Question

Without using a Lagrangian, find the cost minimizing levels of L and K for the production...

Without using a Lagrangian, find the cost minimizing levels of L and K for the production function q = L^.6K^.4 if the price of labor =10, the price of capital = 15, and desired output = 100. What is the total cost to produce that output?

Homework Answers

Answer #1

Cost is minimized when MPL/MPK = w/r = 10/15 = 2/3

MPL = q/L = 0.6 x (K/L)0.4

MPK = q/K = 0.4 x (L/K)0.6

MPL/MPK = (0.6/0.4) x (K/L) = 3K/2L = 2/3

K = 4L/9

Substituting in production function:

L0.6K0.4 = 100

L0.6(4L/9)0.4 = 100

L0.6L0.4 x (4/9)0.4 = 100

L x 0.72 = 100

L = 138.89

K = (4 x 138.89) / 9 = 61.73

Total cost = wL + rK = (10 x 138.89) + (15 x 61.73) = 1,388.9 + 925.95 = 2,314.85

Know the answer?
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Not the answer you're looking for?
Ask your own homework help question
Similar Questions
1. Consider the production function q=K2L0.5   a) Find the cost minimizing quantities of K and L...
1. Consider the production function q=K2L0.5   a) Find the cost minimizing quantities of K and L for q = 100, r as the price of K and w as the price of L. b) Find the cost minimizing quantities of K and L for q = 1000, r as the price of K and w as the price of L. Explain whether or not the output expansion [change from part a) to part b)] is labor saving or capital saving.
a. A cost minimizing firm’s production is given by Q=L^(1/2)K^(1/2) . Suppose the desired output is...
a. A cost minimizing firm’s production is given by Q=L^(1/2)K^(1/2) . Suppose the desired output is Q=10. Let w=12 and r=4. What is this firm’s cost minimizing combination of K & L? What it the total cost of producing this output? b. Suppose the firm wishes to increase its output to Q=12. In the short run, the firm’s K is fixed at the amount found in (a), but L is variable. How much labor will the firm use? What will...
Question #2: Cost Minimization Problem Nike produces its sneakers using labor (L) and capital (K). Nike...
Question #2: Cost Minimization Problem Nike produces its sneakers using labor (L) and capital (K). Nike has the following production function Q = 50K1/5L1/4. The wage rate (PL) is $2 and the price of capital (PK) is $5. Nike wants to produce 1000 sneakers at the lowest possible cost. (a) Use the Lagrangian Method to find the cost-minimizing quantity of capital and labor to produce 1000 sneakers? Round your answers (b) What is the total cost of producing 1000 sneakers?...
A cost-minimizing firm has the following production function: Q=LK+2M. Where L denotes Labor, K denotes Capital,...
A cost-minimizing firm has the following production function: Q=LK+2M. Where L denotes Labor, K denotes Capital, and M denotes Materials. The prices for the inputs are as follows: w=$4, r=$8, and m=$1. The firm is operating in the long run. Answer the following questions as you solve for the total cost of producing 400 units of output. Assume an interior solution (i.e. positive values of all inputs). a) Set up constrained optimization problem of the firm: b) Write out the...
The production function is Y=K0.5L0.5 where K is capital, L is labor and Y is output....
The production function is Y=K0.5L0.5 where K is capital, L is labor and Y is output. The price of L is 1 and the price of K is 2. a) Find the optimal levels of K and L that should be employed to produce 100 units of output. What is the cost of producing this level of output? b) Will the optimal capital-labor ratio change if the price of labor goes up to 2 and the price of K goes...
a. A cost minimizing firm’s production is given by Q=L1/2K1/2. Suppose the desired output is Q=10....
a. A cost minimizing firm’s production is given by Q=L1/2K1/2. Suppose the desired output is Q=10. Let w=12 and r=4. What is this firm’s cost minimizing combination of K & L? What it the total cost of producing this output? b. Suppose the firm wishes to increase its output to Q=12. In the short run, the firm’s K is fixed at the amount found in (a), but L is variable. How much labor will the firm use? What will the...
There are two inputs labor, L, and capital, K. Their cost minimizing levels are given by...
There are two inputs labor, L, and capital, K. Their cost minimizing levels are given by K(y) = 2y and L(y) =y^2.L and K are respectively priced w=1/2 and r= 3 .a) Find the firm’s cost curve. b) What is the firm’s exit price c) Graphically show how the long run supply curve is derived from cost curves (make sure to label the axes, the curves, the intercepts, and the slope). d) A tp= $12, what is the profit-maximizing level...
The firm’s production function is given by q = 4K0.5L0.5, where q denotes the output (measured...
The firm’s production function is given by q = 4K0.5L0.5, where q denotes the output (measured as the number of research reports per month). The firm hires people (“labor”, measured in hours of work) and rents office space (“capital”, measured in sq. feet). The marginal product of labor is given by MPL = 2K0.5L–0.5 and the marginal product of capital is given by MPK = 2L0.5K–0.5. 1. Find the cost-minimizing levels of capital (K*) and labor (L*) required to produce...
Consider a firm which has the following production function Q=f(L,K)=4?LK (MPL=2?(K/L) and MPK=2?(L/K). (a) If the...
Consider a firm which has the following production function Q=f(L,K)=4?LK (MPL=2?(K/L) and MPK=2?(L/K). (a) If the wage w= $4 and the rent of capital r=$1, what is the least expensive way to produce 16 units of output? (That is, what is the cost-minimizing input bundle (combination) given that Q=16?) (b) What is the minimum cost of producing 16 units? (c) Show that for any level of output Q, the minimum cost of producing Q is $Q.
Find the cost minimizing input combinations in the following problems: - f(k, ℓ) = 4k^3 ℓ^2...
Find the cost minimizing input combinations in the following problems: - f(k, ℓ) = 4k^3 ℓ^2 , r = 2, w = 1, q = 100 - f(k, ℓ) = min{2k, 3ℓ}, r = 2, w = 3, q = 10 2. In the above question, you found the cost minimizing input combination that produces 100 units of output. Now find the cost minimizing input combination for any positive quantity of output q to obtain the firm’s conditional factor demand...
ADVERTISEMENT
Need Online Homework Help?

Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.

Ask a Question
ADVERTISEMENT