4.8
Applications to Economics
Economics:

C (x) = Cost
Function
C’ (x)= Marginal
Cost
c(x)=
= Average Cost
(cost/item)
c’ (x)=
You want to minimize
c’(x) so you set it equal to zero; Minimum occurs when c (x) = C’ (x).
Example:
C (x) = 25,000 + 120x +0.1![]()
= 120+.2x
2500+120x+.1
= 120x+.2
25000=.1![]()
25000=![]()
x=500
c(500)
= ![]()
c(500)=
220
p (x) = Price
Function (demand)
R (x) = Revenue
function = x
p(x)
P (x) = R (x) – C
(x) = Profit Function
P’ (x)= R’ (x) – C’
(x)
R’ (x)= Marginal
Revenue
Maximum: R’ (x) –C’ (x) = 0
R’ (x) = C’ (x)
Profit = Maximum
Example:
C (x) = 680 + 4x + .01
P (x) = 12 -
C’ (x)
= 4 + .02 x
R (x) = x (12 -
) = 12x -
R’ (x)= 12-
(2x) = 12x - ![]()
4 + .02x = 12-.004 x
.004x + .02x-8=0
.024x = 8
x= 333 ![]()