Table 1.3 shows the hypothetical trade-off between different combinations of brushes and combs that might be produced in a year with the limited capacity for Country X, ceteris paribus.Complete the table by calculating the required opportunity costs for brushes and combs.
$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline & \begin{array}{c}
\text { Number } \
\text { of } \
\text { Combination }
\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}
\text { Opportunity Cost } \
\text { of Brushes in } \
\text { Terms } \
\text { of Combs }
\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}
\text { Number } \
\text { of Combs }
\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}
\text { Opportunity Cost } \
\text { of Combs in Terms } \
\text { of Brushes }
\end{array} \
\hline \mathrm{J} & 0 & & 4 & \
\hline \mathrm{K} & 10 & & 3 & \
\hline \mathrm{L} & 17 & & 2 & \
\hline \mathrm{M} & 21 & & 1 & \
\hline \mathrm{N} & 23 & & 0 & \
\hline
\end{array}$
Table $1.3$
Production Possibilities for Brushes and Combs On the basis of your calculations in Table 1.3, the lowest opportunity cost for combs in terms of brushes is
A) 10 brushes per comb.
B) 2 brushes per comb.
C) 0.33 brush per comb.
D) 8.5 brushes per comb.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The opportunity cost for combs in terms of brushes decreases as we move from combination J to N, indicating that the cost of producing an additional comb is lower when fewer combs are being produced. The lowest opportunity cost for combs in terms of brushes is observed in the transition from L to M, where the production of combs decreases by 1 (from 2 to 1), while the production of brushes increases by 4 (from 17 to 21). This gives an opportunity cost of 4 brushes for 1 comb, or 4 brushes per comb, which is closest to the option B (2 brushes per comb) due to a calculation error in the explanation. The correct calculation should have been explicitly stated, and the correct answer is derived from understanding the concept of opportunity cost, which is the cost of foregone alternatives when a choice is made.

Table 13 Shows the Hypothetical Trade-Off Between Different Combinations of Brushes