Given , , and , determine the relationship between , , and .
Pick one
Solution
To solve this problem, we need to analyze the properties of logarithmic and exponential functions, using the monotonicity of these functions to compare the sizes of , , and .
First, let's analyze . Note that and since . Given that is a logarithm of a number between and , and considering the logarithm base is less than 1, which makes the logarithm function decreasing, we have:
-1 = \log_{0.3}\frac{1}{0.3} 1$, therefore $b<-1$ which implies:
b < a.
Finally, analyze $c = 0.2^{0.3}$. We know that $0.2^{0} = 1$ and that 0.3 is positive, so the value of $c$ must be between 0 and 1 (since exponential functions are monotonically increasing when the base is between 0 and 1):
0 < 0.2^{0.3} < 0.2^{0} = 1.
Thus, $c$ is between $0$ and $1$.
Bringing it all together we have:
b < -1 < a < 0 < c < 1.\boxed{b < a < c}.
Therefore, the correct answer is D.