TITLE: Understand how to evaluate $\lim _{x\to 2}\frac{\sqrt{6-x}-2}{\sqrt{3-x}-1}$
QUESTION [17 upvotes]: We are given this limit to evaluate:
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\frac{\sqrt{6-x}-2}{\sqrt{3-x}-1}$$
In this example, if we try substitution it will lead to an indeterminate form $\frac{0}{0}$. So, in order to evaluate this limit, we can multiply this expression by the conjugate of the denominator.
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{\sqrt{6-x}-2}{\sqrt{3-x}-1} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3-x}+1}{\sqrt{3-x}+1}   \right) = \lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{(\sqrt{6-x}-2)(\sqrt{3-x}+1)}{2-x}\right) $$
But it still gives the indeterminate form $\frac{0}{0}$ .
But multiplying the expression by the conjugate of the demoninator and numerator we get
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{\sqrt{6-x}-2}{\sqrt{3-x}-1} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3-x}+1}{\sqrt{3-x}+1} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{6-x}+2}{\sqrt{6-x}+2}\right) $$
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{6-x-4}{3-x-1} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3-x}+1}{1} \cdot \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{6-x}+2}\right)$$
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{6-x-4}{3-x-1} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3-x}+1}{\sqrt{6-x}+2}\right)$$
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{2-x}{2-x} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3-x}+1}{\sqrt{6-x}+2}\right)$$
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3-x}+1}{\sqrt{6-x}+2}\right)$$
Now we can evaluate the limit:
$$\lim _{x\to 2}\left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3-2}+1}{\sqrt{6-2}+2}\right) = \dfrac{1}{2}$$

Taking this example, I would like to understand why rationalization was used. What did it change in the expression so the evaluation was possible? Especially, why multiplying by the numerator's and denominator's conjugate?
I am still new to limits and Calculus, so anything concerning concepts I'm missing is appreciated. I still couldn't understand how a limit supposedly tending to $\frac{0}{0}$ went to be $\frac{1}{2}$, I really want to understand it.
Thanks in advance for you answer.

REPLY [3 votes]: In this case, the rationalisation of the denominator not only simplifies the expression a bit, but reveals a rate of change, which makes the determination of the limit quite fast:
$$\frac{(\sqrt{6-x}-2)\dfrac{(\sqrt{6-x}-2)(\sqrt{3-x}+1)}{2-x}}{2-x}=\underbrace{\frac{\sqrt{6-x}-2}{2-x}}_{\textstyle\downarrow\atop \textstyle(-\sqrt{6-x})_{x=2}'}\cdot(\underbrace{\sqrt{3-x}+1}_{\textstyle\downarrow\atop\textstyle2}), $$
hence the limit is $\;-\biggl(\dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{6-x}}\biggr)_{\!x=2}\cdot 2=-\dfrac12.$