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Use the Quotient Rule to find a general expression for the marginal average profit. That is, calculate \(\frac{d}{d x}\left[\frac{P(x)}{x}\right]\) and simplify your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The marginal average profit is \( \frac{xP'(x) - P(x)}{x^2} \).

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

We need to differentiate the function \( \frac{P(x)}{x} \) with respect to \( x \) using the Quotient Rule. Here, \( P(x) \) is the profit function, and we aim to find the marginal average profit.
02

Recall the Quotient Rule

The Quotient Rule states: if \( u(x) \) and \( v(x) \) are differentiable functions, then the derivative of \( \frac{u(x)}{v(x)} \) is \( \frac{v(x)u'(x) - u(x)v'(x)}{[v(x)]^2} \).
03

Identify Functions for Quotient Rule

Let \( u(x) = P(x) \) and \( v(x) = x \). Thus, \( u'(x) = P'(x) \) (the derivative of the profit function) and \( v'(x) = 1 \) since \( v(x) = x \).
04

Apply the Quotient Rule

Using the quotient rule, we differentiate \( \frac{P(x)}{x} \) as follows:\[\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{P(x)}{x} \right) = \frac{x \cdot P'(x) - P(x) \cdot 1}{x^2} \]This simplifies to:\[\frac{xP'(x) - P(x)}{x^2}\]
05

Final Simplification

The expression \( \frac{xP'(x) - P(x)}{x^2} \) is now our simplified expression for the marginal average profit. It represents the rate of change of the average profit with respect to the number of units, \( x \).

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Key Concepts

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

Derivative of a Quotient
When you're dealing with functions like \( \frac{P(x)}{x} \), the key is the Quotient Rule. This rule helps us find the derivative of a function that is the division of two other functions. Suppose you have two differentiable functions, \( u(x) \) and \( v(x) \). The Quotient Rule tells us how to differentiate \( \frac{u(x)}{v(x)} \) with respect to \( x \). It is expressed as:
  • \( \frac{v(x)u'(x) - u(x)v'(x)}{(v(x))^2} \)
This means we take the derivative of the numerator \( u(x) \) and multiply it by the denominator \( v(x) \), then subtract the product of the numerator \( u(x) \) and the derivative of the denominator \( v(x) \). All of this is divided by the square of the denominator. In our problem, we set \( u(x) = P(x) \) and \( v(x) = x \). This enables us to determine the derivative using the Quotient Rule, ensuring we handle division correctly.
Marginal Average Profit
Marginal average profit helps businesses understand how their average profit per unit changes as they produce and sell one more unit. It combines both marginal analysis and averages, providing a unique insight into business operations.
  • To calculate this, we start with the average profit function, \( \frac{P(x)}{x} \), where \( P(x) \) is the profit function representing the total profit from selling \( x \) items.
  • The objective is to find its derivative to see how the average profit changes with each additional unit.
Following the formula derived using the Quotient Rule, our expression \( \frac{xP'(x) - P(x)}{x^2} \) gives us the marginal average profit. This result shows the rate at which each extra unit sold will affect the average profit. Understanding this can guide pricing and production decisions, helping businesses maximize their profit efficiently.
Differentiation in Calculus
Differentiation is a fundamental concept in calculus, providing a means to calculate the rate of change of a function. It enables us to find slopes of tangents to curves and assess how functions behave at different points.
  • In simple terms, if you have a function \( y = f(x) \), differentiation gives you \( f'(x) \), the function's derivative. This tells us how \( y \) changes as \( x \) changes.
  • With practical applications in various fields such as physics, economics, and engineering, differentiation is powerful for solving real-world problems.
In the context of our exercise, differentiation helped us find the marginal average profit, providing insight into profit dynamics for business decisions. By differentiating functions like \( \frac{P(x)}{x} \), companies can comprehend their cost structures better. Each step in differentiation offers clarity in analysis, showing its critical importance in analytical tasks.

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