In: Economics
1. The following equation describes a firm’s total cost.
TC = 500 + 10Q + Q2
a. If the firm is a price taker and other firms in the industry sell output at a price of $100, what price should the manager of this firm put on the product?
b. What level of output should be produced to maximize profits (or minimize losses)?
c. Should the firm keep producing or shut down? Hint: Is P ≥ AVC?
d. Calculate profit (or losses)?
e. The firm sells orange juice, which is a perfect substitute, at a farmers market. What type of market is this firm operating in?
2. The following equations describe a firm’s demand and total cost.
P = 1,000 – 10Q
TC = 500 + 10Q + Q2
a. What level of output should be produced to maximize profits (or minimize losses)?
b. What is the market price?
c. Should the firm keep producing or shut down? Hint: Is P ≥ AVC?
d. Calculate profit (or losses)?
e. The firm sells cereal and competes with other firms selling slightly differentiated cereal products. What type of market is this firm operating in?
1.
a. Since the firm is a price taker, it would sell at the same price at which the rest of the firms are selling. Hence price = $100.
b. Profit maximizing condition: Marginal Revneue = Price = Marginal Cost
MR = P = $100
MC = dTC/dQ = 2Q + 10
∴ 2Q + 10 = 100
Q = 45
c. Average Variable cost = TVC/Q
Total Cost = 500 +10Q + Q2 = 500 + 10(45) + (45 × 45) = $2975
Total variable cost = Total cost - 500 = $2475
AVC = $2475 / 45 = $55
Since, P(=100) > AVC(=55), firms should continue to operate.
d.
Total Revenue = P × Q = 100 × 45 = $4500
Total Cost = 500 +10Q + Q2 = 500 + 10(45) + (45 × 45) = $2975
Profit = Total revenue - Total cost = $4500 - $2975 = $1525
e.
The firm is in a perefectly competetive market. This is the market type where perfect substitutes are available and firms are price takers.
2.
a.
Profit maximizing condition: Marginal revenue = Marginal Cost
Total revenue = P×Q = (1000 - 10Q) × Q
MR = dTR/dQ = 1000 - 20Q
MC = dTC/dQ = 2Q + 10
∴ 2Q + 10 = 1000 - 20Q
Q = 45
b. P = 1000 - 10Q = 1000 - 10(45) = $550
c.
Total Cost = 500 +10Q + Q2 = 500 + 10(45) + (45 × 45) = $2975
Total variable cost = Total cost - 500 = $2475
AVC = $2975 / 45 = $55
Since, P(=550) > AVC(=55), firms should continue to operate.
d.
Total Revenue = P × Q = 550 × 45 = $24750
Total Cost = 500 +10Q + Q2 = 500 + 10(45) + (45 × 45) = $2975
Profit = Total revenue - Total cost = $24750 - $2975 = $21775
e.
The firm is in a monopolistically competetive market. This is the market type where each firm sells a slightly differentiated product.