Suppose that a firm’s production function is Q =10 K^(3/4)L^(1/4). The cost of a unit of labor is $1 and the cost of a unit of capital is $3. The manager of this firm is interested in finding the following information: a)    Type of returns to scale and the marginal products of labor and capital. b)    The marginal rate of technical substitution of labor for capital. Graph the isoquant map. c)    The firm is currently producing 100 units of output. Find the optimal cost-minimizing quantities of labor and capital. Graphically illustrate this optimal solution using isoquants and isocost lines. What is the minimum total cost? d)    The manager now wants to know the K/L ratio to produce anyoutput level at the minimum total cost. Represent graphically the expansion path in the long run.

Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies and Tactics (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN:9781305506381
Author:James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Publisher:James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Chapter7: Production Economics
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 7E
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Suppose that a firm’s production function is Q =10 K^(3/4)L^(1/4). The cost of a unit of labor is $1 and the cost of a unit of capital is $3. The manager of this firm is interested in finding the following information:

a)    Type of returns to scale and the marginal products of labor and capital.

b)    The marginal rate of technical substitution of labor for capital. Graph the isoquant map.

c)    The firm is currently producing 100 units of output. Find the optimal cost-minimizing quantities of labor and capital. Graphically illustrate this optimal solution using isoquants and isocost lines. What is the minimum total cost?

d)    The manager now wants to know the K/L ratio to produce anyoutput level at the minimum total cost. Represent graphically the expansion path in the long run.

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