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x+1/x=3
Squaring
x^2 + 1/x^2 = 7,
Squaring
x^4 + 1/x^4 = 49-2 = 47.

(x^4 + 1/x^4 ) + (x + 1/x) = 47*3 = 141
x^5 + x^3 + 1/x^3 + (1/x^5) = 141

cubing both sides
x^3 + (1/x)^3 + 3(3) = 27
x^3 + (1/x)^3 = 27-9=18.

x^5 + (1/x^5) = 141 -18= 123

Hence IMO A
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Bunuel
If \(x + \frac{1}{x} = 3\) then, what is the value of \(x^5 + \frac{1}{x^5}\) ?

A. 123
D. 144
C. 159
B. 186
A. 191


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

Inspecting the problem, guessing 2 as X yields 2.5.

Guessing 3 yields 3 1/3.

So X is between 2 and 3.

Try 2.5 or 5/2 in the question:

5^5/2^5 = 3125/32 which is a bit less than 100, but we know X is closer to 3 than 2.5, so use 100:

100 + 32/3125 is essentially:

100.1

Based on the range of answers, seems more likely that the smallest number>100 is the likely answer, A

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