Deck 7: Production

Question 1

A carpenter hammers nails each day at work.During the first hour she can hammer 120 nails,the second hour 100 nails,the third hour 90 nails,the fourth hour 60 nails,and the fifth hour 10 nails.Her marginal product in the third hour is _____ nails.

A)10
B)-10
C)90
D)-60

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Table 7-2 shows the combinations of labor and capital that are used to produce various levels of output.
Table 7-2 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Units of capital } & \text { Units of labor } & \text { Total Product } & \text { Marginal product of labor } \\\hline 2 & 0 & 0 & - \\\hline 2 & 1 & 20 & 20 \\\hline 2 & 2 & 44 & 24 \\\hline 2 & 3 & 68 & 24 \\\hline 2 & 4 & 90 & 22 \\\hline 2 & 5 & 78 & - 12 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to Table 7-2.A rational producer would never operate with _____ units of labor and 2 units of capital.

A)2
B)1
C)5
D)4

Answer 2

5

Question 3

A carpenter hammers nails each day at work.The average number of nails hammered over the first three hours is 50,and the marginal product of the fourth and fifth hours of work is 40 and 20 nails,respectively.The total output after five hours work is _____ nails.

A)150
B)110
C)210
D)60

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The ratio of total product to the total quantity of the input being used is _____.

A)equal to marginal product
B)constant as the levels of the input vary
C)equal to average product
D)equal to the marginal rate of technical substitution

Question 5

If the average product of labor is 150 bushels of wheat when three workers farm an acre of land and the marginal product of the fourth worker is 75 bushels,then the total output with four workers is _____ bushels.

A)225
B)50
C)525
D)675

Question 6

The ratio of the change in total product to the change in total quantity of the input being used is _____.

A)equal to marginal product
B)constant as employment levels of the input vary
C)equal to average product
D)equal to the marginal rate of technical substitution

Question 7

Which of the following is true of fixed costs?

A)Fixed costs can be changed,but it is extremely costly to do so in a short period of time.
B)Fixed costs cannot be changed in the long-run.
C)Fixed costs can be changed,but only in the short run.
D)Fixed costs cannot be changed in the short-run,because most firms experience constant returns to scale in the short run.

Question 8

What is meant by technological efficiency in production?

A)Using the latest available technology in production
B)Producing the maximum possible output from given inputs
C)Using the least number of inputs in production
D)Minimizing the cost of production

Question 9

Table 7.1 shows the quantities of labor and capital required to produce various levels of output.
Table 7-1 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \begin{array} { c } \text { Amount of } \\\text { Capital }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Amount of } \\\text { Labor }\end{array} & \text { Total Product } \\\hline 5 & 1 & 10 \\\hline 5 & 2 & 24 \\\hline 5 & 3 & 42 \\\hline 5 & 4 & 56 \\\hline 5 & 5 & 66 \\\hline 5 & 6 & 74 \\\hline 5 & 7 & 80 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to Table 7-1.What is the average product of labor when four units of labor are used?

A)10
B)14
C)42
D)33

Question 10

A carpenter hammers nails each day at work.In each of the first three hours 50 nails were hammered and the marginal product of the fourth and fifth hours of work is 40 and 20 nails,respectively.Diminishing returns will be experienced in the _____ hour.

A)second
B)third
C)fourth
D)first

Question 11

A production function for widgets will _____.

A)show the relationship between the inputs used in the production of widgets and the cost of acquiring these inputs
B)identify the least quantity of inputs that can be used to produce a given level of widgets
C)identify the maximum quantity of widgets that can be produced given the budget of the firm
D)identify the maximum quantity of widgets that can be produced by each specific combination of inputs

Question 12

A production function identifies the _____.

A)minimum output that a specific combination of inputs can produce
B)maximum number of inputs that can be used to produce output
C)highest possible output for a given combination of inputs
D)least-cost method of producing a given level of output

Question 13

A carpenter hammers nails each day at work.During the first hour she can hammer 120 nails,the second hour 100 nails,the third hour 90 nails,the fourth hour 60 nails,and the fifth hour 10 nails.The average product of five hours work is _____ nails.

A)80
B)380
C)320
D)76

Question 14

Economists use production functions to _____.

A)define what is technically efficient for different combinations of inputs
B)explain the tradeoff between the use of different inputs in production
C)maximize profits for a firm
D)define the marginal utilities associated with the goods produced

Question 15

Which of the following correctly describes a production function?

A)A production function shows the minimum output that can be produced with given inputs.
B)A production function relates employment of inputs to output.
C)A production function identifies output-cost relationships.
D)A production function identifies the profit maximizing level of output.

Question 16

A firm that is operating in a technologically inefficient way:

A)is getting the maximum output from its inputs.
B)is making zero economic profits.
C)is not making as much money as it potentially can.
D)should shut down immediately to reduce its losses.

Question 17

Table 7-3 shows the combinations of labor and capital required to produce various level of output.
Table 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.Assume that capital remains fixed while labor is the only variable input used in production.If the firm is currently producing 26 units of output using three units of labor,what is the marginal product of labor at this point?

A)2
B)4
C)6
D)8

Question 18

A farmer is growing corn on an acre of land.Output will be 200 bushels if one worker is hired,500 if two,700 if three,850 if four,and 900 if five.The marginal product of the fourth worker is _____ bushels of corn.

A)850
B)150
C)212.5
D)50

Question 19

A carpenter hammers nails each day at work.During the first hour she can hammer 120 nails,the second hour 100 nails,the third hour 90 nails,the fourth hour 60 nails,and the fifth hour 10 nails.The total product of five hours of work is _____ nails.

A)10
B)380
C)320
D)60

Question 20

A technologically efficient level of output is the _____.

A)maximum output possible from the least amount of inputs
B)level of output produced using the latest technology available
C)cost-minimizing level of output
D)maximum output available from a given set of inputs

Question 21

Table 7-3 shows the combinations of labor and capital required to produce various level of output.
Table 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.Assume that labor remains fixed while capital is the only variable input used in production.If the firm is currently producing 26 units of output using three units of labor,what is the marginal product of capital at this point?

A)2
B)4
C)6
D)8

Question 22

Figure 7-1 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-1
Refer to Figure 7-1.A firm would choose to operate between points C and D because:

A)marginal product has already reached a maximum.
B)average product is rising over that range.
C)marginal product and average product are positive,but falling.
D)marginal product and average product are rising.

Question 23

When the total product curve with only one variable input is increasing at a decreasing rate:

A)marginal product is positive but declining.
B)marginal product curve is negative and decreasing.
C)the slope of the marginal product curve is zero.
D)marginal product is positive and increasing.

Question 24

If total product is increasing at a decreasing rate,then marginal product is _____.

A)below average product at all levels of output
B)above average product at all levels of output
C)declining faster than average product
D)increasing at a decreasing rate

Question 25

The average product of labor at a particular point can be determined:

A)by the slope of the total product curve at that point.
B)by multiplying the total product by the quantity of labor at that point.
C)by the slope of a line from the origin to the particular point on the total product curve.
D)by the vertical distance of the average product curve from the marginal product curve.

Question 26

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
When the labor input employed in production is between points O and C in Figure 7-2:

A)average product reaches a minimum.
B)marginal product reaches a maximum.
C)marginal product is below average product.
D)total product first increases at a decreasing rate and then increases at an increasing rate.

Question 27

Figure 7-1 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-1
In Figure 7-1,marginal product of labor is positive but lesser than the average product of labor after point _____.

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 28

If the marginal product of a variable input is declining,then:

A)average product is also declining.
B)total product is also declining.
C)total product is increasing at a decreasing rate.
D)average product is constant.

Question 29

When marginal product is decreasing:

A)average product must also be decreasing.
B)total product is decreasing.
C)total product is increasing at a decreasing rate.
D)marginal product must be greater than average product.

Question 30

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
Refer to Figure 7-2.Which of the following is true when the labor input is between points C and D?

A)marginal product reaches a maximum and then declines.
B)marginal product reaches a maximum and then becomes negative.
C)average product is equal at point B and C.
D)total product is increasing at a decreasing rate.

Question 31

Table 7-4 shows the quantities of labor and capital required to produce various levels of output.
Table 7-4 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \begin{array} { c } \text { Amount of } \\\text { Capital }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Amount of } \\\text { Labor }\end{array} & \text { Total Product } \\\hline 5 & 1 & 10 \\\hline 5 & 2 & 24 \\\hline 5 & 3 & 42 \\\hline 5 & 4 & 56 \\\hline 5 & 5 & 66 \\\hline 5 & 6 & 74 \\\hline 5 & 7 & 80 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to Table 7-4.What is the marginal product of the fourth worker?

A)10
B)14
C)42
D)56

Question 32

The slope of the total product curve measures the _____ of the input.

A)marginal product
B)average product
C)total product
D)cost

Question 33

Figure 7-1 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-1
In Figure 7-1,marginal product of labor becomes negative beyond point _____.

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 34

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
In Figure 7-2,a firm would choose to operate _____ on the total product curve.

A)between O and A
B)at point E
C)between B and D
D)between D and E

Question 35

The slope of a ray from the origin to the total product curve measures _____.

A)the marginal rate of technical substitution
B)the marginal product of the variable factor
C)the average product of the variable factor
D)the maximum output

Question 36

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
Let point A be the inflection point.When the quantity of labor employed is between A and D in Figure 7-2:

A)marginal product is negative.
B)marginal product is decreasing.
C)average product is increasing.
D)marginal product is increasing at a decreasing rate.

Question 37

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
Between points O and C in Figure 7-2:

A)the marginal product of labor is falling.
B)the average product of labor is rising.
C)total product rises and then falls.
D)marginal product reaches its minimum.

Question 38

Which of the following statements is true of the relationship between marginal product and average product of labor?

A)When the marginal product of labor is decreasing,the average product of labor must also be decreasing.
B)When the average product of labor is increasing,the marginal product of labor must also be increasing.
C)When the marginal and average products of labor are equal,the marginal product is at its minimum.
D)When the average product of labor is decreasing,average product must be greater than marginal product.

Question 39

Figure 7-1 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-1
Refer to Figure 7-1.To the left of point B:

A)marginal product is rising but average product is falling.
B)marginal product is rising and is above the average product.
C)marginal product is falling but average product is rising.
D)total product is increasing at a decreasing rate.

Question 40

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
When the quantity of labor employed lies between points C and D in Figure 7-2:

A)marginal product reaches a maximum.
B)average product is rising and reaches a maximum at D.
C)total product declines.
D)marginal product is falling.

Question 41

The law of diminishing marginal returns _____.

A)is relevant in the short run.
B)assumes all the inputs are fixed
C)is applicable to fixed and variable inputs
D)applies when all inputs are increased

Question 42

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
When the quantity of labor employed lies between points D and E in Figure 7-2:

A)marginal product reaches a maximum and then declines.
B)marginal product reaches a maximum and then becomes negative.
C)total product is increasing at a decreasing rate.
D)total product is decreasing.

Question 43

In the long run,_____.

A)the marginal cost of each input differs by the ratio of their prices
B)all inputs to production are fixed
C)the marginal cost of each input equals the ratio of their prices
D)all inputs to production are variable

Question 44

An isoquant shows _____.

A)the different quantities of output that can be produced with different quantities of inputs
B)the combination of inputs that can be used to produce a fixed quantity of output
C)the different quantities of output that can be produce with fixed quantities of inputs
D)the combination of inputs than can be used to produce different quantities of output

Question 45

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
In Figure 7-2,at point D _____.

A)total product is zero
B)marginal product is zero
C)average product is negative
D)average product reaches a maximum

Question 46

The duration of the short run varies by industry because _____.

A)the total labor demand varies by industry
B)some inputs cost more in some industries
C)the technology used in production is not the same in all industries
D)the time required to change a variable input differs by industry

Question 47

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
In Figure 7-2,average product reaches a maximum at point _____.

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 48

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
In Figure 7-2,marginal product reaches a maximum at point _____.

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 49

The law of diminishing returns holds only:

A)for goods with inelastic demand.
B)when one input is fixed.
C)in the long run.
D)in a competitive market.

Question 50

A production isoquant identifies _____.

A)the maximum output possible,given a fixed budget
B)the different combinations of goods that can be produced,given fixed amounts of inputs
C)the different combinations of inputs that can be used to produce a fixed rate of output
D)the cost of producing a given output

Question 51

The fact that limited use of caffeine can improve mental alertness and help performance,while excessive use of caffeine can cause anxiety and trembling shows _____.

A)that coffee is an inferior good
B)the law of diminishing marginal returns with respect to test performance
C)the law of returns to scale with respect to test performance
D)decreasing returns to scale in coffee production

Question 52

Diminishing marginal returns refers to the:

A)decline in the rate at which extra inputs are employed in production.
B)fall in average product associated with a unit increase in the fixed input.
C)decline in total product which is less than proportionate to a change in the fixed input.
D)fall in output per unit with an incremental increase in the variable input.

Question 53

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
In Figure 7.3,the law of diminishing marginal returns comes into play beyond point _____.

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 54

Which of the following is constant along an isoquant?

A)Productivity of the variable input
B)Output
C)Cost
D)Utility

Question 55

When the marginal and average products of labor are equal:

A)marginal product must be at its maximum.
B)marginal product must be at a minimum.
C)average product must be at its maximum.
D)average product must be increasing.

Question 56

Isoquants that are farther away from the origin indicate:

A)lower cost combinations of inputs.
B)technologically inefficient levels of output.
C)higher levels of output.
D)combinations of inputs that are less preferred.

Question 57

If the level of technical know-how increases,how would this change the total product curve?

A)It would extend horizontally.
B)It would become more bowed.
C)It would shift upwards.
D)It would become flatter.

Question 58

Figure 7-2 shows the total product curve for different levels of a variable input,labor.
Figure 7-2
In Figure 7-2,at point C _____.

A)average product equals marginal product
B)marginal product is at a maximum
C)total product is increasing at an increasing rate
D)average product is declining but positive

Question 59

According to the law of diminishing marginal returns:

A)when the amount of some input is increased by equal increments,holding other inputs constant,the resulting increments in output will be negative.
B)when all inputs are increased proportionately,output eventually will decrease at a smaller rate.
C)when the amount of some input is increased at equal increments,holding other inputs constant,the resulting increments in output will eventually decrease.
D)firms will not operate on the portion of the total product curve where marginal product is declining.

Question 60

Table 7-2 shows the combinations of labor and capital that are used to produce various levels of output
Table 7-2 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Units of capital } & \text { Units of labor } & \text { Total Product } & \text { Marginal product of labor } \\\hline 2 & 0 & 0 & - \\\hline 2 & 1 & 20 & 20 \\\hline 2 & 2 & 44 & 24 \\\hline 2 & 3 & 68 & 24 \\\hline 2 & 4 & 90 & 22 \\\hline 2 & 5 & 78 & - 12 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to Table 7-2.Based on the input-usage ratio,we can say that the firm is operating _____.

A)at an economic loss
B)in the short-run
C)in a constant-cost industry
D)in the long-run

Question 61

The marginal rate of technical substitution:

A)equals the marginal product of capital times the marginal product of labor.
B)measures the rate at which marginal product declines as inputs are increased.
C)measures the degree to which one input can be substituted for another,output held constant.
D)is the horizontal distance between two isoquants.

Question 62

Which of the following statements about the marginal rate of technical substitution is correct?

A)The MRTS is equal to the ratio of the marginal productivities of the inputs.
B)The MRTS is equal to the slope of the total product curve.
C)The MRTS is zero in the long run.
D)The MRTS is the rate at which one input can be substituted for the other in production while varying the level of output.

Question 63

If the marginal product of labor is 25 and the marginal product of capital 10,what is the marginal rate of technical substitution of labor for capital?

A)0.6
B)1
C)1.5
D)2.5

Question 64

The long-run refers to:

A)a time period of one year or more.
B)the time period in which all inputs are variable.
C)the time period in which it is too costly to change the usage of at least one input.
D)a time period when marginal returns are diminishing.

Question 65

Table 7-4 shows the shows the quantities of labor and capital required to produce various levels of output.
Table 7-4 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \begin{array} { c } \text { Quantity of } \\\text { Capital }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Quantity } \\\text { of Labor }\end{array} & \text { Output } \\\hline 6 & 2 & 40 \\\hline 12 & 4 & 100 \\\hline 24 & 8 & 220 \\\hline 48 & 16 & 440 \\\hline 96 & 32 & 800 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to Table 7-4.When the firm increases production from 48 units of capital and 16 units of labor to 96 units of capital and 32 units of labor,the production function exhibits:

A)increasing returns to scale.
B)constant returns to scale.
C)diminishing marginal returns.
D)decreasing returns to scale.

Question 66

Which of the following is a feature of an isoquant?

A)Isoquants are concave to the origin.
B)Isoquants are nonintersecting.
C)Isoquants lying farther to the northeast identify lower levels of output.
D)Producers prefer higher points on an isoquant.

Question 67

One important difference between indifference curves and isoquants is that:

A)indifference curves are convex while isoquants are concave to the origin.
B)indifference curves can never intersect while isoquants can intersect.
C)output shown on isoquants is measurable while well-being shown on indifference curves is not.
D)indifference curves are likely to be positively sloped while isoquants are mostly negatively sloped.

Question 68

Convexity of a curve implies that the slope of the curve:

A)is zero.
B)is constant.
C)diminishes along the curve.
D)approaches infinity.

Question 69

Table 7-4 shows the shows the quantities of labor and capital required to produce various levels of output.
Table 7-4 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \begin{array} { c } \text { Quantity of } \\\text { Capital }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Quantity } \\\text { of Labor }\end{array} & \text { Output } \\\hline 6 & 2 & 40 \\\hline 12 & 4 & 100 \\\hline 24 & 8 & 220 \\\hline 48 & 16 & 440 \\\hline 96 & 32 & 800 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to Table 7-4.When the firm increases production from 24 units of capital and 8 units of labor to 48 units of capital and 16 units of labor,the production function exhibits:

A)decreasing marginal rate of technical substitution.
B)constant returns to scale.
C)increasing returns to scale.
D)diminishing marginal returns

Question 70

An isoquant map,with labor on the horizontal axis and capital on the vertical axis,has horizontal isoquants.This implies that the:

A)marginal product of capital is zero.
B)marginal rate of substitution of capital for labor approaches infinity.
C)marginal product of labor is zero.
D)marginal rate of substitution of capital for labor is positive.

Question 71

Suppose you have capital on the vertical axis and labor on the horizontal axis.The slope of the isoquant measures:

A)the marginal rate of substitution.
B)the marginal product of labor.
C)the marginal product of capital.
D)the marginal rate of technical substitution of capital for labor.

Question 72

The short-run refers to:

A)a time period of two years or less.
B)the time period in which the usage of all inputs are held constant.
C)the time period in which it is too costly to change the usage of at least one input.
D)the time period in which the usage of all inputs can be changed.

Question 73

With energy [E] on the horizontal axis and land [L] on the vertical axis,the marginal rate of technical substitution of energy for land (MRTS_EL)equals:

A)MP_L/MP_E
B)- $\Delta$ E/ $\Delta$ L
C)- $\Delta$ Q/ $\Delta$ L
D)(MP_L/ $\Delta$ E)( $\Delta$ L/MP_E)

Question 74

Table 7-3 shows the combinations of labor and capital required to produce various level of output.
Table 7-3
Refer to Table 7-3.If the firm is currently producing 26 units of output using three units of labor,what is the marginal rate of technical substitution of labor for capital at this point?

A)-1
B)-2
C)-3
D)-4

Question 75

What can you conclude about an isoquant that is concave to the origin?

A)The level of output shown on the isoquant increases along the curve.
B)The isoquant represents production in the short run as one input is kept fixed.
C)The marginal rate of technical substitution increases along the curve.
D)The slope of the isoquant is infinite.

Question 76

Suppose that at a point on an isoquant,the following information is true: L increases by 5;K falls by 3;MP_L = 4,then MP_K must be:

A)3.33.
B)0.67.
C)1.67.
D)6.67.

Question 77

If isoquants are drawn as right angles,it implies:

A)that the two inputs are perfect substitutes for each other.
B)that the MRTS is constant.
C)that the inputs must be used in fixed proportions.
D)the isoquants can be intersecting.

Question 78

If isoquants are drawn as straight lines,it implies that:

A)the two inputs are perfect substitutes for each other.
B)the MRTS is decreasing.
C)that the inputs must be used in fixed proportions.
D)the MRTS is zero.

Question 79

Suppose that at a point on an isoquant,the following information is true: MP_L = 3 and MP_K = 2.Then if K falls by 5,L must increase by:

A)0.30.
B)0.67.
C)3.33.
D)1.50.

Question 80

The marginal rate of technical substitution equals the ratio of the _____.

A)total product of capital and labor
B)marginal products of the inputs
C)marginal cost of both inputs
D)amount of capital employed to the amount of labor employed