To determine the intervals where the function $f(x)$ is decreasing, we can observe the graph's slope behavior:

1. The function decreases when the slope of the graph is negative (i.e., when the graph moves downwards as $x$ increases).

From the graph in your image:

• The function decreases from $x = -1$ to $x = 2$ (moving down).
• The function also decreases from $x = 5$ to $x = 7$.

Thus, the intervals where the function is decreasing are: $(-1, 2), \ (5, 7)$

Would you like further details on how to analyze these intervals?

Here are some related questions:

1. What does it mean for a function to be increasing or decreasing on an interval?
2. How do we identify critical points where the slope changes direction?
3. How does the derivative of a function relate to its increasing or decreasing behavior?
4. How can you determine if a point is a local maximum or minimum?
5. How do concave up and concave down regions relate to increasing/decreasing intervals?

Tip: To analyze increasing and decreasing intervals effectively, always focus on the slope of the curve or the first derivative's sign.