Ike’s utility function is U(x, y) = 20xy. He has 12 units of good x and 8 units
ID: 1252472 • Letter: I
Question
Ike’s utility function is U(x, y) = 20xy. He has 12 units of good x and 8 units of good y. Ben’s utility function for the same two goods is U(x, y) = 4x + 2y. Ben has 9 units of x and 13 units of y. Which of the following is true?a)Ike prefers Ben’s bundle to his own bundle, but Ben prefers his own bundle to Ike’s.
b)Ben prefers Ike’s bundle to his own, but Ike prefers his own bundle to Ben’s.
c)Each prefers the other’s bundle to his own.
d)Neither prefers the other’s bundle to his own.
e)Since they have different preferences, there is not enough information to determine who envies whom.
Explanation / Answer
Ike’s utility function is U(x, y) = 20xy. He has 12 units of good x and 8 units of good y. Ben’s utility function for the same two goods is U(x, y) = 4x + 2y. Ben has 9 units of x and 13 units of y. Which of the following is true?
a)Ike prefers Ben’s bundle to his own bundle, but Ben prefers his own bundle to Ike’s.
b)Ben prefers Ike’s bundle to his own, but Ike prefers his own bundle to Ben’s.
c)Each prefers the other’s bundle to his own.
d)Neither prefers the other’s bundle to his own.
e)Since they have different preferences, there is not enough information to determine who envies whom.