EC260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Isocost, Isoquant, Production Function

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24 Aug 2016

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Lesson 1. 3: production theory: the production function with one variable input and the law of diminishing returns. Managers determine optimal way to produce by efficiently using scarce resources (inputs) that they have to product goods (outputs) Efficiently using inputs = managers minimize firm"s costs maximization of profits. Production function: shows max. product output achieved from any specified set of inputs. Summarizes technology available and constraints faced by managers. 1. 1 the production function with one variable input. Production function with 2 inputs, one that"s fixed: Firm can change quantity of labour it uses in short run, but can"t change quantity of available to use. Assumption: in the long run, all inputs variable. How output changes as # of workers vary. Tells us how many units of output, on each worker"s responsible for making. Marginal product of labour (mp): equal to incremental change in output created by small change of that input. Represents increase in output resulting from last worker hired.

Related Questions

The law of eventually diminishing marginal returns: (Points : 1)

a. states that each and every increase in the amount of the variable factor employed in the production process will yield diminishing marginal returns.
b. is a mathematical theorem that can be logically proved or disproved
c. is the rate at which one input may be substituted for another input in the production process
d. None of the above

The marginal product is defined as: (Points : 1)

a. the ratio of total output to the amount of the variable input used in producing the output
b. the incremental change in total output that can be produced by the use of one more unit of the variable input in the production process
c. the percentage change in output resulting from a given percentage change in the amount of the variable input X employed in the production process with Y
d. None of the above

The rate at which one input X may be substituted for another input Y in a production process, while total output remains constant, is: (Points : 1)

a. the slope of the isoquant curve
b. the marginal rate of technical substitution

c. equal to MPx/MPy

d. all of the above
e. none of the above

Marginal revenue product is: (Points : 1)

a. defined as the amount that an additional unit of the variable input adds to the total revenue
b. equal to the marginal factor cost of the variable factor times the marginal revenue resulting from the increase in output obtained
c. equal to the marginal product of the variable factor times the marginal product resulting from the increase in output obtained
d. a and b
e. a and c

Marginal factor cost is defined as the amount that an additional unit of the variable unit of the variable input adds to ____________. (Points : 1)

a. marginal cost
b. variable cost
c. marginal rate of technical substitution
d. total cost
e. none of the above

In the Cobb-Douglas production function Q=aL^?1.K^?2 ______________. (Points : 1)

a. the marginal product of labor (L) is equal to ?1
b. the average product of labor (L) is equal to ?2
c. if the amount of labor input (L) is increased by 1 percent, then output will increase by ?1 percent
d. a and b
e. a and c

The short-run cost function is: (Points : 1)

a. where all inputs to the production process are available
b. relevant to decisions in which one or more inputs to the production process are fixed
c. not relevant to optimal pricing and production output decision facilities
d. crucial in making optimal investment decisions in new production facilities
e. none of the above

Theoretically, in a long-run cost function: (Points : 1)

a. all inputs are fixed
b. all inputs are considered variable
c. some inputs are always fixed
d. capital and labor are always combined in fixed proportions

A linear total cost function implies that: (Points : 1)

a. marginal costs are constant as output increases
b. average total costs are continually decreasing as output increases
c. a and b
d. none of the above

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

1) Which of the following is true of the typical relationship between marginal product (MP) and average product (AP)?

A) The AP curve intersects the MP curve at minimum MP.

B) If MP is less than AP, then AP is increasing.

C) If MP is greater than AP, then AP is falling.

D) The MP curve intersects the AP curve at maximum AP.

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.

2) If, for a particular short-run production, we observe that marginal product is decreasing we can conclude that average product is decreasing as well.

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

3) An implicit cost is defined as:

A) the amount by which the money spent on an input to production exceeds its opportunity cost.

B) the difference between an input's explicit cost and its actual cost.

C) the opportunity cost of using a resource that is not explicitly paid out by the firm.

D) the amount by which economic profit exceeds accounting profit.

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

4) The amount of output a firm can produce with a given quantity of fixed and variable inputs is called:

A) total fixed product.

B) average variable product.

C) marginal product.

D) total product.

5) Which of the following statements is true of the relationship among the average cost functions?

A) AFC = ATC + AVC

B) ATC = AFC - AVC
C) AVC = AFC + ATC

D) AFC = ATC - AVC

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.

6) A firm's production function is the relationship between the factors of production and the resulting outputs of the production process.

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

Scenario 2:
Output (Q): 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Total Cost (TC): $24 $33 $41 $48 $54 $61 $69

7) Refer to Scenario 2. Diminishing marginal returns starts to occur between units:

A) 2 and 3.

B) 3 and 4.

C) 4 and 5.

D) 5 and 6.

8) Which of the following would be classified as a short-run decision?

A) trucking firm's decision to move to a smaller facility.

B) A firm's decision to decrease the amount of electricity used in day-to-day operations by encouraging employees to adopt conservation strategies, e.g., shut off lights when leaving a room.

C) A university's decision to add a new residence hall.

D) A restaurant's decision to increase the number of patrons it can accommodate by adding on a new dining room.

9) Economic profit is equal to the difference between: 9)

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.

10) At the point where a firm incurs diminishing marginal returns, total product will begin to decline.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

11) In the context of a production function, the remote order takers in the fast food industry would be classified as:

A) a fixed input.

B) a marginal input.

C) an inframarginal input.

D) a variable input.

Scenario 3:
Total Product (Q): 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Total Cost (TC): $50 $80 $105 $125 $155 $195 $250

12.

13.

increase; lower

decrease; lower

increase; higher

decrease; higher

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.

14.

15.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

16) A labor-intensive method of production is one that:
A) combines a small but sophisticated labor force with a large amount of capital.

B) requires employees to work harder than they would in other occupations.
C) relies on large quantities of labor and smaller quantities of capital equipment. D) relies exclusively on labor.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

17) Assume a firm produces 500 units of a good by using two inputs, capital and labor, whose per unit prices are $10 and $4. Assume also that the marginal physical product of the last unit of capital is 30 and the marginal physical product of the last unit of labor is 10. To minimize costs this firm should employ:

A) more labor and less capital. B) more capital and less labor.
C) the existing combination of resources. D) both more labor and more capital.

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.

18) All else constant, a decrease in the per unit price of labor would create an incentive for a firm manager to substitute labor for capital in the firm's production process.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

19) All else constant, as the price of petroleum increases relative to the prices of other inputs to the production process, in their effort to minimize their total costs of production, we can expect to see firms employ:

A) the same amount of petroleum since there are no substitutes for petroleum. B) less petroleum and more of the other inputs to production.
C) less of each of the inputs of production.

D) more petroleum and less of the other inputs to production.

coffeewoodchuck827

Question 1

If economic profits are zero

		accounting profits is less than the cost of capital.
		accounting profit is just covering the cost of capital.
		the cost of capital is negative.
		the entrepreneur should go to his/her next best alternative.

3 points

Question 2

Markets provide

information.

prices.

incentives.

all of these choices.

3 points

Question 3

The entrepreneur is always searching for

positive profit.

normal profit.

accounting profit.

economic profit.

3 points

Question 4

Social regulations can create

a more competitive market place.

network externalities.

a lower HHI.

barriers to entry.

3 points

Question 5

According to economic theory, profits are maximized where

total revenue equals total cost.

marginal revenue equals marginal cost.

price and average cost are equal.

where marginal product and average cost are equal.

3 points

Question 6

Brand names help

create commodities.

maintain market power.

create competition.

keep economic profits at zero.

3 points

Question 7

Entry of new firms causes

accounting profits to go to zero.

market share to grown.

economic profits to go to zero.

total revenue to be maximized.

3 points

Question 8

Fixed costs

do not vary with output

vary with output

do not vary with price

vary with price

3 points

Question 9

Variable costs

do not vary with price.

do not vary with output.

vary with price.

vary with output.

3 points

Question 10

Value maximization means

		that managers make decision so as to increase the long-run market value of the financial claims on the firm.
		that a firm should make products that have the highest price.
		that managers make decision so as to increase the short-run market value of the financial claims on the firm.
		all of these choices.

3 points

Question 11

A manager can determine if her product is viewed as a normal good or an inferior good by considering

price elasticity.

cross elasticity.

income elasticity.

advertising elasticity.

3 points

Question 12

If demand is perfectly elastic,

		the smallest increase in price will cause quantity demanded to fall to zero.
		the smallest increase in price will cause demand to fall to zero.
		the smallest increase in price will cause quantity demanded to fall.
		the smallest increase in price will cause demand to fall.

3 points

Question 13

If demand is perfectly elastic, then

demand and price are inversely related.

quantity demanded and price are inversely related.

the demand curve is a vertical line.

the demand curve is a horizontal line.

3 points

Question 14

If price elasticity is 3.25 then

		for every one percent change in price, there will be a 3.25 percent change in quantity demanded.
		for every one percent change in price, there will be a 3.25 percent change in demand.
		for every one percent change in price, there will be a 32.5 percent change in quantity demanded.
		for every one percent change in price, there will be a .0325 percent change in quantity demanded.

3 points

Question 15

If price elasticity is 3.25, then demand is

inelastic.

elastic.

unitary.

negative.

EC260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Isocost, Isoquant, Production Function

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Related Questions

		positive profit.
		normal profit.
		accounting profit.
		economic profit.

		a more competitive market place.
		network externalities.
		a lower HHI.
		barriers to entry.

		total revenue equals total cost.
		marginal revenue equals marginal cost.
		price and average cost are equal.
		where marginal product and average cost are equal.

		create commodities.
		maintain market power.
		create competition.
		keep economic profits at zero.

		accounting profits to go to zero.
		market share to grown.
		economic profits to go to zero.
		total revenue to be maximized.

		do not vary with output
		vary with output
		do not vary with price
		vary with price

		do not vary with price.
		do not vary with output.
		vary with price.
		vary with output.

		price elasticity.
		cross elasticity.
		income elasticity.
		advertising elasticity.

		demand and price are inversely related.
		quantity demanded and price are inversely related.
		the demand curve is a vertical line.
		the demand curve is a horizontal line.

		information.
		prices.
		incentives.
		all of these choices.

		inelastic.
		elastic.
		unitary.
		negative.