Acme is a monopolist for a good with inverse demand P = 4000 – 6Q, where P is the price in dollars and Q is the amount sold. Acme's variable costs are TVC(Q) = 4Q². With these functions, the marginal revenue is MR(Q) = 4000 – 120 and marginal cost is MC(Q) = 8Q. a) If Acme has no fixed costs, what is its profit maximizing price? b) If Acme has non-sunk fixed costs of $700,000, is it worth operating or should they shut down?

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
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Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
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**Educational Content: Monopoly Pricing and Profit Maximization**

**Scenario Analysis:**

Acme is a monopolist for a good, facing the inverse demand function \( P = 4000 - 6Q \), where \( P \) represents the price in dollars and \( Q \) is the quantity sold. Acme's variable costs are represented by the equation \( TVC(Q) = 4Q^2 \). The marginal revenue function is given as \( MR(Q) = 4000 - 12Q \), and the marginal cost function is described by \( MC(Q) = 8Q \).

**Questions:**

a) **Profit Maximizing Price Without Fixed Costs:**
   - To determine the profit-maximizing price, set marginal revenue (MR) equal to marginal cost (MC) and solve for \( Q \).
   - \[
     4000 - 12Q = 8Q
     \]
   - \[
     4000 = 20Q \quad \Rightarrow \quad Q = 200
     \]
   - Substitute \( Q = 200 \) back into the inverse demand equation to find \( P \):
   - \[
     P = 4000 - 6(200) = 4000 - 1200 = 2800
     \]
   - The profit-maximizing price is $2800.

b) **Decision on Operation with Non-Sunk Fixed Costs of $700,000:**
   - Calculate total profit using the quantity found:
   - Total Revenue (TR) = \( P \times Q = 2800 \times 200 = 560,000 \)
   - Total Variable Cost (TVC) = \( 4Q^2 = 4(200)^2 = 160,000 \)
   - Total Cost (TC) including fixed costs = \( TVC + \text{fixed costs} = 160,000 + 700,000 = 860,000 \)
   - Profit = TR - TC = \( 560,000 - 860,000 = -300,000 \)

Since the profit is negative even before considering fixed costs, Acme should consider shutting down because operating results in a loss.
Transcribed Image Text:**Educational Content: Monopoly Pricing and Profit Maximization** **Scenario Analysis:** Acme is a monopolist for a good, facing the inverse demand function \( P = 4000 - 6Q \), where \( P \) represents the price in dollars and \( Q \) is the quantity sold. Acme's variable costs are represented by the equation \( TVC(Q) = 4Q^2 \). The marginal revenue function is given as \( MR(Q) = 4000 - 12Q \), and the marginal cost function is described by \( MC(Q) = 8Q \). **Questions:** a) **Profit Maximizing Price Without Fixed Costs:** - To determine the profit-maximizing price, set marginal revenue (MR) equal to marginal cost (MC) and solve for \( Q \). - \[ 4000 - 12Q = 8Q \] - \[ 4000 = 20Q \quad \Rightarrow \quad Q = 200 \] - Substitute \( Q = 200 \) back into the inverse demand equation to find \( P \): - \[ P = 4000 - 6(200) = 4000 - 1200 = 2800 \] - The profit-maximizing price is $2800. b) **Decision on Operation with Non-Sunk Fixed Costs of $700,000:** - Calculate total profit using the quantity found: - Total Revenue (TR) = \( P \times Q = 2800 \times 200 = 560,000 \) - Total Variable Cost (TVC) = \( 4Q^2 = 4(200)^2 = 160,000 \) - Total Cost (TC) including fixed costs = \( TVC + \text{fixed costs} = 160,000 + 700,000 = 860,000 \) - Profit = TR - TC = \( 560,000 - 860,000 = -300,000 \) Since the profit is negative even before considering fixed costs, Acme should consider shutting down because operating results in a loss.
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