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Suppose the long-run total cost function for an industry is given by the cubic equation TC = a + bq + cq2 + dq3. Show (using calculus) that this total cost function is consistent with a U-shaped average cost curve for at least some values of a, b, c, and d.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The total cost function is consistent with the U-shaped AC curve for a=0, b > 0, d > 0 and 0 < c2< 3bd.

Step by step solution

01

Consistency of total cost with U-shaped AC curve

TC = a + bq + cq2+ dq3

In the long run, none of the inputs are fixed. Thus, the fixed cost, a, becomes zero. Therefore the total cost in the long run is:

TC = bq + cq2+ dq3

The average cost function is as follows:

AC = b + cq + dq2

The quadratic equation for the AC curve shows that the average cost is either in a U-shape or inverted U-shape. A U-shape AC curve will give minimum average cost, while the inverted AC curve will cost maximum.

A firm always prefers minimum average costs. Thus, the AC curve is U-shaped.

For minimum AC, the first derivative should equal zero, which gives the critical points for q, and the second derivative of AC should be positive. Thus, at minima:

dACdq=0db+cq+dq2dq=0c+2dq=0c=-2dq

Thus, the average cost is minimum when c = -2dq (critical point).

For minimum average cost:

d2ACdq2>0dc+2dqdq>02d>0d>0

Since d is positive and q cannot be negative, then c has to be negative.

c=-2dq,orq=-c2d

Placing the value of q in the AC equation:

AC=b+cq+dq2AC=b+c-c2d+d-c2d2AC=b-c22d+c24dAC=b-c24d

The average cost must be positive, that is, AC > 0.

Therefore,b>c24d

c2is positive, and d is positive. Thus, b is also positive.

Also c2< 4bd.

02

Consistency of total cost with U-shaped MC curve

The marginal cost function is:

MC=dTCdq=dbq+cq2+dq3dq=b+2cq+3dq2

The quadratic MC equation shows that the marginal cost curve is also either U-shaped or inverted U-shaped.

The marginal cost will be minimum with a U-shape curve.

For minima, the first derivate of MC equals zero will give the critical points of output.

db+2cq+3dq2dq=02c+6dq=0c+3dq=0c=-3dq,orq=-c3d

Placing the value of q in MC equation:

MC=b+2cq+3dq2=b+2c-c3d+3d-c3d2=b-2c23d+c23d=b-c23d

MC must be positive. It implies that MC > 0. Thus,

b-c23d>0b>c23d3bd>c2

From AC curve minimization analysis, it is discovered that c2< 4bd. Thus, the more rigid requirement is c2< 4bd.

Therefore, the total cost function is consistent with the U-shaped AC curve for a =0, b > 0, d > 0 and 0 < c2< 3bd.

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