Marginal Product of Labour

The Condition for a Diminishing Average Product

Graphical Evidence of MP < AP on a Concave Function

Consider a standard production function graphed with the quantity of an input on the horizontal axis and the quantity of output on the vertical axis. At a specific point 'P' on this function's curve, a straight line (Line 1) is drawn tangent to the curve at that point. A second straight line (Line 2) is drawn from the origin (0,0) directly to point 'P'. Based on the geometric properties of this graph, what do the slopes of these two lines represent?

On a graph of a production function, with input quantity on the horizontal axis and output quantity on the vertical axis, consider a specific point on the curve. If the line tangent to the curve at this point is steeper than the line drawn from the origin (0,0) to this same point, it implies that the addition of one more unit of input will cause the average output per unit of input to increase.

On a standard production function graph, which plots total output (vertical axis) against the quantity of a single variable input (horizontal axis), match each graphical feature with the economic concept it represents.

Analyzing Production Efficiency from a Graph

Analyzing Productivity from Graphical Slopes

Analyzing the Relationship Between Marginal and Average Productivity

A firm is operating at a point on its production function where the output gained from adding one more unit of a variable input is less than the current average output per unit of that input. On a standard graph of this production function (with input on the horizontal axis and output on the vertical axis), what must be true about the geometry at this specific point of operation?

On a graph of a production function where total output is plotted against the quantity of a single variable input, the point where the average output per unit of input is at its maximum occurs where the slope of the line tangent to the curve is equal to the slope of the line drawn from the origin to that same point.

Evolution of Productivity on a Production Curve

A firm's production process is represented by a typical production function graph (with input on the horizontal axis and output on the vertical axis) that is initially convex and then becomes concave. Consider the progression of production as the quantity of the variable input increases. Arrange the following statements, which describe the geometric relationship between the tangent line and the ray from the origin at a point on the curve, into the correct sequence that reflects this progression.