Microeconomics - 2G03Chapter 6Production and Cost:One Variable Input

6.1 The Production Function

Defining the Production Function

Key Terms

input bundle

technically efficient

production function

fixed-proportions productionfunction

Leontief production functions

variable proportions productionfunctions

Cobb-Douglas Productionfunction

oppertunity cost

sunk costs

avoidable costs

fixed costs

variable costs

long-run cost minimization

total product function

marginal product

free-disposal assumption

diminishing marginal productassumption

average product

variable cost function

average variable cost

short-run marginal cost

fixed cost

average fixed cost

short-run total cost

short-run average cost

multi-plant firms

Summary

Define production functions

determine costs and oppertunity costs

long-run cost minimization

short-run cost minimization

productions functions

total production function

TP(z1)

Marginal product

MP(z1) = slope of TP(z1)

average product

AP(z1) = TP(z1)/(z1)

most important assumption to TP(z1)

assumption of diminishing marginal product

beyond quantity of input 1

the slope of TP(z1) begins to get flatter