Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
Related questions
Question
Question is in the attached image. Thank you!
![### Demand Curve and Monopolist Behavior
#### 1)
**a) Explanation of the Inelastic Portion of the Demand Curve:**
The inelastic portion of the demand curve refers to the range where the price elasticity of demand is less than one. In this range, the percentage change in quantity demanded is less than the percentage change in price, meaning consumers are relatively unresponsive to price changes.
A monopolist will never choose a level of output in this inelastic range because increasing output would lead to a relatively smaller increase in quantity demanded compared to the decrease in price, ultimately reducing total revenue. Consequently, it is more profitable for the monopolist to operate in the elastic portion of the demand curve (where the price elasticity of demand is greater than one).
**b) Inverse Demand Curve and the Change in Demand:**
Suppose the inverse demand curve is given by:
\[ p = 10 - \alpha y \]
where \( p \) is price and \( y \) is output demanded.
Consider a price change from \( p \) to \( p' \) and a corresponding change in demand from \( y \) to \( y' \). Using the notation:
\[ \Delta p = p' - p \]
and
\[ \Delta y' = y' - y \]
Calculate the value of:
\[ \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta p} \]
**c) Monopolist's Maximum Output:**
Given the answers to (a) and (b) above, suppose that \(\alpha = 2\). Determine the maximum level of output that the monopolist would produce.
---
### Explanation and Calculation for Educational Purposes:
1. **Understanding the Inelastic Demand:**
- **Inelastic Demand:** When the quantity demanded does not change significantly as price changes. Calculated as the percentage change in quantity divided by the percentage change in price results in a value less than one.
- **Monopolist's Choice:** Monopolists operate where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. Since reducing prices in the inelastic portion causes revenue to decrease faster than costs can be recovered, it's not optimal for a profit-maximizing monopolist to produce there.
2. **Given Inverse Demand Function:**
- If we have \[ p = 10 - \alpha y \], we understand that \(\alpha\) represents the rate at which price decreases as quantity increases.
- To compute \(\](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fdfedcf45-36f9-41dd-be80-a8990833e266%2F5fbd7208-5c25-4ed1-95a0-1e133113ec31%2Fo199d8_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:### Demand Curve and Monopolist Behavior
#### 1)
**a) Explanation of the Inelastic Portion of the Demand Curve:**
The inelastic portion of the demand curve refers to the range where the price elasticity of demand is less than one. In this range, the percentage change in quantity demanded is less than the percentage change in price, meaning consumers are relatively unresponsive to price changes.
A monopolist will never choose a level of output in this inelastic range because increasing output would lead to a relatively smaller increase in quantity demanded compared to the decrease in price, ultimately reducing total revenue. Consequently, it is more profitable for the monopolist to operate in the elastic portion of the demand curve (where the price elasticity of demand is greater than one).
**b) Inverse Demand Curve and the Change in Demand:**
Suppose the inverse demand curve is given by:
\[ p = 10 - \alpha y \]
where \( p \) is price and \( y \) is output demanded.
Consider a price change from \( p \) to \( p' \) and a corresponding change in demand from \( y \) to \( y' \). Using the notation:
\[ \Delta p = p' - p \]
and
\[ \Delta y' = y' - y \]
Calculate the value of:
\[ \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta p} \]
**c) Monopolist's Maximum Output:**
Given the answers to (a) and (b) above, suppose that \(\alpha = 2\). Determine the maximum level of output that the monopolist would produce.
---
### Explanation and Calculation for Educational Purposes:
1. **Understanding the Inelastic Demand:**
- **Inelastic Demand:** When the quantity demanded does not change significantly as price changes. Calculated as the percentage change in quantity divided by the percentage change in price results in a value less than one.
- **Monopolist's Choice:** Monopolists operate where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. Since reducing prices in the inelastic portion causes revenue to decrease faster than costs can be recovered, it's not optimal for a profit-maximizing monopolist to produce there.
2. **Given Inverse Demand Function:**
- If we have \[ p = 10 - \alpha y \], we understand that \(\alpha\) represents the rate at which price decreases as quantity increases.
- To compute \(\
Expert Solution

This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps with 3 images

Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Recommended textbooks for you


Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON

Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON


Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON

Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON

Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning

Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning

Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education