All AP Microeconomics Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Side By Side Graphs
Suppose that the price of Good Y increases by 5%. If the quantity supplied of Good Y remains constant, then the price elasticity of supply of Good Y is ________.
impossible to determine from the information given.
1.
0.
greater than 1.
less than 0.
0.
Remember that the price elasticity of supply is calculated by taking the percent change of the quantity supplied (in this case 0%) divided by the percent change in the price (in this case 5%). So the price elasticity of supply of Good Y is 0.
Example Question #1 : Short Run Earnings
Use the following graph for questions 9 - 11
Increasing the price of oranges at point D will result in:
- An increase in total revenue
- A decrease in quantity demanded
- Movement toward a portion of the demand curve that is more elastic
2 only
3 only
1 and 2
1, 2, and 3
1 only
1, 2, and 3
If we are in the inelastic portion of the demand curve, an increase in price will increase TR, since the price effect is greater than the quantity effect. Quantity will still decrease.
Example Question #2 : Short Run Earnings
Use the following graph to answer questions 9-11:
What is the total revenue generated at point A?
10
20
24
12
30
20
Total revenue is price multiplied by quantity (TR = P x Q). At point A, price is $10 and quantity is 2, so TR = 2 x 10 = 20.
Example Question #1 : Price Equilibrium
A price ceiling that is set above the market equilibrium price is likely to have which of the following effects, if any?
No effect; price will never equal market equilibrium price
A surplus
No effect; price will equal market equilibrium price.
A shortage
No effect; price will equal market equilibrium price.
If a price ceiling is set above market equilibrium, market forces will cause the equilibrium price to be market equilibrium price. The price ceiling will never be reached because it is too high.
To create an effective price ceiling, on the other hand, the price ceiling must be set below market equilibrium price, thus stopping price levels before they can reach market equilibrium. In such a case, a shortage is expected.
Example Question #1 : Quantity Equilibrium
If good X and good Y are substitutes, an increase in the price of good X will lead to which of the following?
an increase in demand for good Y
an increase in supply for good Y
a decrease in supply for good Y
a decrease in demand for good Y
an increase in demand for good Y
The change in price of a substitute good shifts demand.
An increase in the price of good X prompts consumers to use good Y instead of good X (i.e. substituting good X for good Y), resulting in increased demand for good Y.
Example Question #16 : Side By Side Graphs
As consumption of a particular good increases, the satisfaction gained from consuming one additional unit of the good eventually ___________.
equals 0
equals 1
increases
decreases
decreases
The law of diminishing marginal utility states that as consumption of a particular good increases, the satisfaction gained from consuming one additional unit (i.e. the marginal utility of the good) eventually decreases.
For example, consider eating chocolate bars. The increase in satisfaction resulting from eating the first chocolate bar is probably higher than the increase in satisfaction from eating the 12th chocolate bar. In other words, the marginal utility has decreased.
Example Question #17 : Side By Side Graphs
If the market for Good X is in equilibrium, which of the following would NOT cause a decrease in demand for Good X?
The price of a substitute good increases.
A newspaper reports that Good X is harmful to the health of consumers.
The number of buyers of Good X decreases.
The price of a substitute good decreases.
Consumers expect that the price of Good X will decrease.
The price of a substitute good increases.
Of the five answer choices, only an increase in the price of a substitute good would cause the demand curve to increase. This result reflects the fact that when the price of the substitute good increases, consumers are less likely to buy that good and instead buy more of Good X.
All of the other answer choices would cause the demand curve to decrease.
Example Question #18 : Side By Side Graphs
For any firm, the long run refers to a period of time in which ________.
the price elasticity of supply is able to change
variable costs are able to change
fixed costs are able to change
sunk costs are able to change
fixed costs are able to change
The definition of the long run is a period of time in which fixed costs are able to change. For example, in the long run, a firm can move to a new plant that costs less money to operate each month.
Sunk costs are costs that cannot be recovered and therefore would not change, even in the long run.
The price elasticity of supply refers to the responsiveness of the supply curve to a change in price.
Example Question #19 : Side By Side Graphs
To maximize profits, firms produce at the level at which _________.
marginal revenue equals average variable cost
marginal revenue is less than marginal cost
marginal revenue equals marginal cost
marginal revenue equals average total cost
marginal revenue equals marginal cost
The profit maximizing rule for the firm is marginal revenue equals marginal cost. Notice that the rule does not explicitly involve average total or average variable costs.
The MR=MC profit maximizing rule holds for all market structures - monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, and perfect competition.
If marginal revenue is less than marginal cost, then the firm actually loses profits with continued production.
Example Question #1 : Socially Optimum Equilibrium Quantity
In a game with two or more players, a dominant strategy refers to a strategy that _________.
results in a larger payoff than any other strategy regardless of the strategies chosen by any other players.
never results in a Nash equilibrium.
results in a smaller payoff than any other strategy regardless of the strategies chosen by any other players.
results in a larger payoff than any other strategy except when another player has a dominant strategy as well.
results in a smaller payoff than any other strategy except when another player has a dominant strategy as well.
results in a larger payoff than any other strategy regardless of the strategies chosen by any other players.
The definition of a dominant strategy is one that leads to the highest payoff for a particular player, regardless of what other players do.
Nash equilibrium can be achieved as the result of playing a dominant strategy, eliminating answer choice "never results in Nash equilibrium".