In: Economics
Suppose that the total benefit and total cost from a continuous activity are, respectively, given by the following equations: B(Q) = 50 + 18Q – 2Q^2 and C(Q) =40 + 6Q.
(i) What is the equation for the net benefits?
(ii) What is the equation for the marginal net benefits.
(iii) What level of Q maximizes net benefits?
(i)
Net Benefit(NB) = total Benefit(B) - Total Cost(C)
Thus, NB = 50 + 18Q – 2Q2 - (40 + 6Q)
=> NB = 10 + 12Q – 2Q2 ----------------Net Benefit
(ii)
Marginal Net Benefit(MNB) = d(NM)/dQ = 12 - 2*2Q
=> MNB = 12 - 4Q ------------------Marginal net benefit
(iii)
Maximize : NB = 10 + 12Q – 2Q2
First Order condition :
d(NB)/dQ = 0 or MNB = 0 => 12 - 4Q = 0 => Q = 3
Thus, Net Benefit will get maximized when Q = 3