Evaluate $\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{1 + \tan x} - \sqrt{1 + \sin x}}{x^3}$ What I attempted thus far:
Multiplying by conjugate 
$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{1 + \tan x} - \sqrt{1 + \sin x}}{x^3} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{1 + \tan x} + \sqrt{1 + \sin x}}{\sqrt{1 + \tan x} + \sqrt{1 + \sin x}} = \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\tan x - \sin x}{x^3 \cdot (\sqrt{1 + \tan x} + \sqrt{1 + \sin x})}$$
factor out $\sin x$ in the numerator
$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin x \cdot (\sec x - 1)}{x^3 \cdot (\sqrt{1 + \tan x} + \sqrt{1 + \sin x})}$$
simplify using $\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin x}{x} = 1 $
$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sec x - 1}{x^2 \cdot (\sqrt{1 + \tan x} + \sqrt{1 + \sin x})}$$
From here I don't see any useful direction to go in, if I even went in an useful direction in the first place, I don't know.

I suspect that this could be evaluated using the definition of derivatives, if so, or not, any suggestions?

Hint: You are doing well. Now multiply top and bottom by $\sec x+1$, and note that $\sec^2 x-1=\tan^2 x$.
