Suppose the production function for a competitive firm is y=f(x1,x2)= x₁2x223. The cost per unit of the first input is w₁ and the cost of the second input is w2. a. What are the returns to scale of this production function? Find the cheapest input bundle, x₁ and x2, that yields the given output level of y. b. Write down the formula of the firm's total costs as a function of y. Are the average costs increasing, constant or decreasing in y? Are the marginal costs increasing, constant or decreasing in y? Why?

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter12: The Cost Of Production
Section12.3: The Various Measures Of Cost
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Suppose the production function for a competitive firm is y=f(x1,x2)= x₁2x₂2/3. The cost per unit of
the first input is w₁ and the cost of the second input is w₂.
a. What are the returns to scale of this production function? Find the cheapest input bundle, x₁ and x2,
that yields the given output level of y.
b. Write down the formula of the firm's total costs as a function of y. Are the average costs
increasing, constant or decreasing in y? Are the marginal costs increasing, constant or decreasing in
y? Why?
Transcribed Image Text:Suppose the production function for a competitive firm is y=f(x1,x2)= x₁2x₂2/3. The cost per unit of the first input is w₁ and the cost of the second input is w₂. a. What are the returns to scale of this production function? Find the cheapest input bundle, x₁ and x2, that yields the given output level of y. b. Write down the formula of the firm's total costs as a function of y. Are the average costs increasing, constant or decreasing in y? Are the marginal costs increasing, constant or decreasing in y? Why?
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