Assume that it costs a company approximately C(x) = 484,000+ 160x + 0.001x² dollars to manufacture x units of a device in an hour at one of their manufacturing centers. How many devices should be manufactured each hour to minimize average cost? units What is the resulting average cost of a device? $ How does the average cost compare with the marginal cost at the optimal production level? Find how much they differ. $
Assume that it costs a company approximately C(x) = 484,000+ 160x + 0.001x² dollars to manufacture x units of a device in an hour at one of their manufacturing centers. How many devices should be manufactured each hour to minimize average cost? units What is the resulting average cost of a device? $ How does the average cost compare with the marginal cost at the optimal production level? Find how much they differ. $
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
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![### Cost Minimization in Manufacturing
**Problem Statement:**
Assume that it costs a company approximately
\[ C(x) = 484,000 + 160x + 0.001x^2 \]
dollars to manufacture \( x \) units of a device in an hour at one of their manufacturing centers.
1. **How many devices should be manufactured each hour to minimize average cost?**
- **Answer:**
\[ \_\_\_ \text{ units} \]
2. **What is the resulting average cost of a device?**
- **Answer:**
\[ \$\_\_\_ \]
3. **How does the average cost compare with the marginal cost at the optimal production level? Find how much they differ.**
- **Answer:**
\[ \$\_\_\_ \]
**Explanation:**
To find the optimal number of devices to minimize average cost, you must first derive the function for the average cost \( AC(x) \) and then determine the number of units that minimize this cost. Additionally, comparing the marginal cost \( MC(x) \) at the optimal production level against the average cost provides insight into the efficiency of the production.
- Average Cost Function \( AC(x) \):
\[ AC(x) = \frac{C(x)}{x} = \frac{484,000 + 160x + 0.001x^2}{x} = 484,000x^{-1} + 160 + 0.001x \]
- Marginal Cost Function \( MC(x) \):
The derivative of the total cost function \( C(x) \) gives the marginal cost:
\[ MC(x) = \frac{dC(x)}{dx} = 160 + 0.002x \]
To find the point where the average cost is minimized, set the derivative of \( AC(x) \) (Average Cost) equal to zero and solve for \( x \).
Finally, evaluate both \( AC(x) \) and \( MC(x) \) at this optimal production level and compare the two to find the difference.](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F144527c6-4d39-4faa-ad47-bfaf6dc9f136%2F061bb7c4-4a66-47fa-b960-72ac2f6af8f1%2Fxpsin5_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:### Cost Minimization in Manufacturing
**Problem Statement:**
Assume that it costs a company approximately
\[ C(x) = 484,000 + 160x + 0.001x^2 \]
dollars to manufacture \( x \) units of a device in an hour at one of their manufacturing centers.
1. **How many devices should be manufactured each hour to minimize average cost?**
- **Answer:**
\[ \_\_\_ \text{ units} \]
2. **What is the resulting average cost of a device?**
- **Answer:**
\[ \$\_\_\_ \]
3. **How does the average cost compare with the marginal cost at the optimal production level? Find how much they differ.**
- **Answer:**
\[ \$\_\_\_ \]
**Explanation:**
To find the optimal number of devices to minimize average cost, you must first derive the function for the average cost \( AC(x) \) and then determine the number of units that minimize this cost. Additionally, comparing the marginal cost \( MC(x) \) at the optimal production level against the average cost provides insight into the efficiency of the production.
- Average Cost Function \( AC(x) \):
\[ AC(x) = \frac{C(x)}{x} = \frac{484,000 + 160x + 0.001x^2}{x} = 484,000x^{-1} + 160 + 0.001x \]
- Marginal Cost Function \( MC(x) \):
The derivative of the total cost function \( C(x) \) gives the marginal cost:
\[ MC(x) = \frac{dC(x)}{dx} = 160 + 0.002x \]
To find the point where the average cost is minimized, set the derivative of \( AC(x) \) (Average Cost) equal to zero and solve for \( x \).
Finally, evaluate both \( AC(x) \) and \( MC(x) \) at this optimal production level and compare the two to find the difference.
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