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6. [10 points] (a) Suppose that the demand equation for a certain commodity is p

ID: 1124427 • Letter: 6

Question

6. [10 points] (a) Suppose that the demand equation for a certain commodity is p = 4-0.0002 q where q units are produced each day and p is the price of each unit. The cost of producing q units is 600+3q. If the daily profit is to be as large as possible, find the number of units produced each day, the price of each and the daily profit MATA32H page 2 (b) Suppose the government now imposes a $0.20 tax on each unit produced. For maximal daily profit, how many units are now produced each day? What is the price of each unit and what is the daily profit?

Explanation / Answer

Before tax,

p = 4 - 0.0002q

Total cost (C) = 600 + 3q

Marginal cost (MC) = dC/dq = 3

This is the supply function: p = 3

(b)

The $0.2 tax will lower effective price received by sellers, shifting supply curve leftward. New supply function is

p = 3 + 0.2 = 3.2

Equating with demand,

4 - 0.0002q = 3.2

0.0002q = 0.8

q = 4,000

p = $3.2 (Price paid by buyers)

Price received by sellers = $(3.2 - 0.2) = $3

Total revenue (TR) = p x q = $3.2 x 4,000 = $12,800

C ($) = 600 + (3 x 4,000) = 600 + 12,000 = 12,600

Profit = TR - C = $(12,800 - 12,600) = $200