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How does the average cost curve help to show whether a firm is making profits or losses?

Short Answer

Expert verified

If a company charges a price that is more than its average cost of production for the quantity produced, it will earn profit.

Step by step solution

01

Concept

Average cost refers to the per unit cost of producing a good or service. It is obtained by the ratio of total cost of production and total output produced. The average cost curve is a U-shaped curve.

02

Explanation

The firm will profit if the average cost curve is lower than the marginal revenue curve, or price, for a given level of output. Only if the company's revenues are insufficient to meet its variable costs should it close.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why will losses for firms in a perfectly competitive industry tend to vanish in the long run?

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.

Perfectly competitive firm Doggies Paradise Inc. sells winter coats for dogs. Dog coats sell for \(72 each. The fixed costs of production are \)100. The total variable costs are \(64 for one unit, \)84 for two units, \(114 for three units, \)184 for four units, and $270 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). On one diagram, sketch the total revenue and total cost curves. On another diagram, sketch the marginal revenue and marginal cost curves. What is the profit-maximizing quantity?

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?

1. 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 AC, MC, and 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.

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