The number of steps does not matter, if the function is linear:
f=@(x) (3+x.^1/2)
x.^1/2 is (x .^ 1) / 2, which is the same as x/2. Operator precedence: power is higher than division. I guess you mean:
f = @(x) (3 + x.^(1/2))
% or: f=@(x) (3 + x.^0.5)
% or: f=@(x) (3 + sqrt(x)) % Fastest