Algebra homework help

Written Homework 2
Write your answers to these problems on blank paper (see Guidelines for Written Work in Canvas) and
turn them in on Canvas (same guidelines as Written Homework 1). I highly recommend you review
Chapter 2 section 3 before doing this homework. Also note that there is a typo in the MC(q) equation in
the text (top of page 43). This is corrected below.
1. The Total Cost Function (in dollars) for a small company to produce q widgets is
C(q) = 75 + 2q + .015q
2
.
a) Should the quantity produced (q) be allowed to take any value? What values of q don’t make sense?
Answer these two questions by stating a reasonable domain for C(q).
b) Draw a graph of the function. Do not graph values that are not in the domain.
c) The graph of C′(q) would be an _____________ function. (increasing, decreasing, constant)
d) How much does it cost to produce 99 widgets?
e) The Total Cost Function can be thought of as Fixed Cost plus Total Variable Cost. That is,
C(q) = FC(q) + TVC(q).
What is FC(q) for this company? (Hint: how much does it cost to “produce” 0 widgets?)
f) Given your answer to part e), what is TVC(q) for this company? (Ie, find this equation.)
g) Suppose the company has produced q widgets and they want to know how much extra money
producing one more will cost. Find this by estimating the derivative of C(q) at point q by computing
MC(q) = = (q+1) − q
C(q+1) − C(q)
C(q + 1) − C(q).
Your answer should be a new equation with numbers and q’s.
h) Check your answer to part g) by showing that MC(100) = 5.015.
i) The slope of the tangent line to C(q) at q = 100 is approximately _______. (Hint: what is part h) telling
you? Also, use technology to look closely at the slope of the graph of C(q) at q = 100.)
j) The units of MC(q) are _____________.
2. Consider the Total Cost equation C(q) = 75 + 2q + .015q
2
from problem 1.
a) Consider the points (C(101), 101) and (C(99), 99). What is the slope of the straight line that connects
these two points? (Hint: this isn’t hard to compute. What formula can you use to find the slope of a line
that goes through two points?)
b) This answer is very close to the answer you got in problem 1 part ______.