Suppose Alex has the following utility function defined over goods x and y. U (x, y) = xy +10x a. Write out the expression for his indifference curve with y in terms of x and U. b. Assume Alex's current level of utility is U = 80 and plot the indifference curve for this level of utility for values of x between 2 and 12. c. Suppose Alex has $30 to spend on these two goods and x costs $5 per unit while y costs $1.00 per unit. Add Alex's budget constraint to your graph. Visually determine the combination of these two goods that Alex will purchase.
Suppose Alex has the following utility function defined over goods x and y. U (x, y) = xy +10x a. Write out the expression for his indifference curve with y in terms of x and U. b. Assume Alex's current level of utility is U = 80 and plot the indifference curve for this level of utility for values of x between 2 and 12. c. Suppose Alex has $30 to spend on these two goods and x costs $5 per unit while y costs $1.00 per unit. Add Alex's budget constraint to your graph. Visually determine the combination of these two goods that Alex will purchase.
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
Related questions
Concept explainers
Marginal Rate of Technical Substitution
MRTS reaches a manufacturer when a part of the product is lowered to sustain the manufacturing level when the other part is extended. It is the level of the quantity that is lowered when one extra volume is used, and the output is unchanged.
Preferences and Utility Analysis
Before understanding what is preference and utility analysis, it is very important to understand the terms preference and utility separately.
Question
![Suppose Alex has the following utility function defined over goods x and y.
U (x, y) = xy+10x
a. Write out the expression for his indifference curve with y in terms of x and U.
b. Assume Alex's current level of utility is U = 80 and plot the indifference curve for this
level of utility for values of x between 2 and 12.
c.
Suppose Alex has $30 to spend on these two goods and x costs $5 per unit while y costs
$1.00 per unit. Add Alex's budget constraint to your graph. Visually determine the
combination of these two goods that Alex will purchase.
d. Write the expressions for the marginal utilities of each good and the marginal rate of
substitution between the two goods. Write out the expression for the slope of the
indifference curves. Does the MRSxy equal the negative of the expression for the slope?
e. Now suppose that the market conditions change, and the price of good y rises
dramatically to py = $5, while all else remains unchanged. Add this budget line to your
graph.
f.
Since Alex is faced with a higher price for y, we know that he will not be able to enjoy
the same level of utility as he did before the price increase. How do we know this?
g. Suppose you are told that after the price increase, the highest level of utility Alex can
enjoy is U = 60. Plot the indifference curve for this level of utility for values of x between
2 and 12.
h. What combination will Alex choose now? What causes this outcome and is it correct that
under the current conditions the highest level of utility Alex can enjoy is U = 60.
1](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F2d5856e1-082a-4eb1-8e12-ee8ffc62644b%2F50d28ca9-51e4-4109-a315-d8a96707ffc6%2Fx1j3ipf_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:Suppose Alex has the following utility function defined over goods x and y.
U (x, y) = xy+10x
a. Write out the expression for his indifference curve with y in terms of x and U.
b. Assume Alex's current level of utility is U = 80 and plot the indifference curve for this
level of utility for values of x between 2 and 12.
c.
Suppose Alex has $30 to spend on these two goods and x costs $5 per unit while y costs
$1.00 per unit. Add Alex's budget constraint to your graph. Visually determine the
combination of these two goods that Alex will purchase.
d. Write the expressions for the marginal utilities of each good and the marginal rate of
substitution between the two goods. Write out the expression for the slope of the
indifference curves. Does the MRSxy equal the negative of the expression for the slope?
e. Now suppose that the market conditions change, and the price of good y rises
dramatically to py = $5, while all else remains unchanged. Add this budget line to your
graph.
f.
Since Alex is faced with a higher price for y, we know that he will not be able to enjoy
the same level of utility as he did before the price increase. How do we know this?
g. Suppose you are told that after the price increase, the highest level of utility Alex can
enjoy is U = 60. Plot the indifference curve for this level of utility for values of x between
2 and 12.
h. What combination will Alex choose now? What causes this outcome and is it correct that
under the current conditions the highest level of utility Alex can enjoy is U = 60.
1
Expert Solution
![](/static/compass_v2/shared-icons/check-mark.png)
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
This is a popular solution!
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps with 2 images
![Blurred answer](/static/compass_v2/solution-images/blurred-answer.jpg)
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
![ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS](https://compass-isbn-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/isbn_cover_images/9780190931919/9780190931919_smallCoverImage.gif)
![Principles of Economics (12th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134078779/9780134078779_smallCoverImage.gif)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Engineering Economy (17th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134870069/9780134870069_smallCoverImage.gif)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
![ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS](https://compass-isbn-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/isbn_cover_images/9780190931919/9780190931919_smallCoverImage.gif)
![Principles of Economics (12th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134078779/9780134078779_smallCoverImage.gif)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Engineering Economy (17th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134870069/9780134870069_smallCoverImage.gif)
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)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781305585126/9781305585126_smallCoverImage.gif)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
![Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337106665/9781337106665_smallCoverImage.gif)
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-…](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781259290619/9781259290619_smallCoverImage.gif)
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education