In a day, Jo can catch 90 lobsters, or 20 crabs. In a day, Dan can catch 45 lobsters, or 35 crabs.

(a) _______ has the comparative advantage in catching lobsters, and _______ has the absolute advantage in catching crabs.

To solve this problem, we will consider both **comparative advantage** and **absolute advantage**.

1. **Absolute advantage** refers to the ability of one individual to produce more of a good or service than another with the same resources.

2. **Comparative advantage** refers to the ability of one individual to produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost compared to another.

### Step 1: Absolute Advantage
- **Crabs:** Jo can catch 20 crabs per day, while Dan can catch 35 crabs per day. Since 35 > 20, **Dan has the absolute advantage in catching crabs**.
- **Lobsters:** Jo can catch 90 lobsters per day, while Dan can catch 45 lobsters per day. Since 90 > 45, **Jo has the absolute advantage in catching lobsters**.

### Step 2: Comparative Advantage
To determine the comparative advantage, we need to calculate the **opportunity cost** for each person in terms of lobsters and crabs:
- For Jo:
  - If Jo spends a day catching lobsters, she can catch 90 lobsters.
  - If Jo spends a day catching crabs, she can catch 20 crabs.
  - **Opportunity cost of catching 1 lobster for Jo** = \(\frac{20}{90} = \frac{2}{9}\) crabs.
  - **Opportunity cost of catching 1 crab for Jo** = \(\frac{90}{20} = 4.5\) lobsters.

- For Dan:
  - If Dan spends a day catching lobsters, he can catch 45 lobsters.
  - If Dan spends a day catching crabs, he can catch 35 crabs.
  - **Opportunity cost of catching 1 lobster for Dan** = \(\frac{35}{45} = \frac{7}{9}\) crabs.
  - **Opportunity cost of catching 1 crab for Dan** = \(\frac{45}{35} = \frac{9}{7} \approx 1.29\) lobsters.

### Comparative Advantage:
- Jo's opportunity cost of catching 1 lobster (2/9 crabs) is lower than Dan's (7/9 crabs), so **Jo has the comparative advantage in catching lobsters**.
- Dan's opportunity cost of catching 1 crab (1.29 lobsters) is lower than Jo's (4.5 lobsters), so **Dan has the comparative advantage in catching crabs**.

### Answer:
- **Jo has the comparative advantage in catching lobsters**, and **Dan has the absolute advantage in catching crabs**.

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Do you want more details or have any further questions?

Here are 5 related questions:
1. How is opportunity cost used to determine comparative advantage?
2. Can someone have both absolute and comparative advantage in a resource?
3. How would specialization help Jo and Dan maximize their combined catch?
4. What happens to the opportunity cost if both increase their productivity?
5. Can two people have the same comparative advantage in different resources?

**Tip:** Always compare opportunity costs, not just output, to determine comparative advantage.

In a day, Jo can catch 90 lobsters, or 20 crabs. In a day, Dan can catch 45 lobsters, or 35 crabs.
(a) _______ has the comparative advantage in catching lobsters, and _______ has the absolute advantage in catching crabs.

Explore how to calculate absolute and comparative advantage using Jo and Dan's fishing problem. Learn how Jo has the comparative advantage in catching lobsters and Dan has the absolute advantage in catching crabs. Includes step-by-step solutions with opportunity cost calculations. Ideal for Grades 9-12.

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