Rationalization of a square-root difference (source code)

= Rationalization of a square-root difference
{title2=$\sqrt u-\sqrt v=(u-v)/(\sqrt u+\sqrt v)$}

For $u,v\ge0$ with $u+v>0$, multiplication by the sum of the <square roots> gives
$$
\sqrt u-\sqrt v=\frac{u-v}{\sqrt u+\sqrt v}.
$$
This identity exposes small differences hidden by cancellation. For example, $\sqrt{n^2+n}-n=1/(\sqrt{1+1/n}+1)\to1/2$. It also converts normalized square-root increments into terms comparable with the <harmonic series>.