Learn Portuguese (Portugal): A rapariga astuta usou a lógica com um esforço mínimo. - The clever girl used logic with minimal effort.

Mínimo is the irregular absolute superlative of pequeno (small). Instead of saying um esforço muito pequeno (a very small effort) or using the regular suffix to say pequeníssimo, Portuguese uses the distinct word mínimo to express an extremely small amount or the least possible effort.

Could mínimo be placed before the noun, as in com um mínimo esforço?

Yes, but the tone shifts slightly. Placed after the noun (um esforço mínimo), it is an objective description of the effort's size. Placed before the noun (um mínimo esforço), it becomes more subjective and emphatic, highlighting the speaker's impression of just how trivial the effort was.

Does astuta have the exact same meaning as inteligente or esperta?

Not quite. While inteligente means smart in a general sense, and esperta means quick-witted, astuta implies a strategic, cunning, or calculating type of cleverness. It suggests she knew exactly how to navigate the situation to her advantage.

Why do we say usou a lógica with the article a, when English just says "used logic"?