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Algebra 2 / 12

For a positive real number $x$, determine the minimum value of the expression $x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}$.

A) $2 \cdot (36)^{-1/5}$

B) $5 \cdot (108)^{-1/5}$

C) $3 \cdot (18)^{-1/5}$

D) $4 \cdot (54)^{-1/5}$

Correct Option: BWe are asked to find the minimum value of the expression $x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}$ for $x > 0$.This problem can be effectively solved using the Arithmetic Mean - Geometric Mean (AM-GM) inequality.The AM-GM inequality states that for $n$ non-negative real numbers $a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n$, the arithmetic mean is greater than or equal to the geometric mean: $\frac{a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_n}{n} \ge \sqrt[n]{a_1 a_2 \dots a_n}$.Equality holds when $a_1 = a_2 = \dots = a_n$.For the expression $x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}$, we need to select terms such that their product is a constant (independent of $x$). The powers of $x$ are $3$ and $-2$. To make the product constant, we need to balance these powers. The least common multiple of $3$ and $2$ is $6$. So we need to have $2$ terms of type $x^3$ and $3$ terms of type $\frac{1}{x^2}$.Let's consider the sum of five positive terms. To ensure the sum is $x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}$, we can the terms appropriately.Consider the terms: $\frac{x^3}{2}, \frac{x^3}{2}, \frac{1}{3x^2}, \frac{1}{3x^2}, \frac{1}{3x^2}$.The sum of these five terms is $\frac{x^3}{2} + \frac{x^3}{2} + \frac{1}{3x^2} + \frac{1}{3x^2} + \frac{1}{3x^2} = x^3 + \frac{3}{3x^2} = x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}$.Now, apply the AM-GM inequality to these five terms:$\frac{\left(\frac{x^3}{2}\right) + \left(\frac{x^3}{2}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{3x^2}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{3x^2}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{3x^2}\right)}{5} \ge \sqrt[5]{\left(\frac{x^3}{2}\right) \cdot \left(\frac{x^3}{2}\right) \cdot \left(\frac{1}{3x^2}\right) \cdot \left(\frac{1}{3x^2}\right) \cdot \left(\frac{1}{3x^2}\right)}$$\frac{x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}}{5} \ge \sqrt[5]{\frac{x^6}{4} \cdot \frac{1}{27x^6}}$$\frac{x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}}{5} \ge \sqrt[5]{\frac{1}{4 \cdot 27}}$$\frac{x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2}}{5} \ge \sqrt[5]{\frac{1}{108}}$$x^3 + \frac{1}{x^2} \ge 5 \cdot (108)^{-1/5}$The minimum value is $5 \cdot (108)^{-1/5}$.This minimum occurs when all terms in the AM-GM are equal:$\frac{x^3}{2} = \frac{1}{3x^2}$$3x^5 = 2$$x^5 = \frac{2}{3}$$x = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{1/5}$Since $x > 0$ is a positive real number, the equality condition is achievable.The final answer is $\boxed{B}$