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nakungth nakungth
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4 years ago
A competitive firm sells its product at a price of $0.10 per unit.  Its total and marginal cost functions are:
   TC = 5 - 0.5Q + 0.001Q2
   MC = -0.5 + 0.002Q,       
where TC is total cost ($) and Q is output rate (units per time period).

a.   Determine the output rate that maximizes profit or minimizes losses in the shortterm.
b.   If input prices increase and cause the cost functions to become
    TC = 5 - 0.10Q + 0.002Q2
    MC = -0.10 + 0.004Q,
what will the new equilibrium output rate be?  Explain what happened to the profit maximizing output rate when input prices were increased.
Textbook 
Microeconomics

Microeconomics


Edition: 8th
Author:
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boransalboransal
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4 years ago
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More questions for this book are available here
a.
   TR = PQ = 0.10Q    MR = 0.10
   TC = 5 - 0.5Q + 0.001Q2
    MC = -0.5 + 0.002Q = 0.10 = MR
    Q = 75

b.
   MC = -0.10 + 0.004Q = 0.10 = MR
   Q = 50       
As a result of the increase in input costs, the firm's marginal cost increased.  This caused the intersection of MC to occur at the lower production rate, 50 vs. 75.  This also reduced the firm's level of profit.
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3 years ago
Thanks, very pleased with your answer
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6 months ago
Thanks
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6 months ago
Thanks!
Post Merge: 6 months ago

really good answer
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6 months ago
Thank you
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3 weeks ago
a) For competitive firm at equilibrium, P (Price) = MC (Marginal Cost) occur. So,

=> 0.10 = -0.5 + 0.002Q

=> 0.10 + 0.5 = 0.002Q

=> 0.6 = 0.002Q

=> Q = 0.6 / 0.002

=> Q = 300

TR (Total Revenue) = P * Q = 0.10 * 300

=> TR = 30

TC = 5 - (0.5 * 300) + 0.001 * (300)^2 = 5 - 150 + 90 

=> TC = - 55

Profit = TR - TC = 30 - (- 55) = 30 + 55

=> Profit = $85

Therefore, here the profit maximizing output level is, Q = 300 and profit is $85.

b) For competitive firm at equilibrium, P (Price) = MC (Marginal Cost) occur. So,

=> 0.10 =  - 0.10 + 0.004Q

=> 0.10 + 0.10 = 0.004Q

=> 0.20 = 0.004Q

=> Q = 0.20 / 0.004

=> Q = 50

TR = P * Q = 0.10 * 50 = 5

TC =  5 - (0.10 * 50) + 0.002 * (50)^2 = 5 - 5 + 5 = 5

Profit = TR - TC = 5 - 5 = $0.

Therefore, here the new equilibrium output level is, Q = 50 and profit is $0.

Here by comparing (a) and (b)'s profit maximizing output level and profit level we can see that after increase in input price the profit maximizing output level has decreased from 300 to 50 and the profit level falls from $85 to $0.
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