sqrt[3]{1+cx}-1}{x}$ where $c$ is a constant.


Solution. 
Introduce a new variable $t$ by
t=\sqrt[3]{1+cx}
We also need to express $x$ in terms of $t$:
\begin{eqnarray} t^3=1+cx \\ \Longrightarrow x=\frac{t^3-1}{c} \end{eqnarray}
As $x\to 0$, then $t\to 1$. We can therefore write
\begin{eqnarray} \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{\sqrt[3]{1+cx}-1}{x} &=& \lim_{t\to 1}\frac{t-1}{(t^3-1)/c} \\ &=& \lim_{t\to 1}\frac{c(t-1)}{t^3-1} \\ &=& \lim_{t\to 1}\frac{c(t-1)}{(t-1)(t^2+t+1)} \\ &=& \lim_{t\to 1}\frac{c}{t^2+t+1} = \frac{c}3. \end{eqnarray}