Let
\(A=\frac{\sqrt{1+x}-\sqrt{1-x}}{\sqrt{1+x}+\sqrt{1-x}}\).
a) Rationalize the denominator and show that, for \(x\ne0\),
\(A=\frac{1-\sqrt{1-x^2}}{x}\).
b) Substitute \(x=\frac{2m}{m^2+1}\), where \(m>0\), and use the rationalized form from part a) to show that
- \(A=m\) when \(0<m<1\),
- \(A=1\) when \(m=1\), and
- \(A=\frac{1}{m}\) when \(m>1\).
Hints
- In part a), use the conjugate of the denominator as a factor of \(1\).
- After the substitution, simplify \(1-x^2\) before taking its square root.
- Use \(\sqrt{u^2}=|u|\).
- The sign of \(m^2-1\) changes at \(m=1\).
Solution
1. Multiply numerator and denominator by \(\sqrt{1+x}-\sqrt{1-x}\).
2. The denominator becomes \((1+x)-(1-x)=2x\), while the numerator becomes \((\sqrt{1+x}-\sqrt{1-x})^2=2-2\sqrt{1-x^2}\).
3. For \(x\ne0\), this gives \(A=\frac{1-\sqrt{1-x^2}}{x}\).
4. With \(x=\frac{2m}{m^2+1}\) and \(m>0\), we have \(0<x\le1\), so the form from part a) applies.
5. Compute \(1-x^2=\frac{(m^2-1)^2}{(m^2+1)^2}\), hence \(\sqrt{1-x^2}=\frac{|m^2-1|}{m^2+1}\).
6. Substitute into the rationalized form: \(A=\frac{m^2+1-|m^2-1|}{2m}\).
7. If \(0<m<1\), then \(|m^2-1|=1-m^2\), so \(A=m\).
8. If \(m=1\), then \(A=1\).
9. If \(m>1\), then \(|m^2-1|=m^2-1\), so \(A=\frac{1}{m}\).
Answer
a) \(A=\frac{1-\sqrt{1-x^2}}{x}\) for \(x\ne0\).
b) For \(0<m<1\), \(A=m\).
For \(m=1\), \(A=1\).
For \(m>1\), \(A=\frac{1}{m}\).