In: Economics
Ball Bearings, Inc., faces costs of production as follows:
QUANITY | TOTAL FIXED COSTS (DOLLARS) | TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS (DOLLARS) |
0 | 180 | 0 |
1 | 180 | 80 |
2 | 180 | 140 |
3 | 180 | 180 |
4 | 180 | 240 |
5 | 180 | 320 |
6 | 180 | 450 |
Complete the following table by calculating the company’s total cost, marginal cost, average fixed cost, average variable cost, and average total cost at each level of production.
QUANITY | TOTAL COST (DOLLARS) | MARGINAL COST (DOLLARS) | AVERAGE FIXED COST (DOLLARS) | AVERAGE VARIABLE COST (DOLLARS) | AVERAGE TOTAL COST (DOLLARS) |
0 | ? | ---------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- |
1 | ? | ? | 80/180/260 | 80/180/260 | 80/180/260 |
2 | ? | ? | 70/90/160 | 70/90/160 | 70/90/160 |
3 | ? | ? | 60/120 | 60/120 | 60/120 |
4 | ? | ? | 45/60/105 | 45/60/105 | 45/60/105 |
5 | ? | ? | 36/64/100 | 36/64/100 | 36/64/100 |
6 | ? | ? | 30/75/105 | 30/75/105 | 30/75/105 |
The price of a case of ball bearings is $80. Seeing that he can’t make a profit, the company's chief executive officer (CEO) decides to shut down operations.
The firm’s profit in this case is $__???
. (Note: If the firm suffers a loss, enter a negative number in the previous cell.)
True or False: This was a wise decision.
True
False
Vaguely remembering his introductory economics course, the company's chief financial officer tells the CEO it is better to produce 1 case of ball bearings, because marginal revenue equals marginal cost at that quantity.
At this level of production, the firm’s profit is $____??? . (Note: If the firm suffers a loss, enter a negative number in the previous cell.).
True or False: This is the best decision the firm can make.
True
False
Q | TC | MC | AFC | AVC | ATC |
0 | 180 | ||||
1 | 260 | 80 | 180 | 80 | 260 |
2 | 320 | 60 | 90 | 70 | 160 |
3 | 360 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 120 |
4 | 420 | 60 | 45 | 60 | 105 |
5 | 500 | 80 | 36 | 64 | 100 |
6 | 630 | 130 | 30 | 75 | 105 |
ATC = TC/Q, AVC = VC/Q, AFC = FC/Q
TC = VC + FC
MC (nth unit) = TC (n units) - TC ((n-1) units)
The price of a case of ball bearings is $80. Seeing that he can’t make a profit, the company's chief executive officer (CEO) decides to shut down operations.
The firm’s profit in this case is - $180 (firm loses the fixed costs)
This was not a wise decision (firm would have earned some contribution margin because P > min AVC (shutdown point) if it had chosen to continue operations)
Vaguely remembering his introductory economics course, the company's chief financial officer tells the CEO it is better to produce 1 case of ball bearings, because marginal revenue equals marginal cost at that quantity.
At this level of production, the firm’s profit is = 80 x 1 - 260 = - $ 180
This is not the best decision (statement is false, MR = MC maximizes profit when MC is increasing in nature)