In: Economics
Suppose a farmer is growing corn. The farmer's total variable and fixed costs of growing corn are shown below. A portion of the N fertilizer the farmer applies also runoff into the local stream, but the farmer faces no requirement to control the N runoff from the farm.
What is the farmer's marginal cost to produce corn when producing 140,000 bushels?
Bushels of corn | T. Variable Cost | T. Fixed Cost | |
100,000 | $300,000 | $50,000 | |
120,000 | $370,000 | $50,000 | |
140,000 | $450,000 | $50,000 | |
160,000 | $550,000 | $50,000 | |
180,000 | $690,000 | $50,000 |
$3.21
$3.50
$3.57
$3.75
$4.00
Question 2
Suppose a farmer is growing corn. The farmer's total variable and fixed costs of growing corn are shown below. A portion of the N fertilizer the farmer applies also runoff into the local stream, but the farmer faces no requirement to control the N runoff from the farm.
What is the average total cost to produce corn when producing 140,000 bushels?
Bushels of corn | T. Variable Cost | T. Fixed Cost | |
100,000 | $300,000 | $50,000 | |
120,000 | $370,000 | $50,000 | |
140,000 | $450,000 | $50,000 | |
160,000 | $550,000 | $50,000 | |
180,000 | $690,000 | $50,000 |
$3.21/bu
$3.50/bu
$3.57/bu
$4.00/bu
(1)
The correct answer is (e) $4
Formula Marginal Cost = Change in Total Cost / Change in Output
Total Cost of Producing 140,000 bushels of corn = T. Variable Cost + T. Fixed cost = 450,000 + 50,000
= 500,000
Total Cost of Producing 120,000 bushels of corn = T. Variable Cost + T. Fixed cost = 370,000 + 50,000
= 420,000
Hence Change in Total Cost = 500,000 - 420,000 = 80,000
Change in Output = 140,000 - 120,000 = 20,000
Hence, marginal cost to produce corn when producing 140,000 bushels = Change in Total Cost / Change in Output
= (80,000)/20,000
= 4
Hence, the correct answer is (e) $4
(2)
The correct answer is (c) $3.57/bu
Average Total Cost = Total Cost / Output
Total Cost of Producing 140,000 bushels of corn = T. Variable Cost + T. Fixed cost = 450,000 + 50,000
= 500,000
Output = 140,000
Hence Average Total Cost of producing 140,000 bushels = 500,000/140,000
= 3.57
Hence, the correct answer is (c) $3.57/bu