Consider the following short run production function : Q=6L2-0.4L3

a. Find the value of L that maximizes out put
b. Find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
c. Find the value of L that maximizes average product

1 answer

a. To find the value of L that maximizes output, we need to take the derivative of the production function with respect to L and set it equal to zero, and then solve for L.

Q = 6L^2 - 0.4L^3

Taking the derivative with respect to L:

dQ/dL = 12L - 1.2L^2

Setting it equal to zero:

12L - 1.2L^2 = 0

Dividing both sides by L:

12 - 1.2L = 0

1.2L = 12

L = 10

Therefore, the value of L that maximizes output is 10.

b. Marginal product is the derivative of the production function with respect to L:

MP = dQ/dL = 12L - 1.2L^2

To find the value of L that maximizes marginal product, we need to set the derivative equal to zero and solve for L:

12L - 1.2L^2 = 0

Dividing both sides by L:

12 - 1.2L = 0

1.2L = 12

L = 10

Therefore, the value of L that maximizes marginal product is 10.

c. Average product is given by AP = Q/L. To find the value of L that maximizes average product, we need to find the value of L that maximizes Q/L.

AP = Q/L = (6L^2 - 0.4L^3)/L = 6L - 0.4L^2

To maximize AP, we need to take the derivative of AP with respect to L and set it equal to zero:

d(AP)/dL = 6 - 0.8L = 0

0.8L = 6

L = 7.5

Therefore, the value of L that maximizes average product is 7.5.