Business I / Optimization in Economics
Practice question · Match the pairs

Match each condition to what it establishes.

  • f(x)=0f'(x^*) = 0
  • f(x)<0f''(x^*) < 0
  • Corner of the feasible range
  • MR>MCMR > MC
  • Optimum may hide where no derivative vanishes
  • Candidate point: no marginal gain remains
  • The candidate is a local maximum
  • Producing more still adds profit
Hints
  1. One condition finds candidates; the other sorts them.
  2. Boundaries need checking separately from interior points.
Show the answer
  • f(x)=0f'(x^*) = 0 Candidate point: no marginal gain remains
  • f(x)<0f''(x^*) < 0 The candidate is a local maximum
  • Corner of the feasible range Optimum may hide where no derivative vanishes
  • MR>MCMR > MC Producing more still adds profit
Why

FOC nominates, SOC classifies, boundaries lurk, and the margin’s sign gives the direction to walk.

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