Math Problem Statement

A monopolist offers two different products, x and y, the price for selling x is P1 and the price for selling y is P2, each having the following price functions:

P1 = 56 – 4x

P2 = 48 – 2y

The monopolist’s joint cost function is

C(x,y) = x2 + 5xy + y2

Solution

Let's analyze the problem involving a monopolist selling two products xx and yy.

We are given:

  1. The price functions: P1=564xP_1 = 56 - 4x P2=482yP_2 = 48 - 2y

  2. The cost function: C(x,y)=x2+5xy+y2C(x, y) = x^2 + 5xy + y^2

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Revenue Calculation The revenue for product xx is R1=P1xR_1 = P_1 \cdot x, and for product yy, it is R2=P2yR_2 = P_2 \cdot y.

Substituting the price functions: R1=x(564x)=56x4x2R_1 = x(56 - 4x) = 56x - 4x^2 R2=y(482y)=48y2y2R_2 = y(48 - 2y) = 48y - 2y^2

The total revenue RR is: R(x,y)=R1+R2=(56x4x2)+(48y2y2)R(x, y) = R_1 + R_2 = (56x - 4x^2) + (48y - 2y^2) R(x,y)=56x4x2+48y2y2R(x, y) = 56x - 4x^2 + 48y - 2y^2

2. Profit Calculation The profit Π(x,y)\Pi(x, y) is given by: Π(x,y)=R(x,y)C(x,y)\Pi(x, y) = R(x, y) - C(x, y)

Substituting R(x,y)R(x, y) and C(x,y)C(x, y): Π(x,y)=(56x4x2+48y2y2)(x2+5xy+y2)\Pi(x, y) = (56x - 4x^2 + 48y - 2y^2) - (x^2 + 5xy + y^2)

Simplify: Π(x,y)=56x4x2+48y2y2x25xyy2\Pi(x, y) = 56x - 4x^2 + 48y - 2y^2 - x^2 - 5xy - y^2 Π(x,y)=56x5x2+48y3y25xy\Pi(x, y) = 56x - 5x^2 + 48y - 3y^2 - 5xy

3. Maximizing Profit To find the profit-maximizing levels of xx and yy, calculate the partial derivatives of Π(x,y)\Pi(x, y) with respect to xx and yy, set them to zero, and solve the resulting equations.

  • Partial derivative with respect to xx: Πx=5610x5y=0\frac{\partial \Pi}{\partial x} = 56 - 10x - 5y = 0

  • Partial derivative with respect to yy: Πy=486y5x=0\frac{\partial \Pi}{\partial y} = 48 - 6y - 5x = 0

Now, solve the system of equations:

  1. 5610x5y=056 - 10x - 5y = 0
  2. 486y5x=048 - 6y - 5x = 0

From the first equation: 56=10x+5y10x=565yx=565y1056 = 10x + 5y \quad \Rightarrow \quad 10x = 56 - 5y \quad \Rightarrow \quad x = \frac{56 - 5y}{10}

Substitute x=565y10x = \frac{56 - 5y}{10} into the second equation: 486y5(565y10)=048 - 6y - 5\left(\frac{56 - 5y}{10}\right) = 0

Simplify: 486y28025y10=048 - 6y - \frac{280 - 25y}{10} = 0 486y28+2.5y=048 - 6y - 28 + 2.5y = 0 203.5y=0y=203.5=20035=40720 - 3.5y = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad y = \frac{20}{3.5} = \frac{200}{35} = \frac{40}{7}

Substitute y=407y = \frac{40}{7} into x=565y10x = \frac{56 - 5y}{10}: x=565(407)10x = \frac{56 - 5\left(\frac{40}{7}\right)}{10} x=56200710x = \frac{56 - \frac{200}{7}}{10} x=392200710=192710=19270=9635x = \frac{\frac{392 - 200}{7}}{10} = \frac{\frac{192}{7}}{10} = \frac{192}{70} = \frac{96}{35}

Final Values

The profit-maximizing levels are: x=9635,y=407x = \frac{96}{35}, \quad y = \frac{40}{7}

Would you like detailed explanations of any step or to discuss further applications? Here are some related questions:

  1. How do changes in costs affect the profit-maximizing quantities?
  2. What happens to the solution if a subsidy lowers the production cost?
  3. How does bundling pricing affect such monopolistic scenarios?
  4. How would additional constraints, like market demand limits, modify the results?
  5. What are the economic implications of cross-price elasticity for these products?

Tip: When optimizing functions involving multiple variables, always ensure to verify the second-order conditions to confirm a maximum or minimum!

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Algebra
Calculus
Optimization
Revenue Maximization
Profit Analysis

Formulas

Revenue for x: R1 = P1 * x
Revenue for y: R2 = P2 * y
Total Revenue: R(x, y) = R1 + R2
Profit: Π(x, y) = R(x, y) - C(x, y)
Partial derivatives for maximization: ∂Π/∂x = 0, ∂Π/∂y = 0

Theorems

Optimization using partial derivatives
Critical points identification for maxima or minima

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate (Economics or Mathematics)