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A bottling company uses two inputs to produce bottles of the soft drink Sludge: bottling machines (K) and workers (L). The isoquants have the usual smooth shape. The machines cost $1,000 per day to run (r), and the workers earn $200 per day (w). At the current level of production, the marginal product of machines (MPK) is an additional 417 bottles per day, and the marginal product of labor (MPL) is 28 more bottles per day. Is this firm producing at minimum cost? If it is minimizing cost, explain why. If it is not minimizing cost, explain how the firm should change the ratio of inputs it uses to lower its cost. The bottling company OA. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r> MPL /w and should use more labor and fewer machines. B. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/MPL = r/w and should use more labor and fewer machines. C. is minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r=MPL/w. D. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/rMPL/w and should use less labor and more machines.

A bottling company uses two inputs to produce bottles of the soft drink Sludge: bottling machines (K) and workers (L). The isoquants have the usual smooth shape. The machines cost $1,000 per day to run (r), and the workers earn $200 per day (w). At the current level of production, the marginal product of machines (MPK) is an additional 417 bottles per day, and the marginal product of labor (MPL) is 28 more bottles per day. Is this firm producing at minimum cost? If it is minimizing cost, explain why. If it is not minimizing cost, explain how the firm should change the ratio of inputs it uses to lower its cost. The bottling company OA. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r> MPL /w and should use more labor and fewer machines. B. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/MPL = r/w and should use more labor and fewer machines. C. is minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r=MPL/w. D. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/rMPL/w and should use less labor and more machines.

Exploring Economics
Exploring Economics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781544336329
Author:Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:Robert L. Sexton
Chapter11: The Firm: Production And Costs
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 15P
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A bottling company uses two inputs to produce bottles of the soft drink Sludge: bottling machines (K) and workers (L). The isoquants have the usual smooth shape. The machines cost $1,000 per day to run (r), and the workers earn $200 per day (w). At the current level of production, the marginal product of machines (MPK) is an additional 417 bottles per day, and the marginal product of labor (MPL) is 28 more bottles per day. Is this firm producing at minimum cost? If it is minimizing cost, explain why. If it is not minimizing cost, explain how the firm should change the ratio of inputs it uses to lower its cost. The bottling company A. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r> MPL /w and should use more labor and fewer machines. B. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/MPL = r/w and should use more labor and fewer machines. C. is minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r=MPL/w. D. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r<MPL/w and should use more labor and fewer machines. E. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r>MPL /w and should use less labor and more machines.
Transcribed Image Text:A bottling company uses two inputs to produce bottles of the soft drink Sludge: bottling machines (K) and workers (L). The isoquants have the usual smooth shape. The machines cost $1,000 per day to run (r), and the workers earn $200 per day (w). At the current level of production, the marginal product of machines (MPK) is an additional 417 bottles per day, and the marginal product of labor (MPL) is 28 more bottles per day. Is this firm producing at minimum cost? If it is minimizing cost, explain why. If it is not minimizing cost, explain how the firm should change the ratio of inputs it uses to lower its cost. The bottling company A. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r> MPL /w and should use more labor and fewer machines. B. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/MPL = r/w and should use more labor and fewer machines. C. is minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r=MPL/w. D. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r<MPL/w and should use more labor and fewer machines. E. is not minimizing the cost of production because MPK/r>MPL /w and should use less labor and more machines.
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