Average And Marginal Cost Functions Quiz
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Which of the following cost line items would be a fixed cost?
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Commissions to Salespeople
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Rent
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Raw Materials
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Packaging
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Shipping/Delivery Charges
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Average cost and marginal cost are two types of costs that we have covered in economics class. It is important for a manufacturer to know how to use these two costs to ensure maximization of profit with ultimate supply. Take up the quiz below and see how much you understand these costs as taught in class. All the best and keep revising!
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- 2.
Which of the following best describes marginal cost?
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The per-unit-of-output cost for a product
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The incremental cost of producing one more unit of output
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A cost invariant to the farm's output
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The sum of all costs associate with the production of a product
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The cost of fixed items such as general and administrative expenses
Correct Answer
A. The incremental cost of producing one more unit of outputExplanation
Marginal cost refers to the additional cost incurred in producing one more unit of output. It is the cost that increases when production is increased by one unit. This concept is important for businesses to determine the optimal level of production and pricing strategies. By understanding the marginal cost, businesses can make informed decisions about how much to produce and at what price to sell their products.Rate this question:
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- 3.
In which of the following markets is a consumer less sensitive to price?
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Airlines
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Refrigerators
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Health Care
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Computer components
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Washing Machines
Correct Answer
A. Health CareExplanation
In the health care market, consumers are generally less sensitive to price because their primary concern is their health and well-being, rather than the cost of the services or products. Health care is often considered a necessity, and consumers are willing to pay higher prices for quality care and treatments. Additionally, health care decisions are often made based on the advice of medical professionals, rather than solely on price considerations. Therefore, consumers in the health care market tend to be less price-sensitive compared to other markets.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What is a sunk cost?
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A cost that can be avoided if certain choices are made
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A cost that always varies with the output of a factory
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The average cost of operating a plant
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The "lower envelop" of short-run average cost functions
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A cost incurred no matter what the decision is and cannot be avoided
Correct Answer
A. A cost incurred no matter what the decision is and cannot be avoidedExplanation
A sunk cost is a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered, regardless of the decision made. It is a cost that is independent of any future choices or actions. Sunk costs are irrelevant to decision-making because they cannot be changed or avoided. Therefore, regardless of the decision made, the sunk cost will remain the same and cannot be recovered.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Which of the following statements is true regarding the relationship between average and marginal cost functions?
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When average cost is a decreasing function of output, marginal cost is greater than average cost
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When average cost neither increases or decreases (because it is constant or at a minimum point), marginal cost is equal to average cost
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The average cost function is always smaller than the marginal cost function
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The average cost function is always greater than the marginal cost function
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When average cost is an increasing function of output, marginal cost is less than average cost
Correct Answer
A. When average cost neither increases or decreases (because it is constant or at a minimum point), marginal cost is equal to average costExplanation
When the average cost is constant or at a minimum point, it means that the additional cost of producing one more unit of output is equal to the average cost. This is because the average cost is not changing with each additional unit produced. Therefore, the marginal cost is equal to the average cost in this situation.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Suppose an entrepreneur starts a business earning $2M in revenue in 2009 while at the same time incurring $1.8M in costs. If the entrepreneur's best outside alternative employment opportunity is to earn $300K, what are the firms accounting and economic profits?
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$200K, -$100K
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$200K, $100K
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$300K, $100K
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$300K, -$100K
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$200K, $200K
Correct Answer
A. $200K, -$100KExplanation
The firm's accounting profit is $200K because it is calculated by subtracting the total costs ($1.8M) from the total revenue ($2M). However, the firm's economic profit is -$100K because it takes into account the opportunity cost of the entrepreneur's best alternative employment opportunity ($300K). Therefore, the economic profit is calculated by subtracting the total costs and the opportunity cost from the total revenue.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What is a Nash equilibrium?
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A state where each player is doing the best it can, given the strategies of all other players
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A state where the sum of all payoffs is maximized
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A state where the players always have achieved their best possible result
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A state at which MR = MC for a firm
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A state where each player always must play a dominant strategy
Correct Answer
A. A state where each player is doing the best it can, given the strategies of all other playersExplanation
A Nash equilibrium is a state in which each player is doing the best they can, given the strategies of all other players. In this state, no player has an incentive to unilaterally deviate from their chosen strategy, as it would not lead to a better outcome for them. It is a stable point where all players are optimizing their choices based on the actions of others, resulting in a balanced outcome.Rate this question:
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- 8.
If a farm is producing as efficiently as it knows how, the how will the total cost function slope?
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Upward
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Downward
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No Slope
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Downward until an output threshold value, then upward
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Upward until an output threshold value, then downward
Correct Answer
A. UpwardExplanation
If a farm is producing as efficiently as it knows how, the total cost function will have an upward slope. This means that as the farm increases its level of production, the total cost will also increase. This is because producing more requires additional resources and inputs, which come at a cost. Therefore, the total cost function will show a positive relationship between the level of production and the total cost incurred by the farm.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Suppose a factory is producing 100 units and the price of each unit is $10. If raising the price to $12 per unit results in a drop in sales of 12 units, what is the price elasticity of demand, ƞ?
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6
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0.6
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1.67
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0.8
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0.17
Correct Answer
A. 0.6Explanation
The price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in price. In this case, the price is raised from $10 to $12, resulting in a drop in sales of 12 units. To calculate the price elasticity of demand, we use the formula: ƞ = (% change in quantity demanded) / (% change in price). The % change in quantity demanded is (-12 / 100) * 100 = -12%. The % change in price is (2 / 10) * 100 = 20%. Therefore, the price elasticity of demand is (-12 / 20) = -0.6, which is the absolute value of 0.6. So, the correct answer is 0.6.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Which of the following variables does not influnce the quantity of product that a firm is able to sell?
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Price of the product
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Price of related products
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Plant production costs
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Incomes and testes of consumers
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Advertising
Correct Answer
A. Plant production costsExplanation
Plant production costs do not directly influence the quantity of product that a firm is able to sell. While these costs can impact the firm's profitability and pricing decisions, they do not have a direct effect on the demand for the product or the firm's ability to sell it. Factors such as price of the product, price of related products, incomes and tastes of consumers, and advertising can all have a direct impact on the quantity of product that a firm is able to sell.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The basic law of demand says that all other things being the same,
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The lower the price of a product, the less of it consumers will purchase
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The higher the price of a product, the less of it consumers will purchase
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The lower the price of a product, the more of it consumers will purchase
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The higher the price of a product, the more of it consumers will purchase
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The greater the number of units of a product sold in the past, the more of it consumers will purchase that product in the future
Correct Answer
A. The lower the price of a product, the more of it consumers will purchaseExplanation
The answer is correct because it aligns with the basic law of demand, which states that as the price of a product decreases, consumers will demand more of it. This is because lower prices make the product more affordable and attractive to consumers, leading to an increase in demand. Conversely, as the price of a product increases, consumers will demand less of it due to the higher cost. Therefore, the statement "The lower the price of a product, the more of it consumers will purchase" accurately reflects the relationship between price and consumer demand.Rate this question:
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- 12.
If TC(Q) = 1000Q2 + 100Q + 10, what is the formula for AC(Q)?
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2000Q + 100
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2000Q2 + 100Q
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1000Q2 + 100Q + 10
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1000Q + 100 +10/Q
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100Q + 10 + 1/Q
Correct Answer
A. 1000Q + 100 +10/QExplanation
The formula for AC(Q) can be found by taking the derivative of TC(Q) with respect to Q and dividing it by Q. This will give us the average cost per unit, which is the formula for AC(Q). The given answer, 1000Q + 100 + 10/Q, matches this criteria and is therefore the correct formula for AC(Q).Rate this question:
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- 13.
What is the revenue destructiob effect?
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The loss in revenue a firm incurs on units it would have sold at a higher price when reducing price to sell extra units
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The loss in revenue a firm incurs as a result of selling fewer units of output when raising price to increase profit
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The loss in revenue a firm incurs due to brand level elasticities
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The loss in revenue a firm incurs due to being in a perfectly competitive market
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The loss in revenue a firm incurs due to predatory pricing
Correct Answer
A. The loss in revenue a firm incurs on units it would have sold at a higher price when reducing price to sell extra unitsExplanation
The revenue destruction effect refers to the loss in revenue that a firm experiences when it reduces the price of its products in order to sell additional units. This loss occurs because the firm is selling these extra units at a lower price than it could have sold them for, resulting in a decrease in overall revenue.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Which of the following best describes marginal revenue?
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How sales revenue varies as a function of how much product is sold
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The incremental sales from producing one more unit of output
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Rate of change in total revenue that results from the sale of ∆Q additional units of output
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The total sales for a given product based on plant output
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Percentage change in quantity divided by percentage change in price
Correct Answer
A. Rate of change in total revenue that results from the sale of ∆Q additional units of outputExplanation
Marginal revenue refers to the rate of change in total revenue that occurs when selling additional units of output. It represents the incremental sales generated from producing one more unit of a product. This concept helps businesses understand how their sales revenue varies as a function of the quantity of products sold. By analyzing marginal revenue, companies can make informed decisions about production levels and pricing strategies to maximize their profits.Rate this question:
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- 15.
In what special situation might the law of demand not hold?
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In a perfectly competitive market
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When there is a high price elasticity of demand
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When MR = MC
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At the Nash Equilibrium
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If high prices confer prestige
Correct Answer
A. If high prices confer prestigeExplanation
In certain situations, the law of demand may not hold true, such as when high prices confer prestige. In this scenario, the demand for a product might actually increase as the price increases because consumers associate high prices with exclusivity and status. This phenomenon is often observed in luxury goods or high-end brands, where consumers are willing to pay more to demonstrate their wealth and social status. Therefore, in this special situation, the law of demand, which states that as the price of a product increases, the quantity demanded decreases, does not hold.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Which characteristic does not describe a perfectly competitive market?
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Firms produce identical or nearly identical products
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Market price is beyond the control of any individual firm
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A firm's demand curve is perfectly horizontal at the market price
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Industry-level price elasticity is finite
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Firm-level price elasticity of demand facing another perfect competitor is infinite
Correct Answer
A. Industry-level price elasticity is finiteExplanation
A perfectly competitive market is characterized by firms producing identical or nearly identical products, where the market price is beyond the control of any individual firm. Additionally, a firm's demand curve is perfectly horizontal at the market price, meaning that the firm can sell any quantity of its product at that price. However, in a perfectly competitive market, the industry-level price elasticity is infinite, not finite. This means that a small change in price would result in an infinitely large change in quantity demanded.Rate this question:
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- 17.
If ƞ = 0.8 and P = $25, what is MR?
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$20
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$6.25
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-$5
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-$6.25
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$5
Correct Answer
A. -$6.25Explanation
The given question is asking for the marginal revenue (MR) when ƞ (elasticity of demand) is 0.8 and P (price) is $25. The negative sign in front of the answer indicates that the MR is negative, meaning that a decrease in price will lead to an increase in total revenue. The value of -$6.25 suggests that for every $1 decrease in price, the total revenue will increase by $6.25.Rate this question:
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- 18.
At what point can a firm achieve a profit maximizing quantity?
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MR > MC
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MC = D
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MR < MC
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MR = D
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MR = MC
Correct Answer
A. MR = MCExplanation
In economics, Marginal Revenue (MR) refers to the additional revenue that one more unit of a good or service will produce if it is sold. Marginal Cost (MC) is the cost of producing one additional unit of a product. The principle that firms should continue to produce as long as the marginal revenue of producing an additional unit exceeds the marginal cost (MR > MC) is pivotal. However, the optimal point of production, where profit is maximized, occurs where MR equals MC. This balance ensures that the cost of producing one more unit is exactly covered by the revenue it generates, maximizing profitability before additional units begin to decrease profit (where MR < MC). This condition for profit maximization is a fundamental concept in both microeconomics and managerial economics.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Apr 30, 2024Quiz Edited by
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Jun 16, 2012Quiz Created by
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