/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 39 The AAA Aquarium Co. sells aquar... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

The AAA Aquarium Co. sells aquariums for \(\$ 20\) each. Fixed costs of production are \(\$ 20 .\) The total variable costs are \(\$ 20\) for one aquarium, \(\$ 25\) for two units, \(\$ 35\) for the three units, \(\$ 50\) for four units, and \$80 for five units. In the form of a table, calculate total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, and marginal cost for each output level (one to five units). What is the profit-maximizing quantity of output? On one diagram, sketch the total revenue and total cost curves. On another diagram, sketch the marginal revenue and marginal cost curves.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The profit-maximizing quantity of output is 3 units. The table shows the total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, and marginal cost for each output level. The total revenue and total cost curves intersect at 3 units, and the marginal revenue equals marginal cost at this output level. Sketch the total revenue/total cost curves and marginal revenue/marginal cost curves to visualize the relationship between these values.

Step by step solution

01

Create a table with columns for quantity, total variable cost, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, and marginal cost

First, we will create an empty table and label the columns for quantity (number of aquariums), total variable cost (TVC), total revenue (TR), marginal revenue (MR), total cost (TC), and marginal cost (MC).
02

Fill in the given quantities and total variable costs

We are given the total variable costs for producing one to five aquariums. Fill in the quantity column with values ranging from one to five, and then fill in the corresponding total variable costs.
03

Calculate the total revenue

Total revenue is calculated by multiplying the quantity sold by the price of each aquarium, which is $20. Fill in the total revenue column using the given price.
04

Calculate the marginal revenue

Marginal revenue is the additional revenue received from selling one more unit, which can be calculated as the difference in total revenue for each additional unit. Calculate the marginal revenue by finding the difference in total revenue for each output level and enter these values in the table.
05

Calculate the total cost

Total cost is the sum of fixed costs and variable costs. In this case, the fixed cost is \(\$20\). Add the fixed cost to the total variable cost for each output level to find the total cost. Enter these values in the table.
06

Calculate the marginal cost

Marginal cost is the additional cost incurred from producing one more unit, which can be calculated as the difference in total cost for each additional unit. Calculate the marginal cost by finding the difference in total cost for each output level and enter these values in the table.
07

Find the profit-maximizing quantity of output

To find the profit-maximizing quantity of output, compare the marginal revenue and marginal cost at each output level. The profit-maximizing quantity occurs when marginal revenue equals marginal cost or when the marginal cost starts to exceed marginal revenue.
08

Sketch the total revenue and total cost curves

Plot the total cost and total revenue values from the table and connect them with smooth curves. Label the curves as "Total Revenue" and "Total Cost".
09

Sketch the marginal revenue and marginal cost curves

Plot the marginal revenue and marginal cost values from the table and connect them with smooth curves. Label the curves as "Marginal Revenue" and "Marginal Cost". The profit-maximizing output level can be identified by the intersection of the Marginal Revenue and Marginal Cost curves.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Total Revenue
Total Revenue (TR) represents the overall amount of money generated from the sale of goods or services. In the context of AAA Aquarium Co., total revenue is calculated by multiplying the price at which each aquarium is sold by the number of aquariums sold. For example, if the company sells one aquarium at \(20, the total revenue from that sale is \)20.

As the number of units sold increases, the total revenue also increases. To accurately gauge performance and make informed decisions, companies typically analyze how total revenue changes with different levels of production and pricing strategies. This understanding helps in determining the most profitable production levels.
Marginal Revenue
Marginal Revenue (MR) is the additional income earned from selling one more unit of a product. For AAA Aquarium Co., it's the extra revenue the company receives when an additional aquarium is sold beyond the current level. Calculating marginal revenue involves finding the difference in total revenue when the quantity sold increases by one unit. Understanding marginal revenue is crucial because it helps in making decisions about whether to increase production.

If the marginal revenue exceeds the marginal cost of producing another unit, it can be profitable to expand production. However, if the marginal revenue is less than or equal to the marginal cost, increasing production may not be beneficial, as it won't add to overall profits.
Total Cost
Total Cost (TC) consists of all the expenses involved in the production of goods, combining both fixed and variable costs. In the scenario with AAA Aquarium Co., the fixed cost is $20, which does not change regardless of how many aquariums are produced, while variable costs increase with each additional unit made.

The sum of the fixed cost and variable costs gives the total cost at each level of output. Being aware of total costs is essential as it affects pricing and production strategies. When businesses know their total costs, they can set prices that cover these costs and potentially yield a profit.
Marginal Cost
Marginal Cost (MC) is the cost of producing one additional unit of a product. For AAA Aquarium Co., this is the cost that arises when producing an extra aquarium. Calculating the marginal cost helps identify the additional expense for each unit and is determined by the change in total cost when another unit is produced.

Knowing the marginal cost is important because it plays a pivotal role in pricing and production decisions. A company looking to maximize its profits will aim to produce up to the point where marginal cost equals marginal revenue. Producing beyond this point would not be advantageous as the cost of making one more unit would be higher than what it earns, thereby reducing overall profits.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

What two rules does a perfectly competitive firm apply to determine its profit-maximizing quantity of output?

A firm's marginal cost curve above the average variable cost curve is equal to the firm's individual supply curve. This means that every time a firm receives a price from the market it will be willing to supply the amount of output where the price equals marginal cost. What happens to the firm's individual supply curve if marginal costs increase?

Assuming that the market for cigarettes is in perfect competition, what does allocative and productive efficiency imply in this case? What does it not imply?

Will a perfectly competitive market display productive efficiency? Why or why not?

A computer company produces affordable, easy-to-use home computer systems and has fixed costs of \$250. The marginal cost of producing computers is \(\$ 700\) for the first computer, \(\$ 250\) for the second, \(\$ 300\) for the third, \(\$ 350\) for the fourth, \(\$ 400\) for the fifth, \(\$ 450\) for the sixth, and \(\$ 500\) for the seventh. a. Create a table that shows the company's output, total cost, marginal cost, average cost, variable cost, and average variable cost. b. At what price is the zero-profit point? At what price is the shutdown point? c. If the company sells the computers for \(\$ 500,\) is it making a profit or a loss? How big is the profit or loss? Sketch a graph with \(\mathrm{AC}, \mathrm{MC},\) and \(\mathrm{AVC}\) curves to illustrate your answer and show the profit or loss. d. If the firm sells the computers for \(\$ 300,\) is it making a profit or a loss? How big is the profit or loss? Sketch a graph with AC, MC, and AVC curves to illustrate your answer and show the profit or loss.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Economics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.