Total Product Average Fixed Cost Average Variable Cost Average Total Cost Margin
ID: 1218718 • Letter: T
Question
Total
Product
Average
Fixed Cost
Average
Variable Cost
Average
Total Cost
Marginal
Cost
0
45
1
$60.00
$45.00
$105.00
40
2
30.00
42.50
72.50
35
3
20.00
40.00
60.00
30
4
15.00
37.50
52.50
35
5
12.00
37.00
49.00
40
6
10.00
37.50
47.50
45
7
8.57
38.57
47.14
55
8
7.50
40.63
48.13
65
9
6.67
43.33
50.00
65
10
6.00
46.50
52.50
At a product price of $56, will this firm produce in the short run? If it is preferable to produce, what will be the profit-maximizing or loss-minimizing output? What economic profit or loss will the firm realize per unit of output? • Answer the questions above for a product price of $41. • Answer the questions above for a product price of $32.
Total
Product
Average
Fixed Cost
Average
Variable Cost
Average
Total Cost
Marginal
Cost
0
45
1
$60.00
$45.00
$105.00
40
2
30.00
42.50
72.50
35
3
20.00
40.00
60.00
30
4
15.00
37.50
52.50
35
5
12.00
37.00
49.00
40
6
10.00
37.50
47.50
45
7
8.57
38.57
47.14
55
8
7.50
40.63
48.13
65
9
6.67
43.33
50.00
65
10
6.00
46.50
52.50
Explanation / Answer
A) At a product price of $56, will this firm produce in the short run? If it is preferable to produce, what will be the profit-maximizing or loss-minimizing output? What economic profit or loss will the firm realize per unit of output?
Yes, $56 exceeds AVC (and ATC) at the profit-maximizing output. Using the MR = MC rule it will produce 8 units. Profits per unit = $7.87 (= $56 - $48.13); total profit = $62.96.
B) Answer the questions above for a product price of $41.
Yes, $41 exceeds AVC at the loss—minimizing output. Using the MR = MC rule it will produce 6 units. Loss per unit or output is $6.50 (= $41 - $47.50). Total loss = $39 (= 6 $6.50), which is less than its total fixed cost of $60.
C) Answer the questions above for a product price of $32.
No, because $32 is always less than AVC. If it did produce according to the MR = MC rule, its output would be 4—found by expanding output until MR no longer exceeds MC. By producing 4 units, it would lose $82 [= 4 ($32 - $52.50)]. By not producing, it would lose only its total fixed cost of $60.