Scholastica is taking a class from Professor Chaos.Professor Chaos gives two tests in this course and determines a student's grade as follows.He determines the smaller of the following two numbers: half of the score on the first test (which is a relatively easy test)and the total score on the second test.He gives each student a numerical score equal to the smaller number and then ranks the students.Scholastica would like to be ranked as high as possible in Professor Chaos's rankings.If we represent her score on the first exam on the horizontal axis and her score on the second exam on the vertical axis, then her indifference curves
A)are L-shaped with kinks where the two exam scores are equal.
B)have sections with a slope 22 and sections with a slope 1/2.
C)are positively sloped.
D)are L-shaped with kinks where the exam 1 score is twice the exam 2 score.
E)are straight lines with a slope of 21/2.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the professor determines the smaller number between half of the score on the first test and the total score on the second test, Scholastica's score on the first test is only relevant when it is greater than twice her score on the second test. Therefore, her indifference curves will be L-shaped with kinks where her score on the first test is twice her score on the second test. This is because once her score on the first test is twice her score on the second test, the smaller number will always be half her score on the first test, and her score on the second test will not affect her ranking.

Scholastica Is Taking a Class from Professor Chaos