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Multiple Choice
Let . On which of the following intervals is decreasing?
A
B
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D
Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: To determine where the function f(x) = x^3 - 3x^2 + 2 is decreasing, we first need to find its derivative, f'(x), which represents the slope of the tangent line to the curve. Compute f'(x) using the power rule: f'(x) = 3x^2 - 6x.
Step 2: Set the derivative f'(x) = 3x^2 - 6x equal to 0 to find the critical points. Solve the equation 3x^2 - 6x = 0 by factoring: 3x(x - 2) = 0. This gives critical points at x = 0 and x = 2.
Step 3: Use the critical points to divide the x-axis into intervals: (-∞, 0), (0, 2), and (2, ∞). Test the sign of f'(x) in each interval by choosing a test point within each interval and substituting it into f'(x).
Step 4: For each interval, if f'(x) > 0, the function is increasing on that interval. If f'(x) < 0, the function is decreasing on that interval. Analyze the sign of f'(x) for the intervals (-∞, 0), (0, 2), and (2, ∞) to determine where f(x) is decreasing.
Step 5: Based on the sign analysis, identify the intervals where f'(x) < 0. These intervals correspond to where the function f(x) is decreasing. Compare the results with the given options to find the correct answer.