Find the minimum value of x 2 y ( x + y ) 3 , where x and y are positive real numbers.
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Let y = v x . Then the given expression is reduced to v 2 + 3 v + 3 + v 1 . This will be minimum when v = 2 1 (since both x , y and hence v are positive). Hence the minimum value of the given expression is 4 2 7 = 6 . 7 5
Let m = ( x + y )
The formula is now
m 3 / ( x 2 ) ( m − x )
For a given m , we need to find the Highest value of the denominator ( x 2 ) ( m − x ) = m x 2 − x 3
This is a cubic equation passing through (0,0) and tending to -inf as x tends to +inf.
By calculus the x-positive stationary point:
2 m x − 3 x 2 = 0
x = 2 m / 3
Substitute back into m 3 / ( x 2 ) ( m − x )
All the algebra cancels out and the answer is 2 7
Why does all the algebra cancel out? - Expand the formula in the question and it can be seen that every term is order-3 in y and x so y and x can vary in proportion without affecting the value.
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x 2 y ( x + y ) 3 = x 2 y ( x + y ) 2 ( x + y )
x 2 ( x + y ) 2 × y ( x + y )
( x x + y ) 2 × ( y x + 1 )
( x y + 1 ) 2 × ( y x + 1 )
let x y = k
y = k x
( k + 1 ) 2 × ( k 1 + 1 ) simplifying further we get k 2 ( k + 1 ) 3
if we plot this as a function and analyse the rate of change and solve the inequalities of rate of change being<0 and >0 we get unique number satisfying the inequality and observe that for values less than this number it is negative and for others it is positive, therefore the critical point is a minimum value. k 2 3 ( k + 1 ) 2 − k 3 2 ( k + 1 ) = 0
3 = 2 k k + 1
3 k = 2 k + 2
k = 2
substituting this value to the function
2 2 ( 2 + 1 ) 3
4 2 7 = 6 . 7 5