Question

In the ancient? world, a book could be produced either on a scroll or as a? codex, which was made of folded sheets glued? together, something like a modern book. One scholar has estimated the following variable costs? (in Greek? drachmas) of the two? methods:

	Scroll	Codex
Cost of writing? (wage of a? scribe)	11.33 drachmas	11.33 drachmas
Cost of paper	16.50 drachmas	9.25 drachmas

Another scholar points out that a significant fixed cost was involved in producing a? codex:

?"In order to copy a codex...the amount of text and the layout of each page had to be carefully calculated in advance to determine the exact number of sheets...needed. No? doubt, this is more? time-consuming and calls for more experimentation than the production of a scroll would. But for the next copy these calculations would be used? again."

?Source: T. C.? Skeat,"The Length of the Standard Papyrus Roll and the? Cost-Advantage of the

?Codex,"Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie and Epigraphik?, 1982, p? 175; and David? Trobisch, The First Edition of the New Testament?, New? York: Oxford University? Press, 2000, p 73.

a. Suppose that the fixed cost of preparing a codex was 58 drachmas and that there was no similar fixed cost for a scroll. Would an ancient book publisher who intended to sell 5 copies of a book be likely to publish it as a scroll or as a? codex? What if he intended to sell 10? copies? Briefly explain.

A. If a publisher intended to sell 5? copies, he would publish the book as a scroll because the marginal cost would be lower than as a codex. If he intended to sell 10? copies, he would publish the book as a codex because the marginal cost would be lower than as a scroll.

B. If a publisher intended to sell 5 or 10? copies, he would publish the book as a codex because the average cost would be lower than as a scroll.

C. If a publisher intended to sell 5 or 10? copies, he would publish the book as a codex because the marginal cost would be lower than as a scroll.

D. If a publisher intended to sell 5? copies, he would publish the book as a codex because the average cost would be lower than as a scroll. If he intended to sell 10? copies, he would publish the book as a scroll because the average cost would be lower than as a codex.

E. If a publisher intended to sell 5? copies, he would publish the book as a scroll because the average cost would be lower than as a codex. If he intended to sell 10? copies, he would publish the book as a codex because the average cost would be lower than as a scroll.

b. Although most books were published as scrolls in the first century? A.D., by the third? century, most were published as codices. Considering only the factors mentioned in this? problem, explain why this change may have taken place.

A. By the third? century, so few books were being published that the average cost of producing a book as a codex was lower than the average cost of producing a book as a scroll.

B. By the third? century, enough books were being published such that the average cost of producing a book as a codex was lower than the average cost of producing a book as a scroll.

C. By the third? century, enough books were being published such that the marginal cost of producing a book as a codex was lower than the marginal cost of producing a book as a scroll.

D. By the third? century, enough books were being published such that the total cost of producing a book as a scroll was lower than the total cost of producing a book as a codex.

E. By the third? century, enough books were being published such that the average cost of producing a book as a scroll was lower than the average cost of producing a book as a codex.

Answer 1

ans opton e is correct If a publisher intended to sell 5 copies, he would publish the book as a scroll because the average cost would be lower than as a codex. If he intended to sell 10 copies, he would publish the book as a codex because the average cost would be lower than as a scroll.

ans b optin b is correct By the third century, enough books were being published such that the average cost of producing a book as a codex was lower than the average cost of producing a book as a scroll.