--%>
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 : Requirement of production costs

    Decreasing average production costs needs raising the size of a firm when the raised production encounters economies of: (i) Growth. (ii) Coordination. (iii) Growth. (iv) Scale. (v) Scope. Find out the right answer from the above o

    		•
  • Q : Define deficit budget Deficit budget :

    Deficit budget: When expenditure of the government is greater than its receipts, it is termed as deficit budget.

    		•
  • Q : Comparative advantage in making food

    When Wilma can make a brontosaurus burger in 10 min and a cactus cooler in 5, whereas Betty can make the burger in 8 min and the cactus cooler in 3. Then find out the right option from the above: (1) Betty consists of a comparative disadvantage in the coolers and a co

    		•
  • Q : Major disadvantage of operating a

    One of the main disadvantages of operating a corporation in relative to operating a sole partnership or proprietorship is that corporations tend to: (i) Offer just limited legal liability to their stockholders. (ii) Utilize specialized management pers

    		•
  • Q : Find out price elasticity of supply

    When Info-Gadget and Inc. offers only 333 thousand generic potato peelers monthly at $1 each as well as 1,667 thousand at $2 each, its price elasticity of supply is around: (1) 1.0. (2) 1.5. (3) 2.0. (4) 3.0. (5) 0.5.

    Q : Family Allowance Plans for Income

    Government payments generally provided into European nations which are roughly sufficient to feed and clothe each child within a family are parts of programs termed as: (w) Family Allowance Plans [FAPs]. (x) negative income taxes [NITs]. (y) indigent subsidy plans [IS

    		•
  • Q : Examples of Substitution goods

    Illustrations of goods which are close substitutes comprise: (i) Technology and capital. (ii) Motorcycles and helmets. (iii) Chopsticks and forks. (iv) Cowhides and beef. Find out the right answer from the above op

    		•
  • Q : Total increase in national income In an

    In an economy the MPC is 0.75. Investment expenses in the economy raise by Rs.75 crore. Compute total increase in national income.

    		•
  • Q : Market supplies of labor in long run

    During the long run, the labor supply curve facing a main industry: (w) will always be positively associated to the wage rate. (x) will slope upward only when individual labor supply curves slope upward. (y) can be backward bending at very high wage r

    		•
  • Q : Employment distinguish between full

    distinguish between full employment and under employment

    		•