Calculus is a powerful tool used in economics. One of the initial applications areas is the study of a firm, a topic in microeconomics. An important function is the cost function function C (z), the cost of producing items (of whatever they are selling). This quest with just the cost function C (a). Problem Set question: The cost, in dollars, of producing a units of a certain item is given by Find the production level that minimizes the average cost per unit. C(z) = 5x-8√√2-8.

How do you find the value of a function?

Traffic Accidents The following table shows the cost C of traffic accidents. in cents per vehicle-mile, as a function of vehicular speed s, in miles per hour, for commercial vehicles driving at night on urban streets. Speed s 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Cost C 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.9 2.2 5.8 The rate of vehicular involvement in traffic accidents per vehicle-mile can be modeled as a quadratic function of vehicular speed s, and the cost per vehicular involvement is roughly a linear function of s, so we expect that C the product of these two functions can be modeled as a cubic function of s. a. Use regression to find a cubic model for the data. Keep two decimal places for the regression parameters written in scientific notation. b. Calculate C(42) and explain what your answer means in practical terms. c. At what speed is the cost of traffic accidents for commercial vehicles driving at night on urban streets at a minimum? Consider speeds between 20 and 50 miles per hour.

High School Graduates The following table shows the number, in millions, graduating from high school in the United States in the given year. Year Number graduating in millions 1985 2.83 1987 2.65 1989 2.47 1991 2.29 a. By calculating difference, show that these data can be modeled using a linear function. b. What is the slope for the linear function modeling high school graduations? Explain in practical terms the meaning of the slope. c. Find a formula for a linear function that models these data. d. Express, using functional notation, the number graduating from high school in 1994, and then use your formula from part c to calculate that value.