--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Demand curve for peanuts

Question:

a) Johnny consumes peanuts (x1) and a composite good (x2). His utility function is U = x1x2. His marginal utilities are MU1 = x2 and MU2 = x1. Johnny's budget is $20 and the price of the composite good is $1. Derive Johnny's demand function for peanuts.

b) Ambrose consumes peanuts (x1) and a composite good (x2).He has a utility functionU = 4 x1 + x2. This means his MU1 = 2/√x1 and his MU2 = 1 . The price of the composite good is p2 = 1. His budget is $20 per month. Derive Ambrose's demand function for peanuts. How does it compare with Johnny's demand curve for peanuts?

Solution:

a) U = x1x2

MRS = MU1/MU2 = x2/x1

Now, MRS = P1/P2 = P/1 = x2/x1 => x2 = 2Px1 {taking P1 = P}

Putting this value in budget equation:

Px1 + x2 = 20

  1.   Px1 + 2Px1 = 30
  2.   Px1 = 10
  3.   x1 = 10/P
  4.   x2 = 20

b) U = 4 Öx1 + x2.

MRS = MU1/ MU2 = (2/Öx1)/1 = 2/Öx1

Now, MRS = P1/P2 = P/1 = 2/Öx1

  1.   Öx1=2/P
  2.   x1 = 4/P2

Therefore, Ambrose's demand for peanuts does not depend upon his income, while Johnny's demand for peanuts does depend upon his income.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Capital intensive forms of production

    Can someone please help me in finding out the accurate answer from the following question. Associative to firms that do not practice the wage discrimination, firms which wage-discriminate tend to: (1) Forego highest gains by hiring the less productive workers. (2) Dis

    		•
  • Q : Statement of Featherbedding I have a

    I have a problem in economics on Resources and Products Flow Model. Please help me in the following question. The featherbedding is: (1) Practiced through only migratory ducks and geese. (2) Practiced through female song birds on each spring. (3) Increasingly substitu

    		•
  • Q : Natural barriers to entry A monopoly

    A monopoly may emerge naturally while: (w) increasing costs happen quickly relative to market demand. (x) at low levels of output, disutilities of scale are encountered. (y) economies of scale are substantial relative to market demand. (z) variable co

    		•
  • Q : Price charging by minimizing average

    See a monopolist which cannot price discriminate but that maximizes profit. When this firm produces the level of output where is average cost at its minimum that will charge a price: (i) equal to marginal cost and generate zero economic profit. (ii) e

    		•
  • Q : Spending pattern for maximizing utility

    The consumer maximizes utility if spending patterns cause: (1) Level of net utility to increase each time purchases are modified. (2) Marginal utilities of each and every good consumed to be equivalent. (3) Principle of corresponding marginal utilities per dollar to b

    		•
  • Q : Price taking and price making The price

    The price makers within a purely competitive market are: (i) auctioneers (ii) buyers. (iii) sellers. (iv) both buyers and sellers. (v) nobody. I need a good answer on the topic of Economics problem

    		•
  • Q : World price in market When for wheat

    When for wheat the world price is $10 per bushel, and Del, who one owns the biggest wheat farm into North Dakota, will work at: (i) point a. (ii) point b. (iii) point c. (iv) point d. (v) point f.

    Q : Marginal cost of capital What do you

    What do you mean by the marginal cost of capital?

    		•
  • Q : Consuming equal successive units of good

    The idea that additional satisfaction ultimately declines from consuming equivalent successive units of any good is the law of: (1) Consumer deficits. (2) Equivalent marginal utilities per dollar. (3) Diminishing marginal utility. (4) Veblen’s inequality. (5) Co

    		•
  • Q : Equilibrium price of commodity Describe

    Describe why the equilibrium price of commodity is determined at the level of output at which its demand equavalents its supply.

    		•