# Evaluating $\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{1- \cos x^2}}{1 - \cos x}$

I'm trying to evaluate the following limit: $$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{1- \cos x^2}}{1 - \cos x}$$ I've tried multiplying by the conjugate and variable substitution. I had a look at wolfram alpha and it said that $\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{1- \cos x^2}}{1 - \cos x}=\sqrt{2}$, though I'm interested in the process to achieve that.

Any help would be much appreciated / actually finding the limit.

Thanks

• $cos(x)=1-\frac{x^2}{2}+o(x^3)$. – Qing Zhang Feb 18 '17 at 20:07
• You can use L'Hopital. – Smurf Feb 18 '17 at 20:08

Note: I am using the limit $\lim_{\theta \to 0}\frac{\sin \theta}{\theta}=1$ and the identity $1-\cos 2A=2\sin^2 A$.
Using $$1-\cos(x)=\frac{x^2}{2}+o(x^2)$$ and $$1-\cos(x^2)=\frac{x^4}{2}+o(x^4),$$ you'll get the result.
• What is the $o(x^2)$ mean? What is that called? – frog1944 Feb 18 '17 at 20:09
• a function $f(x)=o(x)$ if $$\lim_{x\to 0}\left|\frac{f(x)}{x}\right|=0.$$ but to be honest, if you don't know Taylor approximation, my answer won't help. – Surb Feb 18 '17 at 20:11