Each unit of book costs him $12 and the price of a bottle of wine is $15. His income is $240.
U= B0.5 W0.5
(a) Budget constraint = Pb B + Pw W = I
12 B + 15 W = 240
When W =0, B= 20
When B= 0, W= 16
By plotting this we get the budget constraint.
(b) At utility maximization bundle MRS= MUw/MUb = Pw/Pb
(0.5B0.5 W-0.5)/ (0.5B-0.5 W0.5)= (15/12)
B/W = 5/4
B = 5W/4
Now, put this into the budget constraint ,we get :
12 (5W/4) + 15W = 240
15 W + 15W = 240
30W= 240
W = 8 units
B= 5W/4 = 5(8)/4 = 10 units
So, total spending on books when he maximizing utility is (12)(10)= $120.
(c) The utility maximizing bundle is (8 wine , 10 books).
(d) The maximum utility that Eric can receive , U= 100.5 80.5 = (3.16)(2.82)= 8.93
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