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Optimal production

With a different price and a different cost function from the S1 example, the rule is the same. The profit is largest where the price equals the marginal cost. You solve that equation, insert the number into revenue minus cost, and get the profit in money. Because the cost has a positive coefficient of x squared, the marginal cost is increasing, and the point is a maximum of the profit.

P′(x)=p−C′(x)=0P'(x) = p - C'(x) = 0the condition
P(x)=px−C(x)P(x) = px - C(x)profit

Symbols

pppriceNOK
CCcostNOK
xxnumber

Example

Price 50 NOK and C(x)=0.1x2+10x+1000C(x) = 0.1x^2 + 10x + 1000.

x=50−100.2=200x = \dfrac{50 - 10}{0.2} = 200. P(200)=10 000−7000=3000P(200) = 10\,000 - 7000 = 3000 NOK.

Marginal revenue equals marginal cost. Calculate the profit afterwards.
Practise cost, revenue and profit for free →

← The product rule and the quotient rule · Minimum unit cost →

Part of Mathematics S2: Cost, revenue and profit.