Question
- Find the interval(s) on which
is decreasing, if
Ask by Rodriguez Boyd. in the United States
Jan 22,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Solution
To determine the intervals where the function
is decreasing, we need to analyze the sign of its derivative
. Specifically,
is decreasing where
.
Given:
Step 1: Factor the Derivative
Factor the expression to find the critical points:
Factor the expression to find the critical points:
Step 2: Analyze the Sign
- The term
is always non-negative ( ) and equals zero at . - The sign of
is primarily determined by the product .
Evaluate
:
- For
: Both and are negative, so their product is positive. - For
: is positive and is negative, so their product is negative. - For
: Both and are positive, so their product is positive.
Step 3: Determine Where
only when
, which occurs in the interval
.
Conclusion:
The function is decreasing on the interval
.
The function
Answer: A.
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The Deep Dive
To determine where
is decreasing, we analyze its derivative,
. First, we find the critical points by setting
. Factoring gives us
, leading to
. Thus, the critical points are
.
Next, we can create intervals to test the sign of
:
- For
, pick : (increasing). - For
, pick : (decreasing). - For
, pick : (decreasing). - For
, pick : (increasing).
Thus,
is decreasing on the intervals
and
, but we only care about the blank interval here, which really sums up as:
and
means decreasing on
.
The correct answer is then
.
For further exploration:
Mathematicians often observe that the behavior of derivatives can reveal a lot about the function’s shape. Maximizing and minimizing points can help identify peaks and troughs in data models, and it’s widely used in fields like economics to find optimal pricing strategies!
Mathematicians often observe that the behavior of derivatives can reveal a lot about the function’s shape. Maximizing and minimizing points can help identify peaks and troughs in data models, and it’s widely used in fields like economics to find optimal pricing strategies!
Also, if you’re keen on delving deeper into calculus, consider looking at resources like “Calculus” by James Stewart or “Calculus Made Easy” by Silvanus P. Thompson. Both provide engaging insights and techniques that can greatly enhance your understanding of derivatives and their applications!