19. To answer the question about the second stage of production, it's essential to understand the concepts of average product (AP) and marginal product (MP) in economics.
In the context of production, there are typically three stages:
- During the first stage of production, both the AP and MP increase as the quantity of the variable input increases. The MP reaches its maximum at the end of this stage, but the AP continues to increase.
- In the second stage of production, the AP continues to rise for a while until it reaches its peak, after which it starts to decline. The MP, which had peaked at the end of the first stage, continues to decline throughout the second stage. So the correct answer to which statement describes the second stage of production is:
A. Both average product and marginal product decline as the variable input increases.
This is the stage where production is most efficient, as firms are getting the most output from their inputs before the detrimental effects of overcrowding or overuse start to outweigh the benefits of additional inputs.
- The third stage begins after the point where the AP has peaked and started to decline. In this stage, both AP and MP are decreasing, and the addition of more units of the variable input will lead to a decrease in the total output.
20. Average total cost (ATC) is a concept from economics that reflects the per-unit cost of production. It is calculated by dividing the total cost (TC) by the quantity (Q) of output produced. The total cost includes all costs incurred in the production of goods, both fixed and variable costs.
The formula for calculating the average total cost is:
ATC = TC/Q
This provides a unit cost at each level of output and can be used to determine the most efficient scale of production and to price goods accordingly. It's important to note that ATC typically decreases with increased output until it reaches a minimum, after which it begins to rise due to diseconomies of scale.
