Full Solutions to 3 common microeconomics review problems
Not what you're looking for?
1. Currently, at a price of $1 each, 100 popsicles are sold per day in the perpetually hot town of Rostin. Consider the elasticity of supply. In the short run, a price increase from $1 to $2 is unit-elastic (Es=1.0). So how many popsicles will be sold each day in the short run if the price rises to $2 each? In the long run, if the price rises to $2 each? (Hint: Apply the midpoint approach to the elasticity of supply).
2. Assume the following values for Figures 5.4a and 5.4b. Q1=20 bags, Q2=15 bags, Q3=27 bags. The market equilibrium price is $45 per bag. The price at a is $85 per bag. The price at c is $5 per bag. The price at f is $59 per bag. The price at g is $31 per bag. Apply the formula for the area of a triangle (Area = 1/2 x Base x Height) to answer the following questions.
a. What is the dollar value of the total surplus (producer surplus plus consumer surplus) when the allocatively efficient output level is being produced? How large is the dollar value of the consumer surplus at that output level?
b. What is the dollar value of the deadweight loss when output level Q2 is being produced? What is the total surplus when output level Q2 is being produced?
c. What is the dollar value of the deadweight loss when output level Q3 is produced? What is the dollar value of the total surplus when output level Q3 is produced?
3. Let MUA = z = 10 - x and MUB = z = 21 - 2y, where z is marginal utility per dollar measured in units, x is the amount spent on product A, and y is the amount spent on product B. Assume that the consumer has $10 to spend on A and B - that is, x+y = 10. How is the $10 best allocated between A and B? How much utility will the marginal dollar yield?
Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary
Full, detailed solutions to three common microeconomics review questions:
1. How will price elasticity of supply affect the quantity of popsicles sold in Rostin?
2. What are the dollar values of the total surplus and deadweight loss at different quantities of production?
3. What is a consumer's best allocation of $10 between goods A and B? How much utility will the marginal dollar yield?
Solution Preview
1. The midpoint formula for elasticity of supply is:
Es = ((P1+P2)/(Q1+Q2))*((Q2-Q1)/(P2-P1)
In the short run:
1 = ((1+2)/(100+Q2))*((Q2-100)/(2-1))
1 = (3/(100+Q2))*(Q2-100)
100+Q2=3Q2-300
400=2Q2
Q2=200
Therefore the number of popsicles sold each day will be 200.
In the long run:
1.5 = ((1+2)/(100+Q2))*((Q2-100)/(2-1))
1.5 = (3/(100+Q2))*(Q2-100)
150+1.5Q2=3Q2-300
450=1.5Q2 ...
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Basics of Economics
Quiz will help you to review some basics of microeconomics and macroeconomics which are often not understood.
Pricing Strategies
Discussion about various pricing techniques of profit-seeking firms.
Economic Issues and Concepts
This quiz provides a review of the basic microeconomic concepts. Students can test their understanding of major economic issues.
Economics, Basic Concepts, Demand-Supply-Equilibrium
The quiz tests the basic concepts of demand, supply, and equilibrium in a free market.
Elementary Microeconomics
This quiz reviews the basic concept of supply and demand analysis.