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Chapter 7—Production Costs
MULTIPLE CHOICE
4. A young chef is considering opening his own sushi bar. To do so, he would have to quit his current
job, which pays $20,000 a year, and take over a store building that he owns and currently rents to his
brother for $6,000 a year. His expenses at the sushi bar would be $50,000 for food and $2,000 for gas
and electricity. What are his explicit costs?
a. $26,000.
b. $66,000.
c. $78,000.
d. $52,000.
e. $72,000.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
6. Cash payments to a steel mill for steel used in production would be an example of:
a. sunk costs.
b. fixed costs.
c. explicit costs.
d. implicit costs.
e. entrepreneurial costs.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
7. Sam quits his job as an airline pilot and opens his own pilot training school. He was earning $40,000
as a pilot. He withdraws $10,000 from his savings where he was earning 6 percent interest and uses the
money in his new business. He uses a building he owns as a hanger and could rent it out for $5,000 per
year. He rents a computer for $1,200, buys office supplies for $500, rents an airplane for $6,000, pays
$1,300 for fuel and maintenance, and hires one worker for $30,000. Sam's total revenue from pilot
training classes this year equaled $90,400. Sam's explicit costs this year equals:
a. $84,400.
b. $39,000.
c. $55,000.
d. $45,600.
e. $40,000.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Application
8. Paul's Plumbing is a small business that employs 12 people. Which of the following is the best
example of an implicit cost incurred by this firm?
a. The tax payments on property owned by the firm.
b. The wages paid to the 12 employees.
c. The half of the payroll taxes on the wages of the 12 employees paid by the employers, but
not the half paid by the employees.
d. The accounting services provided free of charge to the firm by Paul's wife, who is an
accountant.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
10. The opportunity costs associated with the use of resources owned by a firm are:
a. externalities. c. explicit costs.
b. implicit costs. d. sunk costs.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
12. The amount of money that could have been made by renting a piece of land to be used for building an
office building instead of using the land for employee parking is a(n):
a. implicit cost. c. explicit cost.
b. accounting cost. d. pure economic cost.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
15. Which of the following are implicit costs for a typical firm?
a. Insurance costs.
b. Electricity costs.
c. Opportunity costs of capital owned and used by the firm.
d. Cost of labor hired by the firm.
e. The cost of raw materials.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
16. A firm's opportunity cost of using resources provided by the firm's owners is called:
a. sunk costs.
b. fixed costs.
c. explicit costs.
d. implicit costs.
e. entrepreneurial costs.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
17. A young chef is considering opening his own sushi bar. To do so, he would have to quit his current
job, which pays $20,000 a year, and take over a store building that he owns and currently rents to his
brother for $6,000 a year. His expenses at the sushi bar would be $50,000, for food and $2,000 for gas
and electricity. What are his implicit costs?
a. $26,000.
b. $66,000.
c. $78,000.
d. $52,000.
e. $72,000.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
18. Two friends, Diane and Sam, own and run a bar. Diane tends bar on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
and receives a wage in addition to tips. Sam tends bar on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and
receives only tips. Which of the following represents an implicit cost of operating the bar?
a. Diane's wage.
b. Sam's time.
c. Diane's tips.
d. Sam's tips.
e. Both Diane's and Sam's tips.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
20. Sam quits his job as an airline pilot and opens his own pilot training school. He was earning $40,000
as a pilot. He withdraws $10,000 from his savings where he was earning 6 percent interest and uses the
money in his new business. He uses a building he owns as a hanger and could rent it out for $5,000 per
year. He rents a computer for $1,200, buys office supplies for $500, rents an airplane for $6,000, pays
$1,300 for fuel and maintenance, and hires one worker for $30,000. Sam's total revenue from pilot
training classes equaled $90,400. Sam's implicit costs for this year are equal to:
a. $84,400.
b. $39,000.
c. $55,000.
d. $45,600.
e. $40,000.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Application
21. The sum of the explicit and implicit costs incurred in the production process is called:
a. fixed cost. c. marginal cost.
b. sunk cost. d. total cost.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
22. Which of the following is most likely to be true of economic and accounting profits?
a. Economic profits are less than accounting profits.
b. Accounting profits are less than economic profits.
c. Economic profits plus accounting profits equal zero.
d. Accounting profits minus economic profits equal zero.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
24. Suppose that a small business takes in monthly revenue of $100,000. Labor, rental, energy, and other
purchased input costs are $70,000. The owner/entrepreneur could earn $5,000 per month in another
job, and the owner/entrepreneur could get a return of $5,000 each month if she sold her business and
invested the net proceeds in a financial asset, such as a treasury bond. Which of the following correctly
describes her monthly economic profit?
a. $100,000.
b. $90,000.
c. $70,000.
d. $30,000.
e. $20,000.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Application
25. The difference between a firm's total revenues and total costs when all explicit and implicit costs are
included is the firm's:
a. economic profit. c. opportunity cost of capital.
b. accounting profit. d. long-run average total cost.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
26. If a firm has total revenue of $200 million, explicit costs of $190 million, and implicit costs of $30
million, its economic profit is:
a. $200 million.
b. $70 million.
c. $10 million.
d. −$10 million.
e. −$20 million.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
27. A firm has $200 million in total revenue and explicit costs of $190 million. Suppose its owners have
invested $100 million in the company at an opportunity cost of 10 percent interest rate per year. The
firm's economic profit is:
a. $400 million. c. $80 million.
b. $100 million. d. zero.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
29. An economist left her $100,000-a-year teaching position to work full-time in her own consulting
business. In the first year, she had total revenue of $200,000 and business expenses of $100,000. She
made a(n):
a. economic profit.
b. economic loss.
c. implicit profit.
d. accounting loss but not an economic loss.
e. zero economic profit.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
31. An economist left his $100,000-a-year teaching position to work full-time in his own consulting
business. In the first year, he had total revenue of $200,000 and business expenses of $150,000. He
made a(n):
a. implicit profit.
b. economic loss.
c. economic profit.
d. accounting loss but not an economic loss.
e. zero economic profit.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
32. A firm has $200 million in total revenue and explicit costs of $190 million. If its owners have invested
$100 million in the company at an opportunity cost of 10 percent interest per year, the firm's
accounting profit is:
a. $400 million.
b. $100 million.
c. $80 million.
d. $10 million.
e. zero.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
33. Suppose a firm has total revenue of $200 million, explicit costs of $190 million, and implicit costs of
$20 million. This firm's accounting profit is:
a. $80 million. c. $10 million.
b. $70 million. d. −$10 million.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
34. When total revenue minus total cost is equal to zero, the firm is:
a. earning above-average economic profit.
b. earning a normal profit.
c. losing too much money to stay in business.
d. earning abnormally low profits.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
35. Normal profit is a term for:
a. explicit profit.
b. the minimum profit to keep a firm in operation.
c. the accounting profit forgone.
d. pure economic profit.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Costs and Profit
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
40. Which of the following represents the key difference between the short run and the long run?
a. In the long run, the firm makes commitments to a certain type of production technology
which are represented as fixed costs in the long run. For example, they have signed a lease
on a particular production facility. These fixed costs do not exist in the short run.
b. In the short run, the firm makes commitments to a certain type of production technology,
which are represented as fixed costs in the short run. For example, they have signed a lease
on a particular production facility. These fixed costs do not exist in the long run.
c. The short run refers to less than two years and the long run in over two years.
d. None of the above are correct.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
41. During the short-run period of the production process, a firm will be:
a. unable to vary any of its factors of production.
b. able to vary some of its factors of production.
c. able to vary all of its factors of production.
d. able to vary the size of its plant.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
44. During the course of a week, McDonald's has enough time to hire or layoff workers, but it does not
have enough time to expand its kitchen or add an additional seating area. In this situation, McDonald's:
a. has no fixed costs. c. suffers an economic loss.
b. is in the short run. d. earns a large profit.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
45. During the short run, a firm has enough time to adjust:
a. its technology.
b. its fixed inputs.
c. its variable inputs.
d. all of its inputs⎯both fixed and variable.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
46. Which of the following factors of production is not variable in the long run?
a. the size of the firm's plant.
b. property taxes on the assets of the firm.
c. highly trained labor.
d. All factors of production are variable in the long run.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
52. The increase in total output that results from a unit increase in one unit of a variable input is equal to
the input's:
a. total product. c. average product.
b. marginal product. d. marginal cost.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
54. If two workers can produce 22 units of output, and the addition of a third worker increases output to 30
units, the marginal product of the third worker is:
a. 8 units. c. 22 units.
b. 10 units. d. 30 units.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
55. A firm can produce 450 gallons of milk per day with 4 workers and 500 gallons per day with 5
workers. The marginal product of the fifth worker expressed in gallons per worker per day, is:
a. 35. c. 70.
b. 50. d. 350.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
56. A farm is able to produce 9,000 pints of strawberries per season on 10 acres. It adds one more acre and
is able to produce 12,000 pints per season. The marginal product of land for this farm is:
a. 900 pints per acre per year. c. 3,000 pints per acre per year.
b. 1,000 pints per acre per year. d. 12,000 pints per acre per year.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Application
57. If the units of variable input in a production process are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the corresponding total
outputs are 30, 34, 37, 39, and 40, respectively. The marginal product of the fourth unit is:
a. 2. c. 37.
b. 1. d. 39.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Application
58. A farm is able to produce 5,000 bushels of peaches per season on 100 acres. Assume it adds one more
acre and is able to produce 6,000 bushels per season. The marginal product of the additional acre of
land for this farm is:
a. 6,000 bushels per acre per year. c. 1,000 bushels per acre per year.
b. 5,000 bushels per acre per year. d. 11,000 bushels per acre per year.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
59. A farm is able to produce 10,000 bushels of peanuts per season on 10 acres. Assume it adds one more
acre and is able to produce 12,000 bushels per season. The marginal product of the additional acre of
land for this farm is:
a. 10,000 bushels per acre per year. c. 2,000 bushels per acre per year.
b. 1,200 bushels per acre per year. d. 12,000 bushels per acre per year.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
60. A farm can produce 10,000 bushels of wheat per year with 5 workers and 13,000 bushels with 6
workers. The marginal product of the sixth worker for this farm is:
a. 10,000 bushels. c. 500 bushels.
b. 3,000 bushels. d. 23,000 bushels.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
61. Suppose when a car wash has 2 washing stations and 5 workers and is able to wash 100 cars per day.
When it adds a third station, but no more workers, it is able to wash 150 cars per day. The marginal
product of the third washing station is:
a. 100 cars per day. c. 5 cars per day.
b. 150 cars per day. d. 50 cars per day.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
Workers Pizzas
0 0
1 4
2 10
3 15
4 18
5 19
64. Exhibit 7-1 shows the change in the production of pizzas as more workers are hired. The marginal
product of the second employee equals:
a. 4.
b. 10.
c. 14.
d. 6.
e. 15.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
65. Exhibit 7-1 shows the change in the production of pizzas as more workers are hired. The marginal
product of the fifth employee equals:
a. 4.
b. 18.
c. 19.
d. 3.
e. 1.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
66. Exhibit 7-1 shows the change in the production of pizzas as more workers are hired. The total output
of pizzas after hiring 4 workers is:
a. 4.
b. 15.
c. 18.
d. 3.
e. 1.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
67. Exhibit 7-1 shows the change in the production of pizzas as more workers are hired. The marginal
product of the labor input begins to fall with the employment of the ____ worker.
a. first
b. second
c. third
d. fourth
e. fifth
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
68. Exhibit 7-1 shows the change in the short run production of pizzas as more workers are hired. The
table shows marginal product increasing between the 0 to 2 hired workers. A possible reason for this
increased marginal product is:
a. increased wages.
b. increases in plant size.
c. decreases in fixed cost.
d. increased division of labor as additional workers are hired.
e. increased product price.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
69. Exhibit 7-1 shows the change in the short-run production of pizzas as more workers are hired. The
table shows the marginal product of the labor input is decreasing with the hiring of the third worker. A
possible reason for this diminishing marginal product is:
a. decreased wages.
b. increases in plant size.
c. decreases in fixed cost.
d. increased division of labor as additional workers are hired.
e. decreases in labor productivity.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
70. Exhibit 7-2 shows the labor, energy, and materials cost of making various quantities of pizzas. The
table shows that the labor cost of making pizzas will:
a. increase at a decreasing rate.
b. decrease at a decreasing rate.
c. decrease at an increasing rate.
d. increase at an increasing rate.
e. increase at a constant rate.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
71. Exhibit 7-2 shows the labor, energy, and materials cost of making various quantities of pizzas. The
table shows that the energy cost of making pizzas will:
a. increase at a decreasing rate.
b. decrease at a decreasing rate.
c. decrease at an increasing rate.
d. increase at an increasing rate.
e. increase at a constant rate.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
72. Exhibit 7-2 shows the labor, energy, and materials cost of making various quantities of pizzas. The
table shows that the materials cost of making pizzas will:
a. increase at a decreasing rate.
b. decrease at a decreasing rate.
c. decrease at an increasing rate.
d. increase at an increasing rate.
e. increase at a constant rate.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
73. In the short run, a firm will eventually experience rising per-unit costs because of:
a. economies of scale. c. the law of supply.
b. diseconomies of scale. d. the law of diminishing returns.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
74. Which of the following best describes the law of diminishing returns?
a. The principle that beyond some point the marginal product decreases as additional units of
a variable factor (ex: labor) are added to a fixed factor (ex: a restaurant kitchen).
b. The concept that as a person consumes more and more of a good, such as pizza slices, that
the marginal utility from each additional slice will decline.
c. The empirical fact that the profitability of firms declines in the long run due to increasing
competition.
d. None of the above.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
76. Bill lives in Montana and likes to grow zucchini. He applies fertilizer to his crops twice during the
growing season and notices that the second layer of fertilizer increases his crop, but not as much as the
first layer. What economic concept best explains this observation?
a. The law of diminishing marginal utility.
b. The law of diminishing returns.
c. Return equalization principle.
d. The principal-agent problem.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
77. The law of diminishing marginal returns implies that, in the short run:
a. output must fall beyond a certain point.
b. price must fall beyond a certain point.
c. the marginal product of the variable input must eventually decrease.
d. wages of workers must eventually increase.
e. total cost must fall beyond a certain point.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
78. In order for the law of diminishing returns to be present, we must have:
a. at least one factor of production to be fixed.
b. output decreasing as more laborers are hired.
c. the price of labor increasing as more workers are hired.
d. simultaneous changes in labor and capital.
e. double the output when labor input is doubled.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
80. As a fishing firm hires its first, second, and third workers, it could find that marginal product actually
rises. The reason for this is:
a. diminishing returns have set in.
b. the division of labor creates greater productivity.
c. the firm has hired another boat.
d. all tasks are shared by all workers.
e. less qualified workers are becoming available.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
81. The law of diminishing returns applies to which of the following segments of the marginal product of
labor curve?
a. The entire curve. c. The upward sloping segment only.
b. The downward-sloping segment only. d. The point where labor input is zero.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
82. The situation in which the marginal product of labor is greater than zero and declining as more labor is
hired is called the law of:
a. negative response. c. diminishing returns.
b. inverse return to labor. d. demand.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
83. If a firm's use of labor obeys the law of diminishing returns, then:
a. it does not have enough time to hire or fire workers.
b. doubling the number of workers causes the firm's output to also double.
c. its marginal costs must be falling.
d. hiring additional workers adds less and less additional output.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
84. The ____ is the situation in which the marginal product of labor is greater than zero and declining as
more labor is hired.
a. law of demand c. law of diminishing returns
b. law of diminishing supply d. law of returns to scale
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Knowledge
86. As shown in Exhibit 7-3, the marginal product of labor for the last worker hired when 2 workers are
employed per day is:
a. 50. c. 150.
b. 100. d. 175.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
87. As shown in Exhibit 7-3, the marginal product of labor for the last worker hired when 5 workers are
employed per day is:
a. 50. c. 150.
b. 100. d. 175.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
89. As shown in Exhibit 7-4, which of the following conclusions can you draw about the firm's total
output curve?
a. It slopes downward throughout the range of 0−10 units of input.
b. It reaches a maximum at 5 units of output.
c. It has an inflection point at 5 units of input.
d. It has zero slope at 5 units of input.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
Total
Laborers Product
0 0
1 8
2 20
3 25
4 28
5 29
90. In Exhibit 7-5, diminishing returns set in when the ____ worker is hired.
a. first
b. second
c. third
d. fourth
e. fifth
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
91. In Exhibit 7-5, the marginal product of the second worker is:
a. 0.
b. 8.
c. 10.
d. 12.
e. 20.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
92. Paul's Plumbing is a small business that employs 12 people. Which of the following is most likely to
be a fixed cost for Paul's Plumbing?
a. The tax and insurance payments on the property owned by the firm.
b. The wages paid to the 12 employees.
c. The payroll taxes on the wages of the 12 employees.
d. The salary paid to Paul, who is the manager of the firm.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
95. Which of the following is most likely to be a fixed cost for a business?
a. expenditures on low-skill labor.
b. shipping charges for the delivery of products.
c. managerial salaries.
d. property taxes on the firm's buildings.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
96. In the short run, if average variable cost equals $50, average total cost equals $75, and output equals
100, the total fixed cost must be:
a. $25. c. $5,000.
b. $2,500. d. $7,500.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
97. The total fixed cost remains constant as which of the following varies?
a. Cost of resources. c. Output in a given period of time.
b. Time. d. Profit.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
99. Total fixed cost are costs that are fixed with respect to:
a. the rate of output. c. technology.
b. time. d. the minimum wage or price supports.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
100. Bill is an accountant for a small machine shop. His boss has asked him to calculate the shop's total
fixed cost. Which method will get Bill the correct answer?
a. c and d.
b. Calculating the product of average total cost and quantity
c. Determining what the shop would pay for if they produced zero output
d. Subtracting the total variable costs from the total costs
e. Subtracting total variable costs from total revenue
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
103. Which of the following is an example of a fixed cost for a fishing company?
a. The cost of hiring a fishing crew.
b. The fuel costs of running the boat.
c. The monthly loan payment on the boat.
d. The supply of nets, hooks, and fishing lines.
e. Bait.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
104. If average fixed costs equal $60 and average total costs equal $120 when output is 100, the total
variable cost must be:
a. $40. c. $6,000.
b. $60. d. $8,000.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
105. Suppose that when output is 20, marginal cost is $20, and average total cost is $30. Then which of the
following is most likely to be true?
a. Average total cost is declining.
b. Average total cost is constant.
c. Average total cost is rising.
d. Average total cost is less than average fixed cost.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
108. If the total variable cost curve for a firm is S-shaped, what is the shape of the total cost curve for that
firm?
a. U-shaped
b. Flat.
c. Hill-shaped.
d. S-shaped.
e. There is not enough information.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
109. Barbara owns a small shop where dresses are made. At the end of a given month, she has 250 dresses.
Her expenses for the month are $1,000 for rent, $6,000 for wages, $1,500 for fabric and thread, and
$500 for electricity. Her total variable costs for the month are:
a. c and e.
b. $4,000.
c. $32 per dress.
d. $7,500.
e. $8,000.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
110. Suppose a firm has an output of 10,000 cans and a total fixed cost of $2,000. At an output of 5,000 the
difference between the total cost and the total variable cost is:
a. b and c.
b. $0.40.
c. the average fixed cost.
d. $2,000.
e. $0.20.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
111. Which statement about the total variable cost curve is true?
a. It begins at the origin and increases before decreasing again.
b. The total variable cost curve is the same at all levels of output.
c. The total variable cost curve is increasing but at a decreasing rate.
d. It begins at the origin and is always increasing.
e. There is no such thing as a total variable cost curve.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
112. Suppose a publisher faces the following costs of producing 10,000 newspapers each month: $5,500
cost of labor; $2,200 monthly mortgage payment; $250 cost of electricity to run the printing presses;
$800 for ink and paper; and $200 in city property taxes (based on the value of the building and land).
Its total variable costs are:
a. $8,950.
b. $8,750.
c. $6,550.
d. $6,300.
e. $5,500.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
114. Which of the following is true if the total cost curve is rising?
a. Total fixed cost is decreasing. c. Marginal cost is decreasing.
b. Total fixed cost is increasing. d. Marginal cost is increasing.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
115. What is the shape of the average fixed cost curve for a firm in the short run?
a. U-shaped.
b. A curve that constantly increases as output expands and eventually approaches infinity at
high rates of output.
c. A vertical line.
d. A curve that declines as output expands and approaches the horizontal-axis when output is
large.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
116. Which of the following will become smaller and smaller as the firm expands output?
a. average total cost. c. marginal cost.
b. average fixed cost . d. total fixed cost.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
118. When costs that vary with the level of output are divided by the output, you have calculated:
a. total changing cost. c. average fixed cost.
b. total fixed cost. d. average variable cost.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
119. If fixed cost is $200,000 and variable cost is $30 per unit over the relevant range of output, when
10,000 units are produced, the average total cost will be:
a. $20. c. $50.
b. $30. d. $70.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
121. What is the shape of the average total cost curve for a firm in the short run?
a. U-shaped. c. A vertical line.
b. A horizontal line. d. A curve that slopes upward to the right.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
122. Which of the following explains most accurately why the firm's short-run marginal cost curve will
eventually rise?
a. As more of the variable factor is used, its price will rise.
b. When diminishing marginal returns set in, it will take ever-larger quantities of the variable
resources to produce an additional unit of output.
c. As the variable factor is used more intensely, its marginal product will rise, causing an
increase in marginal costs.
d. As the size of the firm increases, the operational efficiency of the firm declines, causing an
increase in marginal costs.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
124. The change in total cost that results from the production of one additional unit is called:
a. marginal revenue. c. marginal cost.
b. average variable cost. d. average total cost.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
125. Marginal cost is defined as the increase in total cost resulting from an increase in:
a. one unit of output. c. a firm's plant size.
b. output of 100 units. d. one unit of labor.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
126. The minimum point on the marginal cost curve corresponds to the:
a. maximum point on the total cost curve.
b. minimum point on the total cost curve.
c. inflection point on the total variable cost curve.
d. midpoint of the total cost curve.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
127. If both the marginal cost and the average variable cost curves are U-shaped. At the minimum point on
the average variable cost curve, the marginal cost must be:
a. greater than the average variable cost.
b. less than the average variable cost.
c. equal to the average variable cost.
d. at its minimum.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
128. Which of the following is true at the point where diminishing returns set in?
a. Both marginal product and marginal cost are at a maximum.
b. Both marginal product and marginal cost are at a minimum.
c. Marginal product is at a maximum and marginal cost is at a minimum.
d. Marginal product is at a minimum and marginal cost is at a maximum.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
129. Suppose the fixed cost of building a nuclear power plant is $1 billion. Suppose also that the only
variable cost is the labor of Homer Simpson, and he earns $10 per hour. If the plant generates 1,000
kilowatts each hour, and has already generated 1 billion kilowatts, what can you say about the
marginal cost of the next kilowatt?
a. b and e.
b. The marginal cost is equal to $.01.
c. The marginal cost is equal to $1.01.
d. The marginal cost is rising.
e. The marginal cost is falling.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
131. American Airlines makes numerous nonstop flights from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to the airport at
Dallas-Fort Worth. The distance between those two cities is 1,000 miles. The only variable cost, fuel,
costs $.06 for each passenger-mile it flies. Bob, on his way to an emergency business meeting, buys a
ticket in coach class for $1,300 at the very last minute. The marginal cost of flying Bob from Chicago
to Dallas-Fort Worth is:
a. b and e.
b. higher than the average cost of previous passengers.
c. $600.
d. $160.
e. $60.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
132. When the cost curves have U-shapes, at the point where marginal cost equals average total cost:
a. b and c.
b. marginal cost is rising.
c. average total cost is at its minimum.
d. average variable cost is falling.
e. the fixed cost has been fully depreciated.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
133. At the point where marginal cost equals average variable cost,
a. b and c.
b. marginal cost is rising.
c. average total cost is at its minimum.
d. average variable cost is falling.
e. there is no total cost.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
135. A bus is mostly filled with passengers and ready to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco. At the
last minute, a person comes running up to the bus and takes a seat. The change in the bus company's
total cost as a result of transporting one more passenger on this trip is called:
a. marginal cost.
b. average total cost.
c. variable cost.
d. fixed cost.
e. opportunity cost.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
136. A firm estimates that when output is 10, its total costs are $900. It also finds that when output is 11, its
total costs are $920. The marginal cost of the eleventh unit of output is:
a. $1.
b. $20.
c. $90.
d. $900.
e. $920.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
Exhibit 7-6 Total cost curves
138. In Exhibit 7-6, the total cost of producing 6,000 units of output is:
a. 1,000.
b. 3,000.
c. 5,000.
d. 6,000.
e. 8,000.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
139. In Exhibit 7-7, by filling in the blanks it can be determined that the fixed costs are:
a. 0.
b. 200.
c. 900.
d. 1,000.
e. 3,000.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
140. In Exhibit 7-7, by filling in the blanks it can be determined that the total cost of the second unit of
output is:
a. 0.
b. 700.
c. 1,000.
d. 1,200.
e. 1,800.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
141. In Exhibit 7-7, by filling in the blanks it can be determined that the marginal cost of the first unit of
output is:
a. 200.
b. 700.
c. 900.
d. 1,000.
e. 3,000.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
142. In Exhibit 7-7, by filling in the blanks, it can be determined that the marginal cost of the third unit of
output is:
a. 0.
b. 200.
c. 700.
d. 1,200.
e. 2,000.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
143. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the fixed cost of producing 6 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $100.
b. $150.
c. $200.
d. $185.
e. $85.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
144. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the total cost of producing zero pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. zero.
b. $100.
c. $5.
d. $105.
e. $95.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
145. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the total cost of producing 3 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $100.
b. $105.
c. $113.
d. $123.
e. $23.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
146. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the total cost of producing 5 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $100.
b. $105.
c. $113.
d. $123.
e. $160.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
147. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the variable cost of producing 4 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $100.
b. $40.
c. $60.
d. $85.
e. $185.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
148. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the average variable cost of producing 4 pizzas is shown to be
equal to:
a. $10.
b. $15.
c. $20.
d. $40.
e. $85.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
149. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the average total cost of producing 5 pizzas is shown to be equal
to:
a. $12.
b. $15.
c. $32.
d. $85.
e. $160.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
150. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the marginal cost of the fourth pizza is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $15.
c. $17.
d. $23.
e. $40.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
151. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-8, the marginal cost of the sixth pizza is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $15.
c. $20.
d. $25.
e. $85.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
152. As shown in Exhibit 7-9, the total cost of producing 4 units is:
a. zero. c. $250.
b. $227. d. $100.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
153. As shown in Exhibit 7-9, the total cost of producing 5 units is:
a. zero. c. $250.
b. $227. d. $100.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
154. As shown in Exhibit 7-9, the marginal cost of producing the third unit is:
a. $50. c. $24.
b. $16. d. $23.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
Exhibit 7-10 Short-run cost schedule for book publisher's hourly production
156. In Exhibit 7-10, the average variable cost of producing 2 cases of books is:
a. $50 per case. c. $100 per case.
b. $75 per case. d. $150 per case.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
157. In Exhibit 7-10, the marginal cost of increasing production from 2 to 3 cases of books is:
a. $100. c. $450.
b. $150. d. $800.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
Exhibit 7-11 Short-run cost curves schedule for pizzeria's hourly production
159. In Exhibit 7-11, the average total cost or producing 40 pizzas per hour is equal to:
a. $5 per pizza. c. $6.25 per pizza.
b. $5.75 per pizza. d. $10 per pizza.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
160. In Exhibit 7-11, what is the marginal cost of increasing production from 10 to 20 pizzas per hour?
a. $2 per pizza. c. $4 per pizza.
b. $3 per pizza. d. $5 per pizza.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
162. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the AFC of 3 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $13.33.
c. $9.
d. $22.33.
e. $40.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
163. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the AVC of 4 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $9.50.
c. $19.50.
d. $40.
e. $78.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
164. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the AVC of 3 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $13.33.
c. $9.
d. $22.33.
e. $40.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
165. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the ATC of 3 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $13.33.
c. $9.
d. $22.33.
e. $40.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
166. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the ATC of 4 pizzas is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $9.50.
c. $19.50.
d. $40.
e. $78.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
167. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the marginal cost of the fourth pizza is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $11.
c. $12.
d. $13.
e. $14.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
168. By filling in the blanks in Exhibit 7-12, the marginal cost of the third pizza is shown to be equal to:
a. $10.
b. $11.
c. $12.
d. $13.
e. $14.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Short-Run Cost Formulas
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
172. Which of the following must be true if average total cost is rising?
a. Average fixed cost must be rising.
b. Total fixed cost must be rising.
c. Average variable cost must be falling.
d. Marginal cost must be greater than average total cost.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Marginal Cost Relationships
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
174. Which of the following is true at the point where diminishing returns set in?
a. Both marginal product and marginal cost are at a maximum.
b. Both marginal product and marginal cost are at a minimum.
c. Marginal product is at a maximum and marginal cost at a minimum.
d. Marginal product is at a minimum and marginal cost at a maximum.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Marginal Cost Relationships
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
175. If total cost is $1,000 when output is zero, and total cost is $1,200 when output is one, and total cost is
$1,500 when output is two, then which of the following is true?
a. Total fixed cost is $1,500.
b. The marginal cost of producing the first unit of output is $1,200.
c. The marginal cost of producing the second unit of output is $300.
d. The average fixed cost is $750 when two units of output are produced.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Marginal Cost Relationships
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
178. For a typical firm, the long-run average total cost curve:
a. is tangent to the minimum point of each possible short-run average total cost curves.
b. is tangent to each possible short-run average total cost curve at one point.
c. intersects each possible short-run average total cost curve at two points.
d. passes through the minimum points of all possible short-run average total cost curves.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
179. Each potential short-run average total cost curve is tangent to the long-run average cost curve at:
a. the level of output that minimizes short-run average total cost.
b. the minimum point of the average total cost curve.
c. the minimum point of the long-run average cost curve.
d. a single point on the short-run average total cost curve.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
180. When the curve that envelops the series of possible short-run average total cost curves is horizontal,
this means that there are:
a. economies of scale.
b. diseconomies of scale.
c. constant returns to scale.
d. diminishing returns.
e. some fixed factors of production.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
181. If the minimum points of all the possible short-run average total cost curves become successively
lower as quantity of output increases, then:
a. the firm should try to produce less output.
b. total fixed costs are constant along the LRAC curve.
c. there are economies of scale.
d. the firm is probably having significant management problems.
e. when output is doubled, total costs are doubled.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
182. A downward-sloping portion of a long-run average total cost curve is the result of:
a. economies of scale. c. diminishing returns.
b. diseconomies of scale. d. the existence of fixed resources.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
183. In the long run, firms in many industries often experience a falling average total cost curve as a result
of:
a. gains through trade. c. economies of scale.
b. increasing marginal returns. d. lower fixed costs.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
184. A large aircraft manufacturer, like Boeing, may have a cost advantage over a new smaller
manufacturer because of:
a. diseconomies of scale.
b. economies of scale.
c. diminishing returns to a fixed factor of production.
d. the principal agent problem is generally less severe for larger firms.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
185. Long-run economies of scale exist when the long-run average cost curve:
a. rises. c. falls.
b. remains constant. d. does not exist.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
186. Long-run economies of scale exist over the range of output for which the long-run average cost curve:
a. is constant. c. is rising.
b. is falling. d. does not exist.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
187. Economies of scale are created by greater efficiency of capital and by:
a. longer chains of command in management.
b. better wages for labor.
c. smaller plant sizes.
d. increased specialization of labor.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
188. Economies of scale imply that within some range one can increase the size of operation and:
a. total cost will decrease.
b. fixed cost will decrease.
c. average total cost will decrease.
d. average total cost will increase.
e. average variable cost will decrease.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
189. The decreasing portion of a firm's long run average cost curve is attributable to:
a. diminishing returns to scale.
b. increasing marginal cost.
c. economies of scale.
d. diseconomies of scale.
e. constant returns to scale.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
193. A car leasing company that expands its size by buying its competitors may run the risk of increasing
production cost per unit due to:
a. diseconomies of scale.
b. economies of scale.
c. diminishing returns.
d. greater use of large-volume purchases.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
194. In the long run, a firm might experience rising per-unit cost due to:
a. economies of scale.
b. diseconomies of scale.
c. the law of supply.
d. the law of diminishing marginal returns.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
195. Diseconomies of scale exist over the range of output for which the long-run average cost curve is:
a. constant. c. rising.
b. falling. d. subject to diminishing returns.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
196. Diseconomies of scale exist over the range of output for which the long-run average cost curve is:
a. constant. c. rising.
b. falling. d. none of these.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
197. If a firm enlarges its factory size and realizes higher average (per unit) costs of production then:
a. it has experienced economies of scale.
b. it has experienced diseconomies of scale.
c. it has experienced constant returns to scale.
d. the long-run average cost curve slopes downward.
e. the long-run average cost curve shifts upward.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
199. Diseconomies of scale exist for all of the following reasons except:
a. bureaucratic inefficiencies.
b. management problems.
c. failures in information flows.
d. firm size is too small.
e. organizational problems.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
200. Suppose there is a technology to produce Grendels such that there are diseconomies of scale after the
first unit is produced. There are both fixed (a physical plant called a lair) and variable (food that grows
in lairs) costs of production. Which statement is true?
a. b and d.
b. Producing multiple units increases the average fixed cost.
c. There will be no more than one firm in this industry.
d. It is cheaper to make five Grendels by buying five lairs and producing one Grendel in each
lair than it is to produce five Grendels in one lair.
e. This is an impossible situation.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
201. If a firm's long-run average cost curve is rising, it is experiencing:
a. a constant return to scale. c. diseconomies of scale.
b. economies of scale. d. none of these.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
202. Constant returns to scale exist over the range of output for which the long-run average cost is:
a. neither rising or falling. c. rising.
b. falling. d. none of these.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
203. Constant returns to scale cause the long-run average cost curve to be:
a. horizontal. c. upward-sloping.
b. vertical. d. downward-sloping.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
204. In Exhibit 7-14, economies of scale only exist for output levels up to:
a. 1,000.
b. 2,000.
c. 3,000.
d. 4,000.
e. greater than 4,000.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
205. In Exhibit 7-14, constant returns to scale only exist for output levels between:
a. 0 and 1,000.
b. 1,000 and 2,000.
c. 2,000 and 3,000.
d. 3,000 and 4,000.
e. 4,000 and infinity.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
206. In Exhibit 7-14, a firm finds that it is experiencing numerous managerial and information problems.
The position of its short- and long-run average total cost curves suggest that it is operating at a
production level:
a. between 0 and 1,000.
b. between 1,000 and 2,000.
c. between 2,000 and 3,000.
d. between 3,000 and 4,000.
e. where it should shut down immediately.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
207. In Exhibit 7-14, the U-shaped LRAC curve indicates which of the following as quantity increases from
0 to 4,000?
a. Diseconomies of scale; constant returns to scale; economies of scale.
b. Constant returns to scale; economies of scale; diseconomies of scale.
c. Economies of scale; constant returns to scale; diseconomies of scale.
d. Diseconomies of scale; economies of scale; constant returns to scale.
e. Economies of scale; diseconomies of scale; constant returns to scale.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
208. In Exhibit 7-15, short-run average total cost, short-run marginal cost, and long-run average cost are all
equal at which level of output per week?
a. 500 units. c. 1,500 units.
b. 1,000 units. d. 2,000 units.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
209. If the firm represented in Exhibit 7-15 is operating with a plant whose size corresponds to short-run
average total cost curve A, the level of output that would minimize its short-run average total cost is:
a. 500 units per week. c. 1,500 units per week.
b. 1,000 units per week. d. 2,000 units per week.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Analysis
210. Given the short-run average total cost curves in Exhibit 7-15, what level of output per week minimizes
average total cost?
a. 500 units. c. 1,500 units.
b. 1,000 units. d. 2,000 units.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
212. In Exhibit 7-15, diseconomies of scale are shown in the range of:
a. 0 to 500 units per week. c. 1,000 to 2,000 units per week.
b. 500 to 1,000 units per week. d. zero per week.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
214. Which firm in Exhibit 7-16 displays a long-run average cost curve with diseconomies beginning at
2,000 units of output per week?
a. Firm A. c. Firm C.
b. Firm B. d. Firms A and C.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
215. Which firm in Exhibit 7-16 displays a long-run average cost curve with economies of scale throughout
the range of output shown?
a. Firm A. c. Firm C.
b. Firm B. d. Firms A and B.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
217. If the firm represented in Exhibit 7-17 is operating with a plant whose size corresponds to short-run
average total cost curve A, the level of output that would minimize its short-run average total cost is:
a. Q1 units per week. c. Q3 units per week.
b. Q2 units per week. d. Q4 units per week.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Long-Run Production Costs
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
218. Given the short-run average total cost curves in Exhibit 7-17, what level of output per week minimizes
average total cost?
a. Q1 units. c. Q3 units.
b. Q2 units. d. Q4 units.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
TRUE/FALSE
3. Suppose a firm earns an accounting profit. This means the firm also earns a positive economic profit.
5. Suppose Joe Rich owns his own company and does not pay himself a salary. This means the salary he
could have earned in alternative employment is considered an implicit cost for the firm.
7. In the short-run, total fixed costs always exceed total variable costs.
11. A firm's marginal product curve slopes downward throughout its length.
12. The marginal product curve rises when the marginal cost curve rises.
13. For most firms, the costs of energy and raw materials will be total fixed costs.
14. A firm's average fixed cost curve can never be U-shaped, even if its other average cost curves are
U-shaped.
15. The vertical distance between the average total cost curve and the average variable cost curve at any
given output level equals average fixed cost at that particular output level.
16. If a firm's average variable cost curve is rising, its marginal cost must exceed its average variable cost.
17. Marginal cost is calculated by dividing the change in total cost by the change in total output.
18. If the total variable cost of producing 5 units of output is $10 and the total variable cost of producing 6
units is $15, the marginal cost of producing a sixth unit is $5.
19. The marginal product curve rises when the marginal cost curve rises.
20. The law of diminishing returns causes a firm's short-run marginal cost curve to be s-shaped.
21. If a firm's marginal cost exceeds its average cost, then its average cost must be rising.
22. Each short-run average total cost curve is tangent at its lowest point to the long-run average cost curve.
23. Economies of scale exist over all ranges of output for which short-run average total cost exceeds
long-run average cost.
24. If a firm increases output and its average total cost rises, then the firm is experiencing economies of
scale.
25. The primary cause of diseconomies of scale is scarcity of machinery and capital.
26. Diseconomies of scale cause the short-run marginal cost curve to slope upwards.
27. Diseconomies of scale occur when high levels of output are produced in a short period of time.
ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Challenging NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic
STA: DISC: Costs of production TOP: Different Scales of Production
KEY: Bloom's: Comprehension
ESSAY
1. What is the difference between economic and accounting profit? Why is a distinction between them
important?
ANS:
An economic profit includes implicit costs and accounting profit does not. A distinction between them
is important because an accounting profit is a relative amount of money. Some amount of accounting
profit may or may not be a sufficient amount of profit to keep an entrepreneur in his/her present line of
business. Whereas an economic profit, if it is earned, is always good news because it is an amount of
profit above the entrepreneur's opportunity cost.
2. Distinguish the short run from the long run. Generally, what causes costs of production to vary with
output in the short run? What generally causes costs of production to vary in the long run?
ANS:
The short run is any amount of time in which at least one resource is fixed. In the short run there are
some fixed costs. In the long run, nothing is fixed. There are no fixed costs in the long run. Costs of
production vary with output in the short run because of increasing and diminishing returns. Costs of
production vary with output in the long run because of economies and diseconomies of scale.
3. What are the seven short run cost calculations? How are they related?
ANS:
The seven short run cost calculations are: TC, TFC, TVC, MC, ATC, AFC, and AVC. Note that TC =
TFC + TVC; ATC = AFC + AVC. MC = (Change in TC) / (Change in Q) = (Change in TVC) /
(Change in Q); ATC = TC/Q; AVC = TVC/Q; AFC = TFC/Q.
4. Distinguish economies and diseconomies of scale. How can the extent to which economies and
diseconomies of scale explain the size and number of real world firms in an industry?
ANS:
Economies of scale exist when a firm increases its scale of operations and lower per unit costs of
production are experienced. Diseconomies of scale exist when a firm increases its scale of operations
and higher per unit costs of production are experienced. If economies of scale are extensive we would
expect to find a small number of very large firms operating within the industry. Conversely, if
diseconomies of scale set in relatively early, we would expect to find a large number of relatively
small firms operating within the industry.
The evidences were very clear on the morning, that a strong force
had been posted on the Fayetteville road, thus standing directly
between the Union forces and their next line at Cassville, completely
cutting off communication with the outer world. The line of battle
was changed. Colonel Carr was sent back along the Fayetteville road,
two miles, with his right resting on Cross Timber Hollows at the head
of Beaver Creek, a tributary of Big Sugar Creek, immediately facing
the rebel batteries on the side of Elkhorn tavern. General Davis, with
the central division, was posted on the top of Pea Ridge, leaving Sigel
to cover the camp with his left wing resting on Sugar Creek. In this
position things stood when the rebels opened the fight with artillery
on the extreme right, from a very advantageous position at the
distance of a mile. The Federal batteries soon replied. The fight raged
in front of Colonel Carr’s division from 10 to 11 o’clock, when another
battery was ordered up to his support, for he was hotly pressed. The
left, as yet, had not been menaced. General Sigel felt confident that
the enemy might be expected to make a descent from the south side,
and it was deemed indispensable to keep the men ready for action in
that direction. Colonel Osterhaus was sent with his brigade in the
morning along the high land in the direction of Leestown, where he
intercepted the reinforcements of the enemy. This was one of the
most spirited and successful attacks of the battle, and resulted in a
complete diversion of the enemy from the overpowered forces of
Colonel Carr, on the Fayetteville road.
The Union cavalry penetrated along the main ridge beyond the
road by which the enemy had advanced, and were on the point of
seizing some of his wagons when a brigade of rebel cavalry and
infantry attacked them. Then followed one of the most sanguinary
contests that ever has been recorded between cavalry. Most of the
fighting was done at close quarters. Pistols and carbines having been
exhausted, sabres were brought into requisition. The rattle of steel
against steel, sabres against muskets and cutlasses, was terrific. The
rebels were Texas Rangers, and fought like demons. The slaughter
was awful. The Missouri cavalry cleaving right and left, left winrows
of dead and wounded in front of their horses. The enemy fell back in
dismay, the valorous Federals pursued them along the road for a
mile, when they opened a battery upon the mass of friends and foes,
plowing through them with solid shot and shell. Colonel Osterhaus
had succeeded in his attempt, and retired, bringing off his dead and
wounded in safety.
Meantime the contest was raging furiously on the extreme right on
both sides of the Fayetteville road. The First and Second Iowa
batteries, planted at an eminence overlooking the declivity in the
road, were plying shrapnel and canister into the ranks of the enemy,
who appeared in immense numbers on all sides, as if to surround the
right of the Union line, and thus completely environ them. In order
to defeat this object, a severe struggle took place for the occupancy of
a rising knoll on the east side of the road. The enemy gained upon
the Federals, and it was not until the men were half stricken down
that they yielded the point. Word had been passed back to General
Curtis that the enemy was pressing severely on the right flank, and
the Union forces were sent back. The section of a battery had been
left on the hill, and the enemy was now turning it upon the Union
lines. Colonel Carr, fearing that no reinforcements would arrive,
collected his strength, and mustered his entire force for a last
desperate charge, resolved to retake the position or perish in the
attempt. A heavy firing on the centre, and a cheer from the advancing
division of General Davis favored the effort. The troops marched up
to the battery amid a storm of shot from their own guns, and, after a
desperate hand-to-hand struggle, finally drove the enemy down the
ravine, in hopeless confusion. Colonel Carr received a wound in the
arm, but remained on the field.
During the night a sharp fire of artillery had been kept up upon the
left, and from two Missouri batteries on the centre, under Colonels
Patterson and Fiala. The enemy had made frequent attempts to gain
a position nearer the Union lines, and succeeded in getting so near
that the balls from their guns would strike near the tents and
baggage wagons. Towards night the enemy made an attempt to break
the Federal centre, but the timely support of a brigade of General
Sigel and a section of artillery promptly repulsed them. The night
closed with skirmishing and sharpshooting.
Occasionally the report of a musket could be heard during the
night, then a second, and an interval of silence. But few of the
soldiers slept. The communication with Springfield was cut off, and
Union messengers were falling into the enemy’s hands. As yet the
Federals had gained little advantage, and with desperate fighting had
only succeeded in repelling equally desperate attacks. Nothing but
hard fighting could avail them. Filled with these thoughts, the
soldiers solemnly gave their wives and children into each others’
charge, no one being aware who the survivor would be. Young men
talked in low voices of the loved ones at home, fathers, mothers,
sisters, sweethearts—and messages full of tender pathos were left to
be given after death. It was indeed, an anxious, mournful night.
The fight on the morning of the 8th, commenced by a salute from
the Union batteries on the extreme right. General Asboth, with a
regiment of infantry and a battalion of cavalry, had been sent to the
support of Colonel Carr, while General Sigel was moving up to a
fresh position on the ridge near Leestown. The enemy was
unprepared for this sudden and vigorous assault, and fled after a
short and spiritless resistance. They ran, leaving four pieces of
artillery behind them, and a fifth was afterwards taken in the pursuit.
The enemy was being turned by the left flank, General Sigel pushing
boldly after him. An hour or more was spent in contesting the
possession of a spot on Cox’s farm, when the rebels fell back to the
hollow.
A pause ensued, when the right, under General Davis, moved
along, and after a sharp contest of half an hour, in which the rebel
General McIntosh, was killed, the enemy began to retreat to Cross
Timber Hollow. The whole line was then ordered forward. The rebels
attempted to make a stand on the next hill, but the Union artillery
played upon them with disastrous effect. The enemy on the road near
the tavern refused to be moved. General Asboth, with a large column
of cavalry, was sent round to outflank them, when another desperate
conflict ensued between the Union cavalry and the Texas and
Louisiana troops. The Indians also took part in it, but beyond shrieks
and yells their influence was not felt. The batteries of the enemy fired
chains, spikes, pieces of bar-iron, and solid shot. It was evident that
his canister and shell were exhausted. Now the Federal batteries on
the right were ordered to the front. Taking a position within five
hundred yards, they poured in an incessant shower of grape, canister
and shell for twenty minutes. A general bayonet charge was then
ordered, and the Union line rushed down the valley and ascended the
opposite hill. A cheer went up from them as they delivered volley
after volley into the enemy’s ranks. The rebels cheered also; and it
was evident that they doubled the Union forces, from the
overwhelming shout that rang up from their lines.
At this time General Sigel was carrying everything before him on
the extreme left. The foe was running, and the Union men catching
the inspiration of the moment rushed on in pursuit. Before one
o’clock the rout was complete.
To the westward of Pea Ridge there was a wide strip of timber
which had been blown down by a hurricane the previous summer.
Across this swarth of uprooted trees, which were larger and denser in
the low lands, the enemy’s cavalry and artillery attempted to retreat,
and were mercilessly pelted with shell. The panic was overwhelming,
and their defeat decided. Muskets, clothing, and shot-guns were
strewn along the woods. Horses roamed about in wild droves. The
cries of the cavalry men and the yells of the Indians, with the groans
of the wounded, surpassed all description. Caissons overturned,
wagons broken down, and horses dying and dead strewed the whole
road. Thirteen cannon, 6 and 12-pounders, were taken in all, besides
thousands of shot-guns and loads of provisions.
It was in this position of affairs that General Price with a
detachment of his army had, in his attempt to make a stand on the
Keatsville road, caught the contagion of his fleeing comrades, and
betook himself to the northward, Colonel Carr and General Asboth
keeping closely after him.
This was probably one of the most hotly contested battles of the
war, when every thing is taken into consideration, and it is worthy of
remark that few officers were wounded, although at all times
exposed even to recklessness. For three days the fighting continued,
the men only resting during the darkness, to renew the attack with
the first light, and even then were but partially allowed to slumber.
Pea Ridge will never be forgotten while we have a history.
The Federal loss in killed, wounded and missing, was 1,351. That of
the rebels about 2,000. Generals McIntosh and McCulloch were
killed.
BATTLE OF NEWBERN, N. C.